Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

The other day I was in the mood to make some cupcakes, but didn't want to make anything too tricky. I decided to just make some vanilla cupcakes using a recipe from joyofbaking.com, with a simple buttercream frosting. I used a basic vanilla frosting recipe from the food network website, but substituted the vanilla extract for strawberry extract. They were super simple and easy but they tasted good and turned out pretty cute.

Ingredients:
Vanilla Cupcakes:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 large lemon (optional)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and lightly butter or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing.

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting:
Ingredients:
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
strawberry extract (**I didn't measure how much I used, I just added it until it tasted right. It probably ended up being about 1 teaspoon)
1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
pink or red food coloring

Directions:
In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
Add extract, food coloring, and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.