Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups (192g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick, 113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120ml) milk
  • 1 cup (170g) fresh or frozen raspberries
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 cup (2 sticks, 226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 4 ounces (113g) good quality white chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
  • 2-4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (to adjust consistency)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Freeze-dried raspberries, crushed (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt). Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
  3. Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  4. Let cupcakes cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  5. Combine raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Let cool completely.
  6. Beat softened butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined. Beat in melted white chocolate and vanilla extract. Add milk or cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
  7. Once cupcakes are completely cool, use a small knife or cupcake corer to remove a small portion from the center of each cupcake. Fill each cupcake with raspberry filling.
  8. Pipe or spread white chocolate buttercream frosting onto each cupcake.
  9. Sprinkle crushed freeze-dried raspberries over the frosting.