Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes

Don’t they sound amazing? The tasted pretty darn good too! My gorgeous cousin Ree got married a couple of weekends ago and a few weeks before the wedding I was asked to do some baking for her bridal shower, it was a lovely afternoon and I wanted to make something that had a summery yet celebratory/romantic flavour and feel, strawberries are quintessentially summer and it’s not a celebration without bubbly. These are so easy to whip up because I kinda cheated… Because of the quickness and ease of this recipe they might be good to whip up for Valentine’s Day this week – you can always enjoy any left over bubbly with a loved one!

Ingredients:
Cupcakes
1 box Betty Crocker Strawberry and Cream cake mix
3/4 cup Champagne (in place of water)
3 Eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
2-3 drops pink food colouring

Champagne Butter Cream
150 grams butter, softened
3-4 cups icing sugar
1/3 cup champagne
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4-6 drops pink food colouring

Method:
Pre-heat your oven to 150°C and place 18-20 cupcake papers into muffin tins.
Follow the instructions on the package replacing the water with champagne.
Once you have made your batter half fill each cupcake cake (you would generally fill to 2/3 but the champagne seems to give a lighter higher cupcake).
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until you can touch a cupcake in the centre and they bounce back or you can insert a skewer and it is removed cleanly.
Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks.
Once your cupcakes are cool make your buttercream.
To make the buttercream beat butter until it is light and fluffy. Add 2 cups icing sugar, vanilla and half the champagne and beat until smooth. Add remaining icing sugar and champagne and mix. Drop in food colouring until you have the colour you desire. Spread or pipe (I used a Wilton 2D tip) onto cupcakes, decorate as you desire.


I think these cupcakes are perfect for a girly celebration! They are beautifully moist and if you have any left they will keep well for a few days in an airtight container. I also thought I’d share the above picture with you all, at the bridal shower I got to hang out with Amanda, the lovely lady behind The Vintage Table, she provided all the gorgeous trios that we sipped tea from between glasses of punch and bubbles – turns out here in NZ there really is only two degrees of separation – Amanda and Ree have known each other since primary school! The vintage trios really helped set the tone for what was a lovely afternoon, celebrating one of the loveliest ladies I know.

Congratualtions on your marriage Ree and Carl xox