Taking the most basic of recipes (yellow cake and a trust-worthy butter cream frosting) and simply adding a punch of strawberry to the mix.

Strawberry Cupcakes (Makes 2 dozen or 4 dozen mini)

Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
½ cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ¼ cup milk
1 pkg. strawberry flavoured gelatin; divided
½ cup strawberry jam

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake tins.
• In a small bowl, mix flour and baking powder together. Set aside.
• In a larger bowl, cream butter with sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix in ¾ of the strawberry flavoured gelatin and the strawberry jam.
• Spoon batter into prepared tins and bake for 15 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Strawberry Frosting

Ingredients:
½ cup shortening
½ cup butter; softened
3 ½ cups icing sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ cup milk
Remaining strawberry-flavoured gelatin
¼ cup strawberry jam
Red food colouring

• Beat shortening and butter together. Add icing sugar and beat for about 3 minutes, scraping the sides. Add vanilla and milk and beat for another 5 minutes until fluffy, scraping the sides as needed.
• Add the remaining strawberry flavoured gelatin and the strawberry jam. Add a couple of drops of red food colouring to make the pink pop.
• Pipe on to cooled cupcakes as desired 🙂