Everything you need for making the cupcakes of your choicehomemade or box mix
Ingredients for Blackberry Puree for the Frosting
1/4cupof sugar
2 - 3pintsof blackberries - you will need enough for 1 - 2 blackberries per cupcakedepending on if you top the cupcakes with a blackberry plus a pint of blackberries for the puree
1/2teaspoonof lemon juice
Ingredients for Homemade Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
2sticks of butter (16 tablespoons total)softened
1teaspoonof vanilla extract
6cupsof powdered sugar
1/8teaspoonsalt
1/2cupblackberry puree
Milkto thin the frosting, only if needed
Other Items You Will Need
Piping bag and tip for frosting the cupcakes
Cupcake corer to take out the middle of your cupcakes for filling
Instructions
Preparing the Blackberries and Puree
Put a pint of cleaned blackberries in a blender or food processor. Pulse them until they are completely pureed.
Strain mixture through a fine strainer to get out the seeds if desired.
Add 1/4 cup of sugar (or more, if you prefer) and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice to the blackberry mixture and fully combine.
Store in the refrigerator.
Making the Cupcakes
Use your favorite cupcake recipe or your favorite cake mix to make your cupcakes.
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely.
When you're ready to frosting your cupcakes and they are completely cool, use a cupcake corer to hollow out the middle of the cupcake. This will allow there to be space to add a blackberry and frosting to the center of the cupcake.
Directions for the Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
Cream the butter, vanilla, salt, and blackberry puree until smooth and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, until it becomes the consistency of thick frosting. (If the frosting appears to be too thin, add a little more powdered sugar. If the frosting is too thick, add a little milk. A little milk can go a long way, so add small amounts and combine completely before adding more. Continue these steps until you have the desired consistency.)
Put your blackberry buttercream frosting in a piping bag and pipe a small amount into the center of your cored cupcake. Then, place a whole blackberry inside. Add more frosting to fill the cored center, if needed.
Pipe the frosting in a decorative swirl on top of the cupcake.
Top with a blackberry, sprinkles, or nothing. It's your choice!
Place cupcakes in a covered container in a single layer, and keep in the refrigerator until serving.
Notes
This frosting recipe is making a large enough batch for you to use for both filling the middle of the cupcakes and frosting the cupcakes. If you are using this recipe just to frost the top of cupcakes, you will not need as much frosting.