Strawberry Piggy Treats (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Cupcake Batter

01 - 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
04 - ½ cup fresh strawberries, chopped
05 - ¾ cup white sugar
06 - 1½ cups plain flour
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt
08 - ½ cup whole milk
09 - ½ cup softened unsalted butter

→ Pink Buttercream Frosting

10 - 2 tablespoons cream or milk
11 - Pink gel coloring
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
13 - 2 cups powdered sugar
14 - 1 cup softened unsalted butter

→ Decorations

15 - Mini chocolate pieces for tiny noses
16 - Chocolate sprinkles for eyebrows and eyes
17 - Rings of strawberries for piggy noses
18 - Little strawberry triangles for ears

# Instructions:

01 - Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and get a 12-cup muffin tray ready by adding liners to each cup.
02 - Take a medium-sized bowl and stir together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Put it to the side for now.
03 - In a large container, use an electric hand mixer to beat together the softened butter and white sugar until it looks fluffy (takes 2-3 minutes).
04 - Add one egg at a time to the butter blend, making sure to mix well after each. Then stir in the vanilla.
05 - Slowly pour in the dry mixture and the milk, alternating. Start and finish with the dry stuff. After each addition, mix lightly on low speed. Don’t stir too much.
06 - Carefully fold in the chopped strawberries using a spatula. Be gentle here.
07 - Scoop the batter into the liners, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out mostly clean.
08 - Take the cupcakes out of the oven and leave them in the tray for 5 minutes. Then move them over to a rack to cool completely before frosting.
09 - Whip the softened butter until creamy using an electric mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix on low. Next, stir in the heavy cream and vanilla, then mix it all on medium-high until fluffy (3-4 minutes). Add the food coloring a bit at a time until it’s pink enough for you.
10 - Once the cupcakes are totally cool, use a piping bag or a spoon to add a good coating of frosting with a dome-like shape.
11 - Place a strawberry slice in the frosting’s center for the snout. Use mini chocolate chips on that slice for nostrils. Pop two little strawberry pieces on top for ears. Finally, finish with sprinkles for features like eyes and eyebrows.
12 - Enjoy the piggy cupcakes right away or store them in the fridge for later. Add the fresh fruit decorations just before serving for the best look.

# Notes:

01 - Gel-based coloring will give the frosting a bolder pink without messing up the texture.
02 - Pat the strawberries dry first to avoid color bleeding onto the frosting.
03 - Use larger chocolate bits for eyes if serving small kids to avoid any choking worries.

Back