Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I got a hankering for cupcakes while watching Cupcake Wars on Food Network the other day. One of the contestants made a strawberry cupcake that looked amazing! Once I have a recipe in my head I am bound and determined to make it. I only made 12 cupcakes and used the rest of the batter to make a small cake. Enjoy! :)

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Adapted from Real Mom Kitchen
Cupcakes:

• 1 white cake mix
• 1 (3 oz) box of strawberry gelatin
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup of frozen sliced strawberries in syrup, thawed
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 eggs

Frosting: 

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 stick butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

*Sliced strawberries for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with 12 cupcake liners.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cake mix, gelatin, oil, 1/2 cup of the strawberries, and water until combined.  Then beat in the eggs 1 at a time until well incorporated.
3. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full with batter, do not over fill.  With the extra batter fill an 8 inch cake pan that has been greased and floured.
4. Bake at 350 for about 21 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool.
5. Place the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract in a bowl and using a mixer beat until smooth.
6. Add half the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture and beat until all combined and fluffy. 
7. Beat in the remaining powdered sugar until combined and fluffy.  Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Top with strawberry slices.

*I used the remaining cream cheese frosting on top of the mini cake. I cut the strawberries length wise and placed them around the top of the cake.