Strawberry Sweethearts ~

Happy February!  ANOTHER food post!  These are perfect for this month…Strawberries are great in the markets, and they look somewhat like hearts when used as decoration.

These delicious cupcakes are SO easy to make, but the taste is moist and decadent!

Great for a Valentines Day dinner!

Strawberry Sweethearts –

For the cupcakes –

• 1 (15.25 ounce)package of French Vanilla cake mix
• 1/2  package of 3.4 ounce white chocolate pudding mix, Jello brand
• 1 cup of Chobani Strawberry Greek yogurt
• 3/4 c vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup diced fresh strawberries (about 10-12 medium berries)
• 12 strawberries for garnish, sliced in half with leaves in tact
• a jar of GOOD strawberry preserve, highest quality you can find.

Preheat to 350 degrees.  Line 24 muffin tins with pretty paper liners.

Mix cake mix, pudding mix, yogurt, oil, water, eggs and vanilla in mixer for about two minutes on medium. Then fold in diced strawberries.

Scoop three tablespoons of the batter into each cupcake liner.

Bake in preheated oven for 20-22 minutes, til toothpick comes out clean when inserted.  The cupcakes won’t be perfectly symmetrical when done, but that’s ok.

Allow to cool completely.

Next, using a small melon baller, scoop out a piece from the middle of the cupcake, but make sure you leave enough at the bottom of the cupcake to hold the preserve. Using the same melon baller, scoop some preserver into the center of the cupcake.  One scoop is plenty.  Smooth out the top if some overflows.

Now make a good cream cheese frosting…the is the one I use…http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cream-cheese-frosting-ii/

Spread or pipe the frosting, add one half of a strawberry, and a few candy pearls if you have them.

Enjoy with the ones you love!

Have a brilliant day, heads high~