Recipe: Mini-Raspberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream Frosting

MINI-RASPBERRY CUPCAKES

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp raspberry or vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
Raspberry Buttercream Frosting (recipe follows)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line mini-muffin pans with paper liners. (Don't worry if you only have one pan. After baking a batch, remove baked cupcakes to rack. Then place the pan in your freezer to cool quickly before lining and baking the next batch.)

Beat butter, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl with electric mixer on high speed 1 minute. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Stir extract into milk. Beat in flour in three parts, alternating with milk, just until blended. Spoon 1 Tbsp batter into each muffin cup.

Bake 15 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes before removing from pan to rack. Cool completely before frosting.

RASPBERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
4 cups confectioner's sugar
4 Tbsp milk
1 tsp raspberry or vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
Red or pink gel or liquid food color (optional)

Beat all ingredients for the frosting together in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Then increase speed to high; beat until light and fluffy. Tint pink if desired.

TO MAKE AHEAD:
Bake and frost these the day before, they'll still taste fresh. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator. Serve at room temperature.

Makes 4 dozen cupcakes
Source: Woman's Day magazine, October 6, 2009