Valentine’s Day is on a Friday this year, and what better way to express your love than with tasty baked goods you make from scratch? Check out these simple Valentine’s Day cupcake recipes to try with the kids.
Cupid Cupcakes
Declare your love with this delicious concoction of strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla, filled with Nutella and garnished with a chocolate heart.
You will need:
- 1 and 3/4 cups flour
- 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large egg whites
- 1 and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup Nutella
For Nutella and strawberry swirl buttercream:
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 and 1/2 cups softened unsalted butter
- 6 cups (720g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/3 cup (80ml) heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup (100g) Nutella
- Chocolate heart candies or strawberries for garnish
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Line one 12-muffin pan with paper liners, and then a second one with three liners, as this recipe makes about 15 cupcakes.
- Whisk baking powder, flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
- Beat the butter and sugar on high speed until smooth for two minutes with a handheld or stand mixer.
- Beat in egg whites on high speed for two minutes, then add the sour cream and vanilla extract. Add the dry ingredients on low speed, then slowly pour in the milk; do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the liners to about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 20 minutes. If making 35 mini cupcakes, bake for about 12 minutes.
- Allow cupcakes to cool.
- Fill the cupcakes: Cut a hole in the middle of the cupcakes with a knife one inch deep. Remove the cone-shaped piece. Place a spoonful of Nutella inside each cupcake. Slice off the pointed end of the removed cone piece to put it on top of the filling.
- Make the buttercream: Mix the strawberries using a blender or food processor, which should make 1/3 – 1/2 cup. Set this mixture aside. Beat the butter on medium speed with a handheld or stand mixer until creamy, then add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, heavy cream, and salt. Beat for 30 seconds on low speed, increasing to high speed for three minutes. Divide the buttercream in half, then beat 1/3 cup of Nutella into one half and the strawberry mixture into the other half.
- Swirled frosting:Add a spoonful of Nutella then a spoonful of strawberry frosting, alternating this order until you have filled the bag. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Cover and store in refrigerator for up to five days.
Valentine’s Day Heart Cupcakes
These adorable heart-shaped cupcakes will be sure to capture the heart of your Valentine.
You will need:
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
- 4 egg whites
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
- White frosting
- Red and pink gel or paste food coloring
- Sprinkles, nonpareils, colored sugar, etc.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Whisk egg whites and buttermilk in another bowl.
- Add the sugar to the mixer bowl, then add the lemon zest, rubbing the zest with your fingers into the sugar until moist.
- Add butter to the sugar mixture, beating at medium speed for three minutes.
- Put the mixer on low, then add one third of the flour mixture, followed by half of the buttermilk mixture.
- Now add half of the remaining dry ingredients, followed by the rest of the buttermilk mixture, then the remaining dry ingredients.
- Beat for two minutes on medium high.
- Add batter into muffin cups, about 2/3 full.
- Place a marble between each cupcake liner and the pan to create a heart-shaped indent.
- Bake until cupcakes are light brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Allow cupcakes to cook, then transfer to a cooling rack for more cooling.
- Take care with the marble, as it will be hot.
- Separate frosting into three bowls, keeping one white while tinting the other two pink and red.
- Frost the cupcakes, then decorate with sprinkles, sugar, and nonpareils.
Schedule a Tour of Country Home Learning Center Today
Holidays like Valentine’s Day are fun breaks from the norm here at Country Home Learning Center. Indeed, crafts are a big part of our school curriculum because we believe kids learn best by doing. Come take a tour of our Austin or San Antonio facilities when you contact us today.
