Easy Conversation Heart Shaped Cupcakes Recipe

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Easy Conversation Heart Shaped Cupcakes Recipe

Heart shaped strawberry cupcakes with buttercream, decorated to look like conversation heart candies.

Course Baking, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 19

Freezer time 30

Servings cupcakes

Calories 226kcal

Author Lise Sullivan Ode

Equipment

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

1 box strawberry cake mix, prepared according to package

For the buttercream frosting

1 cup salted butter, softened
1 pound unsifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring
Sprinkle letters

Instructions

For the cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin cups with paper bake cups. Prepare cake mix according to package. Fill paper bake cups 1/2 full. Ball up pieces of aluminum foil and place at the top of each bake cup, pressing down gently. This creates a heart shape.
Bake 16 to 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Let cool. Trim off rounded tops of cupcakes with a serrated knife.

For the frosting

In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in the 1/4 cup cream and the vanilla. Beat in additional cream if frosting is too thick. Divide in batches, and tint each with a different color of pastel food coloring, if desired.

For the decorating

Place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet; set aside. Use a large open tip (or coupler which is what I used) to pipe frosting onto cupcakes in the shape of a heart, filling in the center. Use an offset spatula or your finger to create a smooth frosting surface.
Invert the frosted cupcakes onto the parchment and press gently to make the frosting flat and smooth. Leave in place and chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes or until set. Gently remove cupcakes from parchment. Choose sprinkle letters to spell out sayings for conversation hearts and place on the cupcakes.

Notes

What can I use instead of alphabet sprinkles? If you can’t find alphabet sprinkles, try writing messages directly on the frosting with a small piping tip. You could color some of the buttercream red for this method.

• Store Smartly: Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

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