♥ BE MY VALENTINE ♥ raspberry cupcakes with raspberry cream frosting

hey guys, today i'm really taking my time to post some new recipes and i hope you enjoy!
next is something for your sweet tooth: my

♥ BE MY VALENTINE ♥ raspberry cupcakes with raspberry cream frosting, 

adapted from my "BUTLERS Cupcakes & Muffins" book I got for christmas. it's my new favorite book (not regarding 50 shades of grey) and i love love love all the recipes in there. so you might find a few more recipes from that book in my future posts... ;)

yeah, since it's valentine's day on thursday i thought i might share a recipe that is easy and quickly made for your very special valentine this year! i mean, who doesn't like a sweet muffin with a fresh raspberry taste and a seductive creamy frosting?!
so let's stop chit-chatting and start indulging! ;)

♥ BE MY VALENTINE ♥

raspberry cupcakes with raspberry cream frosting (equals 12 muffins)

  

what you need for the cupcake batter:

• 100g (1/3 cup and 3 tsp) unsalted butter, softened
• 150g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar  
• 1 package vanilla sugar
• 2 eggs
• 120g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 100 ml (a little less than 1/2 cup) low-fat milk
• ~ 2 cups frozen raspberries

 what you need for the frosting:

• 250 ml (~ 1 cup) heavy cream
• 2 packages vanilla sugar    
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, thawed 

1
Preheat your convection oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar and 1 package of vanilla sugar and blend until light and smooth. add the eggs and blend well.

2 
in another bowl, combine flour and baking powder. alternating with the milk, pour flour-mix into large bowl and stir until well blended. 

3
mix in the raspberries and divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full.
bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.
remove and let cool.

4
meanwhile, pour the heavy cream in a bowl, add the vanilla sugar.
take the remaining thawed raspberries and press through a tight colander so that the kernels are left over. 
whisk the heavy cream and raspberry juice until stiff. 
with a spoon (or a piping bag if you prefer doing a different design) add the frosting to your cupcakes and garnish with either fresh raspberries or sprinkles. i used heart-shaped sprinkles since it's my valentine's day recipe 2013... :)

THERE YOU GO! quick, easy, delishhhh!!! ♥ 

♥♥♥ HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE! ♥♥♥


xoxo, vanessa :)