I've been promising the Big Sister that I’d take her strawberry picking all year. The Glass House region is so filled with strawberry farms, that we pass two on the school run every morning. She’d ask me four out of five mornings. The conversation always ends in me sounding like that old Dreamworld ad (which mercifully she hasn’t heard)
….. don’t say one day, that day will never come ….
Lucky for both of us, fate (in the form of our lovely neighbours, the Chessas) stepped in on the weekend. Their strawberries are growing quickly and they asked if we’d like to take the girls over to their paddock and pick some. Motivated by the lure of berries and the promise of talking about something else on the way to school, we quickly took them up on their offer! 
strawberry cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting
I made these cupcakes for the Big Sister to share with her Prep class on her birthday. I figured the Big Sister’s teacher would appreciate the lack of artificial colours - she has her hands full without me accidentally inciting any extra exuberance.
I wasn’t sure their subtle pink appearance would cut the mustard, so I told the pink-loving Big Sister they were Frozen cupcakes - the strawberry inside is like Ana’s warm heart. And because that infernal frosty tale occupies the majority of her waking thoughts, she bought it!
Ingredients:
For the cupcakes
- 40g butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups plain flour
- ¾ cup milk
- strawberries (about a dozen)
For the frosting
- 125g cream cheese
- 120g butter
- 2 tbs strawberry jam
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups icing sugar
- pinch salt
Method:
To make the cupcakes, cream together the butter and sugar until pale. Add the vanilla extract and eggs - one at a time - beating between additions. Add the sifted flour and milk. Mix until well combined.
Add cupcake liners to muffin tins. Fill each liner with a spoonful of cake mixture. Then add a piece of strawberry to each cupcake. 
Top with the remaining cake mix and bake at 180ºC for about 12 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool before icing.
To make the strawberry cream cheese frosting:
Beat together the cream cheese and butter until combined. Add the vanilla extract and strawberry jam and beat until incorporated. Add the salt and icing sugar - a cup at a time - beating until fluffy.
Pipe onto the top of cooled cupcakes and decorate with love hearts to add legitimacy to your Frozen fabrication!
Makes 24 kid-sized cupcakes.
Lydia C. Lee says
They look delish! Send me one. Please.
MrsDplus3 says
Oh man these look LUSH!! They are so on my list of things to make this weekend!!! I have a feeling they might be very popular (especially as they represent a frozen heart). LOVE the photos too x
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
I'm pleased I didn't gross anyone out with the heart idea Robyn. I was worried it might go down the wrong way!
MrsDplus3 says
Makes total sense when you live in a Frozen obsessed household!! Although the new one at the moment is 'Barbie and the magic door" OMG how many times can they watch it?????
Lauren @ Create Bake Make says
Such a great idea putting a strawberry inside the cupcake and I just love your explanation. Our conversations generally revolve around the trucks/tankers/diggers etc my big boys sees whilst we are in the car!
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
They'd love the farm then Lauren, tractor rides are a big hit with the little men who visit!
Fran Arnold says
Wow, I wish it was strawberry season over here - they look gorgeous, and both my boys are obsessed with Frozen. Even Joe sings bits of Let It Go and Love Is An Open Door - Martyn and I are being driven slowly mad....
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
At least your kids can sing "Do you wanna build a snowman?" and mean it Fran! 🙂
Malinda (@MBPaperPackages) says
I love that you used the 'Frozen' trick - it works on just about anything these days. I have some pretty ripe strawberries that need using so I could give this recipe a go.
Jan Parker says
These look delicious I will definitely make a batch. Did you make the recipe up?
Beautiful photoes of big and little sisters. When I was the age of your gorgeous girls I was the same colouring. A man who owned a big department store in another state used to holiday in our area, would call in to my grandparents little country shop so he could see his little 'peaches and cream'. Maybe your little beauties could be 'strawberries and cream'.
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
Hi Jan,
I make up all my recipes, not all of them turn out well enough to blog though. (Last week's strawberry ripple cheesecake was just too sweet!)
I love your suggestion that the Little Sister has a strawberries and cream complexion. I'm going to remember to tell her when she starts bemoaning her beautiful hair!
Thanks!
Amanda
Jodie@Fresh Home Cook says
YUM! I grew up in a town with lots of strawberry farms - I was just like Big Sister forever nagging mum to take us to pick some. And she did. And it was awesome!
These cakes look AMAZING - love the strawb inside - such a treat to bite into!
Oh & yes to all things Frozen - it is a constant in our household too! 🙂
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
I agree, there is something special about picking your own Jodie. My problem has been finding the time this year - it's just flown!
bakeplaysmile says
Strawberries are just so lovely and fresh at the moment aren't they! These cupcakes look gorgeous on their own... but the cream cheese makes them even better!!!
Rebecca Stephens (@LighterMum) says
Yum! These look absolutely incredible.
Cassandra says
Oh! They look so very, very good! I have a strong feeling these will be my Friday treat next week. 😀
Just a Mum - Anna says
Those cupcakes look divine! Too early for strawberries here in NZ but I cannot wait! I love your photos too - awesome work! 🙂
Annaleis from Teapots and Tractors says
Extremely fixated with frozen here!
I think the kids would love these but I have to say the look at the frosting makes me want to dip my finger in.
Have A Laugh On Me says
Nup the kids are over it but that is because we saw it in Feb when WAY before everyone else. ( I will deny this to anyone that asks) Is this one of the strawb farms I might have been to? That photo with tongue in mouth - SO CUTE! Your girls are beaut!
claireyhewitt01 says
Those strawberries look fantastic. I am not sure I wouldn't have eaten the cupcakes raw straight from the bowl.
Tegan Churchill says
Oh yum! Cream cheese icing is my favourite kind of icing. One of my Aunties lives in Landsborough and used to work on a friends Strawberry farm. I stayed with her for one of the school holidays and she used to bring home the ugly strawberries that the shops wouldn't take. They were so sweet and juicy!
Sonia Life Love Hiccups says
Oh so cool - I desperately want to take my boys strawberry picking but I think we are a bit behind in the season in Sydney as I cant seem to find any places that are open for picking yet xx
NewLifeOnTheRoad (@NewLifeOnRoad) says
Oh how yummy....we used to live in the Glasshouse Mountains, about four years ago! We loved Picking the strawberries at the farms, they were so very yummy, eating them as we picked them!!
Never thought to make cupcakes with them.
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
We were neighbours? What a small world!
Jessica @ Sweet Menu says
How sweet are these! I just love cupcakes and strawberries. Just love the sound of that strawberry cream cheese frosting!
Vanessa says
You know, I see the signs for strawberry farms all the time and have never been! I really should do that if the season is upon us.
Barbara says
They look delicious, but I’m curious that these cupcakes have no baking powder. How big are kid-sized cupcakes?
Amanda Smyth says
Hi Barbara, thanks for your comment. The mini muffin tins I use are ~15mls (1 tbs) each. Enjoy!