Recipe: Jam Donut Cupcakes {Coles Cake Mix Hack}

Summary: Yes! Jam donut cupcakes, you that right. As regular readers will know, I make cake for each of my nieces and nephews birthdays. One of my nephews isn’t really into frosting (the best part!) and loves donuts, so I thought jam & cream would be perfect. A vanilla cupcake filled with homemade strawberry jam, topped with a pillow of cream, more jam and a cinnamon donut hole! While you really only need 12 donuts for decorating, there’s no harm in having a few extra for the eating. I made a quick strawberry jam for that nice tart/sweet but store bought has its charm too. The jam can be made a few days ahead, if that helps. I made the cakes and donuts the day before and assembled them just before serving. This is one of my Coles cake mix hacks, if you check out the original post here, you will find a whole list of cake hacks at the bottom. There are all kinds of flavours and styles of cake and things for all occasions.

Ingredients

• 1 Coles 75c butter cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 2/3 cup light sour cream 
• 3 tblsp vegetable oil

For the strawberry jam filling 

• 500g frozen strawberries
• 140g sugar  

For the whipped cream frosting 

• 600ml whipping cream, very cold
• 4 tblsp icing sugar
• 1 tsp arrowroot powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 batch donut holes 

Instructions

1. For the strawberry filling: Add strawberries and sugar to saucepan and bring to a boil.Mash strawberries with a potato masher to break them down. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 20 mins. Set aside to cool.
2. Preheat the oven to 160C and line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper patty pan liners.
3. In a large bowl, add the cake mix followed by the eggs, vanilla, sour cream and oil. Whisk together until smooth and glossy. Divide the batter between the 12 patty pans.
4. Bake for 15-18 minutes (mine are always perfect at 17 mins) or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a rack before frosting.
5. To make the whipped cream frosting: Add the cream to the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment (or with electric beaters) and beat until soft peaks form. 
6. Add the icing sugar, vanilla and arrowroot and beat to desired consistency.
7. Pipe cream onto the cupcakes and top with extra jam and a donut hole.