Strawberry Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream frosting

I found this cake recipe at apronofgrace. But it called for Cream Cheese frosting, and I am not cream cheese's biggest fan, so that led me to smells-like-home which has a recipe for white chocolate buttercream, and I felt like the two would pair perfectly.  And boy did they ever!  These cupcakes were divine!  My husband even said they were amazing without being asked how he liked them! Mine didn't turn out (color wise) quite like they did over at apron of grace because I didn't have enough red food coloring, but the taste was perfection!  Someone even asked if they came from a box, that, to me, and is a great compliment!

Cake


Ingredients:


1 cup Butter
2 & 1/2 cups Sugar
2 Egg Yolks
5 Egg Whites
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Red Food Coloring
1 & 1/4 cups Pureed Strawberries
3 cups Cake Flour, sifted
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
pinch Salt
1 cup Buttermilk


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, beat butter with sugar for 3 minutes.
3. Add egg yolks one at a time, then the vanilla, food coloring and strawberries, beat for another 3 minutes.
4. Sift dry ingredients and add to butter/egg mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
5. Mix just till combined.
6. In another bowl and clean beaters, beat egg whites till stiff and add in an increment of 3 to cake batter, being sure to fold in thoroughly but gently.
7. Bake for 18 or so minutes for cupcakes and 20-25 minutes for 9 inch round cake pans.


Buttercream


Ingredients:
1/2 cup (8 tbsp) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 oz good-quality white chocolate (not chips), melted – I recommend Callebaut
1 – 2 tbsp heavy cream


Directions:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (I have a Bosch and just did the normal beaters, not the dough hook), cream butter until soft and fluffy then beat in the vanilla.  
2. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time; allow the sugar to mix in before adding the next 1/2 cup. Once all of the sugar has been added, beat on medium speed for 30 seconds and scrape down the sides of the bowl.  
3. Add in the melted white chocolate and beat on medium speed until incorporated.  
4. With the mixer on low, add in heavy cream 1 tbsp at a time and beat at medium speed until the frosting has reached your desired consistency.