Recipe

Since I live in Europe, my recipes are in the metric system.

Strawberry Birthday Cupcakes

Serves 12

Ingredients:

For batter:
2 Eggs
1 1/2 dl Sugar
1ts Vanilla sugar
100g Butter
2dl Milk
4dl Flour
2ts Baking Soda
1/4ts Salt

1 pckt Strawberries

For topping:
150g Cream Cheese
1ts Vanilla Sugar
50g Butter (soft)
6dl Powdered Sugar

Freeze dried strawberries
Tuttifrutti sprinkles



Method:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 200-225 degrees celsius (depending on the size of your cupcake cases).

Step 2: Whip eggs, sugar and vanilla sugar until airy and light.

Step 3: Melt the butter and mix in the milk. Stir this into the whipped egg mix.

Step 4: Mix flour, baking soda and salt. Carefully stir these dry ingredients into the wet mix, bit by bit.

Step 6: Rinse the strawberries, cutting off the tops. Put one in each cupcake case (stand on the base you've made by cutting).

Step 7: Fill the cupcake cases with batter around the strawberry, make sure to leave some room. This can be done by piping for ease.

Step 8: Set the cases on a tray, put it in the middle of the oven. Bake for 10-15 min, depending on the size. Let them cool afterwards.

Step 9: Stir together creame cheese, soft (room temp) butter and vanilla sugar. Stir in the powdered sugar bit by bit, until the consistency is right (a bit firm).

Step 10: Pipe the buttercream onto each (cool) cupcake.

Step 11: Dip in freeze dried strawberries and/or sprinkles for decoration.

Enjoy!

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Whoosh! Pow!

The oddly shaped aircraft crashed into the ground, screeching to a halt after sliding several meters. Once the dust had settled, and the lights had stopped blinking omniously, a door opened with a hissing noise. Out stepped two figures, dressed in silver outfits, complementing their green skin nicely.

"Where are we, Zorg", one of the figures inquired.

"We're on planet Earth, Doink. And their current time is..."

At this, Zorg tinkered with an elaborate device he was holding in his tentacles.

"... Ah, yes, the time here is currently 23rd May 2023.", he concluded.

"Oh, I see", Doink replied. "So do they have any interesting events at this time? What are the hoymans doing today?"

"Humans", Zorg corrected. "Now let me see...".

Symbols whirred around on Zorg's device, until they finally seemed to settle. Zorg fluttered his antennas in joy.

"It seems that today is the birthday of a human called Sharmelle".

"It's being born today?"

"No, no, today is the anniversary of the day she was born. It's a day of celebration!"

Doink wiggled his antennas at this news.

"Wonderful! I love celebrations! Does it say how they celebrate these birthdays?"

"Hmm..", Zorg frowned at the screen. "It seems they celebrate by eating food that's... sweet and colorful. I think I can figure out what their color spectrum is, but I'm not sure how 'sweet' feels."

"I know!", Doink exclaimed. "I did learn some things about Earth culture in school when I was young. I think I can find the recipe for something called 'strawberry cupcake'! ".

"Excellent!", Zorg exclaimed. "Then we'll make that, and we're off to visit Sharmelle!".


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Notes ▼

Written for "Sharmelle's Recipe Kitchen Contest" 

Recipe word count: 249
Story word count: 271

Prompt: "For 's or any friend or family member that has a Birthday Day this month May 2023 please Create a recipe/dessert recipe (or submit your favorite) for my birthday or anyone else's birthday this month and write an (essay/story/whatever.) about Celebrating that Birthday. My Birthday is May 23rd."