strawberries & cream cupcakes.

Strawberries and cream: the first sign of Summer. The days are getting longer, you've got a bottle of Pimms at the ready and you just about dare to bare your legs. With Wimbledon kicking off this week, no doubt they'll be lots of strawberries and cream inspired recipes being rustled up. I've kept it classic with cupcakes, made with vanilla sponge and topped with a light crème fraîche cream topping.

Shopping list.
(Makes ten small cupcakes)

For the cupcakes
♥ 115g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
♥ 115g caster sugar
♥ Two medium free range eggs
♥ 115g self raising flour 
♥  Vanilla extract

For the topping
♥ 100g icing sugar
♥ 150g crème fraîche 
♥ 50g unsalted butter, softened
♥ A handful of strawberries, chopped

Equipment; Cupcake baking tray, cupcake cases, piping bag and nozzle.

How cute are these cases? I bought them on eBay and wasn't expecting them to be quite as small - although I'm loving them! There were so many others to choose from too...

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees c.

Step one. Make the sponge by creaming together the butter and sugar, then adding the egg. Lastly combine the flour and vanilla extract.

Step two. Distribute evenly between the cupcake cases. I measured approx. 40g in each case.

Step three. Bake for 15 minutes, until risen and golden. The cake is cooked when a skewer comes out clean.

Step four. Allow to cool while you make the buttercream.

Step five. Make the buttercream by whizzing together the crème fraîche, butter and icing sugar. You can do this by hand but I prefer electric whisk or stand mixer with balloon whisk. Pipe with a medium star shaped nozzle.

Step six. Scatter chopped strawberries on top!

Game, set, match... eat!

Are you a fan of strawberries and cream? Will you be making any Summer or Wimbledon inspired recipes, just because?

Here are a few other recipes from food bloggers...

Pimms Salad - Foodie Quine

Quick One Punnet Strawberry Jam - Fab Food 4 All

Raspberry Syllabub with Chardonnay Vanilla Biscuits - Tin & Thyme

Roasted Strawberry and White Chocolate Ice Cream - Tin & Thyme 

Roasted Balsamic Strawberry Muffins - Recipes From a Pantry
Rhubarb & Strawberry Jam - Fab Food 4 All
No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake - Recipes From a Pantry

Casa Costello has also created a brilliant Wimbledon Pinterest board - or you could read my 20 scrumptious strawberry recipe round up over at the Foodies 100.