Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Yield: ~16

Oven Temperature: 350℉

Time: ~12 min bake

Ingredients:

For the strawberry filling:

• 4 c. strawberries, chopped
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1 tbsp. pectin (optional)

For the cupcakes:

• 3/4 c. salted butter, softened
• 1 c. granulated sugar
• 1 whole egg
• 1 egg white
• 1 3/4 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 c. full fat Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1/2 c. whole milk

For the whipped cream:

• 16 oz. heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 c. powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions:

1. In a medium sized sauce pan stir together the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. If you are using frozen berries you can add the pectin to thicken the sauce (frozen berries release more liquid). Simmer the berries on a medium heat until the sauce is thickened and the strawberries are cooked ~20 min. Cool the sauce in the fridge for at least four hours. 
2. Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line two muffin pans (16 cupcakes total). Make sure that the butter, eggs, sour cream, and milk are all room temperature.
3. In a mixing bowl cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg and egg white and set aside. 
4. In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Sift the dry mixture into the bowl with the butter and eggs. DO NOT MIX (yet).
5. Add in the vanilla, lemon juice, yogurt/sour cream, and milk. Mix until just combined (do not over mix.) Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin and bake for ~12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center of a cupcake clean. Cool completely.
6. In a small mixing bowl beat together the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. 
7. To assemble the cupcakes: using a cupcake corer make a hole in the center of each cupcake. Fill the cupcakes with the strawberry filling and then frost with a thin layer of whipped cream. Using a star piping tip pipe a double ring of whipped cream along the outside of each cupcake. Fill the center of the ring with more strawberry filling.