Thursday, January 26, 2012

Fresh Raspberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream


Yum Yum Yum!  That's how will I sum up the taste of these cupcakes!  I found some raspberry extract while shopping, which, I'll be honest, I never even knew existed, and wanted to use it in a recipe immediately.  I bought some fresh raspberries and looked up a vanilla cupcake recipe on Martha Stewart and went to work.

Scratch Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes
Adapted slightly from Martha Stewart

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons raspberry extract
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup fresh raspberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners; set aside.  In a medium mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  In a large mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time,  mixing until incorporated.  Scrape down sides of bowl and mix in vanilla.

Add flour and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour.  Scrape down sides of bowl.  Add whole raspberries to batter and use mixer to incorporate.  The berries will break up into pieces but will not alter the color of the batter.

Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about 2/3 full.  


Bake until cake springs back, approximately 18-20 minutes.  After removing pan from over place on wire rack to cool for 5 minutes.  Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely on rack.


Oh, did my house smell SOOO good while these were baking!  I was anxious to get the cupcakes frosted so I could try one.  I knew I wanted to use buttercream icing, but wasn't sure if I wanted to make it raspberry flavored.  I figured why not, the worst that could happen was an overdose of raspberry, and I was okay with that!

Raspberry Vanilla Buttercream Icing

2 sticks of butter (I did use salted)
4 cups of confectioner's sugar, sifted
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon raspberry extract
1/2 cup of fresh raspberries
3-5 tablespoons half and half

Using a mixer, beat butter until it is fluffy.  Add 3 cups of sugar - one cup at a time - mixing until it's completely incorporated.  Add vanilla, raspberry extract, fresh raspberries (rinsed and dried THOROUGHLY) and half and half along with the last cup of sugar and mix together, adding more half and half until the icing is the desired consistency.

This icing is absolute heaven!  I mean, really.  I could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The fresh berries turned the buttercream into the lovliest shade of pink.  They elevated the taste to perfection.  I could not wait to eat one, so I used a piping bag to frost each cupcake.


Delicious.  I might like these better than the Bellini cupcakes.  It's hard for me to make that call!  The cupcake itself was a bit too dense for me, so I think I'm going to try a new vanilla cupcake recipe, but the flecks of fruit throughout were SO good!


If you love or even just like raspberries, I urge you give these a try!


I have shared this recipe on:








A Little Nosh


Raising Oranges


Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

19 comments:

  1. Debbie

    I glanced through your last few recipes, they sound delicious! Your camo creations are very creative and fun.

    Raspberries for Valentine’s Day ... delectable!

    Thank You for stopping in at my blog too!

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  2. My pleasure, Robyn! I still can't wait to try the apple pie bars!!

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  3. Wow, those look really good. I bet the fresh raspberry really makes this! I've got that one pinned! Yum! I found you via the Dwell on Joy Link Party.

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    1. Thank you, Tina! I love all things raspberry and have tried lots of different icings, but I have to say the fresh berries are amazing! Thanks for stopping by my blog...I hope you try these cupcakes and enjoy them!!

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    2. Hi Debbie I made your raspberry cupcakes and they were delicious. I did make a couple of changes. I used buttermilk in place of the whole milk, same amount. Any cake with buttermilk, yogurt, oil, or sour cream in the recipe makes cakes a lot more moist. Per King Arthur Flour I added 1/2 tsp of baking soda to tne recipe. I also add cake enhancer which is a KAF product, 1 tbsp to 1 cup of flour or cake flour. This keeps the cupcakes moist and fresher longer. Barb.

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  4. I really have to try that icing. Yum.

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    1. It's so EASY and so WORTH it, Betsy!! I hope you give it a try and love it as much as I did. :)

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  5. These look very pretty and pink! I imagine they taste delicious too! Pat

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    1. Thank you so much, Pat! They are just as good as the look. :) Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  6. Very beautiful and delicious looking!
    I lovvvvvvvvvvvvve the inside-look, soft and moist
    Wonderful

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    1. Thank you, Winnie! I was so pleased with the inside, too! These are my favorite cupcakes that I've made so far....yummy!

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  7. Oh my goodness Debbie,
    I would just love one of these wonderful cupcakes to go with my afternoon tea, they look so delicate and delicious! Hope you have a fabulous week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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    1. Thank you so much, Miz Helen - I can assure you that one of these cupcakes with afternoon tea would be absolute heaven! As always, I appreciate you sweet comments. I'll be back next week for Full Plate Thursday. :)

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  8. how many cupcakes do these make?

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    1. Hello! This recipe makes about 24 cupcakes. Thanks for stopping by! Deb

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  9. cupcakes look perfect & moist.Also love the appearence of icing...perfect.Thanks for sharing...

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    1. Thanks, Amy! Icing is my favorite part of making cupcakes!! :) Thanks so much for stopping by - hope to see you again!

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  10. I guess I have selected a mind blowing and interesting blog.
    ketone

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