Mango Strawberry Sunset Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup mango puree
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
• 1-2 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar (for strawberry puree)
• Fresh mango slices (for decoration)
• Strawberry slices (for decoration)
• Edible flowers (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract until combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the lined cupcake cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
7. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. While the cupcakes cool, prepare the strawberry puree by blending the sliced strawberries and sugar until smooth.
9. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until smooth. Add mango puree and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
10. If the frosting is too thick, add heavy cream until desired consistency is reached.
11. Once the cupcakes are completely cool, frost each cupcake with the mango frosting.
12. Drizzle the strawberry puree over the frosted cupcakes.
13. Decorate each cupcake with fresh mango slices, strawberry slices, and edible flowers if desired.