Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes with Strawberry Centers (Sweetheart Cupcakes)

 by Little Mom on the Prairie
FeaturedContest Winner
I made these for my boys (and my daughter, too - can't leave anyone out!) and they were ALL GONE within 20 minutes of me putting them on the table. Super easy to make, super delicious, and super cute when you cut one in half! 


Ingredients:

1 package cake mix, chocolate 
1 package strawberries, cleaned and hulled
1 package pudding, chocolate
Fresh mint sprigs,optional but awesome

Directions:

1. Prepare cupcakes according to package and let cool. Using a paring knife, core out a well down into each cupcake, for your strawberry to fit into. Prepare your pudding according to the package. Let set until nice and pudding-y (solid - wet gloopy pudding will ruin the cupcakes, so don't be in a rush, let the pudding firm up!)

2. Stick the strawberry pointy side down into your cupcakes. Take the piece of the cupcake that you cut out, and place it on top of the strawberry, after you push it down into the cupcake.

3. Top liberally with pudding in leu of frosting.

4. Add a sprig of mint if you like.  I think it adds a certain something, and my neighbor had some growing in her kitchen and shared…but don’t go out and buy some.

5. I cut each cutcake in half and set it on a plate, because presentation is everything with these suckers. They are DELICIOUS and super easy!


We call them 'Sweetheart Cupcakes' because I made them for my sweethearts, and because the strawberry looks like a little symbol of love...before they started to shove them into their mouths, that is.   ;)
sabu.dawdy says: Mar 10, 2013. 12:00 AM
i loved ur idea
SliceOL says: Oct 19, 2012. 11:59 AM
Did you use Instant Pudding or Regular Pudding? And thanks to Plyman5....great idea using this for holidays using different colors. Thanks!
Rjedge says: Sep 15, 2012. 9:33 AM
We never use regular frosting on our cakes as my family loves a pudding topping we have used for years now. The nice thing is you don't have to wait for it to set up and it's a little lighter than just plain pudding.
1 pkg dream whip (powdered topping)
1 box any flavor pudding you like ( in this case chocolate)
1 1/2 cup cold milk
Beat until stiff and you can top your cakes or cupcakes and eat right away!
Oscelot says: Jun 28, 2012. 7:37 AM
I'm a bit confused.. why not just bake in the strawberry? Still, looks delicious, I can't wait to try them!
WUVIE in reply to OscelotAug 12, 2012. 12:39 PM
Hello Oscelot,

If you baked the strawberry in the cupcake, it would make the cupcake very soggy.

:-(
squirrelgirl51887 says: Jul 23, 2012. 10:15 AM
What if the strawberries were dipped in chocolate beforehand so that way when you bite into the soft cupcake, you get the surprise of that little crunch when you break the chocolate shell.

Also congratulations!!!
WUVIE says: Jul 17, 2012. 4:33 AM
Whoo hoo! Congrats on being a finalist in the contest! Good luck!
WUVIE says: Jul 11, 2012. 6:43 PM
I love these! Thank you so much for sharing! You've got my vote!
Mystii says: Jul 2, 2012. 1:30 PM
Oh my! My hubby loves chocolate and my Mom loves chocolate AND strawberries. I have GOT to give these a try!! ♥
jpharrington says: Jun 30, 2012. 10:46 AM
Looks so simple I could do it.
Little Mom on the Prairie (author) in reply to jpharringtonJul 2, 2012. 7:13 AM
My 9 year old helped! :)
maltesergr8 says: Jun 29, 2012. 10:12 PM
Wow.. These look 'almost' too good to eat! I'll be making these beauties very soon ;)

Beth
zanne101 says: Jun 28, 2012. 12:54 PM
This may have an obvious answer but here goes: could you place the strawberry in the batter in the cupcake pans before baking? That way you could pour some of the batter on the top of it and it would all bake together - that would eliminate the coring and replacing.
The look terrific - yummy!
Little Mom on the Prairie (author) in reply to zanne101Jun 28, 2012. 1:07 PM
We tried it that way, but the strawberries ruined the cake, they are very wet with natural juice, and the bottoms of the cupcakes FELL OUT when we removed them from the pan!
o.O
zanne101 in reply to Little Mom on the PrairieJun 28, 2012. 2:21 PM
Well, I figured that maybe there was an obvious answer. DUH - I should've thought of that.

Oh well, they still look good. I'm always trying to eliminate steps if I can - but that doesn't always work.

Thanks for the cupcake idea.
zanne101 says: Jun 28, 2012. 12:56 PM
Oops, somebody already suggested this - my bad.
plyman5 says: Jun 28, 2012. 9:05 AM
Wonderful idea! Thank you! For the 4th of July switch the cake to white and use blue-tinted vanilla pudding. Red, white and blue! Top with a flag toothpick! Or for Valentine's Day, white cake again and pink-tinted vanilla pudding.
Little Mom on the Prairie (author) in reply to plyman5Jun 28, 2012. 9:25 AM
WONDERFUL ideas! Thanks!
hailster says: Jun 28, 2012. 7:16 AM
Awesome idea. These look amazing and I can't wait to make them.
poofrabbit says: Jun 22, 2012. 3:37 PM
HOly cow this looks so yummy!!!!
sunshiine says: Jun 22, 2012. 3:16 PM
Love these!
mhennessey says: Jun 22, 2012. 5:49 AM
My 2 favrite things cupcakes n pudding!!
Browncoat says: Jun 21, 2012. 1:56 PM
What about the cake part that seems to be in the top & on top of the strawberry?
Little Mom on the Prairie (author) in reply to BrowncoatJun 21, 2012. 2:10 PM
That is the part that you cored out of the cupcake.
Vika84 says: Jun 21, 2012. 1:55 PM
Looks absolutely fab and delicious!
bajablue says: Jun 21, 2012. 12:39 PM
Beautiful work... as usual!
10Haleys says: Jun 21, 2012. 10:32 AM
Those look soo good!! i love how you put the strawberries in there...
I'm gonna have to try these....chocolate+strawberries= delish :)
Penolopy Bulnick says: Jun 21, 2012. 9:58 AM
That looks amazing! I just love chocolate and strawberries :)
scoochmaroo says: Jun 21, 2012. 9:33 AM
Once again, the address to send these to me is. . . .

These are gorgeous, and I will be making them. Thank you!
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