Strawberry balsamic cupcake

For Danny's bday this year, Freddy and I came up with a surprise bday party idea - where Freddy wants to make a Japanese KatsuDon and miso soup dinner combo and I want to make some kind of strawberry cake for him.  After some searching, decided between a chocolate strawberry cheesecake and strawberry balsamic cupcakes.  We then decided to make cupcakes, because it is a bit more unique and we can decorate and arrange it to make a pattern!

This is my first time making cupcakes on my own.  I have probably made it in Foods in junior high or something, and one more time under the supervision of Dana.  This is the first time making a swiss meringue buttercream though (previously was a much simpler icing).  The buttercream didn't thicken up as I hoped to, but nevertheless it was so deliciously tasting!

Note: this recipe does call for the use of a stand mixer!

Yield: about 28 cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:
16 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
3 cups cake flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
5 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1¼ cups buttermilk, at room temperature

For the frosting:
3 cups fresh strawberries (16 oz.), rinsed, hulled and coarsely chopped
1 cup plus 6 tbsp. sugar, divided
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
4 large egg whites
3 sticks (1½ cups) unsalted butter, at room temperature

For topping:
3 cups strawberries, diced small
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp. vanilla extract

For the glaze:
½ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. light brown sugar

Procedure:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.  Place the butter in a large skillet over over medium heat.  Let melt and continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter is a deep golden brown color (be careful not to burn it).  Set aside to cool slightly.  Transfer the butter to the bowl of an electric mixer.  Add in the sugars and beat on medium speed until smooth and the bowl is slightly warm to the touch.
• Meanwhile in a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder and salt.  Whisk to blend.  When the butter and sugars are adequately mixed, beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl as needed between additions.  Blend in the vanilla.  With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Mix each addition only just until incorporated.
• Divide the batter between the paper liners, filling each about 2/3 of the way full.  Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 minutes total.  Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  
  
  
• For the frosting, combine the chopped strawberries, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and balsamic in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the berries have softened and the liquid is somewhat reduced, about 5-8 minutes.  Let cool slightly, then transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.  Chill the mixture well before use in the frosting.
• Combine the egg whites and the remaining 1¼ cups sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water.  Heat, whisking frequently, until the mixture reaches 160° F and the sugar has dissolved.  Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.  Beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form and the mixture has cooled to room temperature, about 8 minutes.  (The bowl should be cool to the touch.)  Reduce the speed to medium and add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, adding more once each addition has been incorporated.  If the frosting looks soupy or curdled, continue to beat on medium-high speed until thick and smooth again, about 3-5 minutes more (or longer - don’t worry, it will come together!)  Blend in the strawberry-balsamic puree until smooth and completely incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• To make the topping, combine the berries, sugar, vinegar and vanilla in a medium bowl and stir to blend.  Let sit at least 20-30 minutes.  Meanwhile, make the balsamic drizzle by combining the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in a small saucepan or skillet.  Heat over medium-high until bubbling, then lower the heat and continue to cook until significantly reduced (about 4 tbsp.)  Set aside to cool slightly.
• Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (I used Ateco #809.)  Pipe a round of frosting onto each cupcake.  Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to scoop out a small bit of the center of the frosting to create a well.  Add a spoonful of the macerated strawberry mixture to each well.  Drizzle the cupcakes with the balsamic glaze to finish.

Recipe adapted from: Annie's Eats

Thoughts:
1. Didn't know strawberries and balsamic form such a nice combination together!
2. The swiss meringue buttercream didn't thicken up as Annie's did... I think partly was because the strawberry puree was sitting at room temperature for too long (we switched to make dinner instead =(), and the puree became watery, and silly me added all of the puree instead of a little at a time.  So it became very wet and watery.  Yummy though!
3. Would love to make more cupcakes next time and try the swiss meringue buttercream again.  BUT!! as always without the stand mixer this recipe would be too difficult to make by hand.... boooooo