Strawberry Cool Whip Frosting

My little nephew/cousin (he's actually my husband's cousin's son....so I don't know what that relationship is actually called...) just turned six - such a big kid already!  I was asked to bring cupcakes to his party and the guidance I got was that he likes chocolate and strawberries, and his favorite colors are pink and blue.  The kicker is that his little brother can't have corn products, like corn syrup or corn starch or veggie oil (if it's blended with corn oil).

My mind started spinning as to what I could make.  I decided on my favorite chocolate cupcakes and a strawberry frosting with blue sprinkles.  The cupcakes are so rich and chocolatey and are perfectly complimented by the fresh and sweet strawberry frosting.  I was worried that the strawberry frosting would taste artificial because it largely gets its flavor from a packet of strawberry jello but the addition of fresh berries really brighten it up!

The CORN-FREE recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 3oz package strawberry jello (not sugar free)
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened at room temperature
8 medium sized strawberries, mashed (I used a potato masher)
3-6 tablespoons powdered sugar (make sure it's Kosher for Passover which contains potato starch, or make your own by following Martha Stewarts Recipe, or just blend a few tablespoons of sugar until powdery and use immediately - the potato starch acts an an anti-clumping agent)

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat heavy cream until stiff peaks using the whisk attachment (but don't over beat or it will start to separate and turn into butter and whey).  Stir in vanilla extract and strawberry jello.  Transfer to a medium bowl.

2.  In the bowl of the stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth.  Slowly add whipped cream one heaping spoonful at a time, mixing slowly until all the cream is incorporated.  Add the mashed strawberries.

3.  Add powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until the desired sweetness and consistency is reached.


The REGULAR recipe:

Ingredients:
2 8oz packages cool whip, or 2 cups of heavy whipping cream whipped to stiff peaks
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 3oz package strawberry jello (not sugar free)
1 8oz package cream cheese
8 medium sized strawberries, mashed (I used a potato masher)
3-6 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions:

1.  In a medium bowl, whisk the cool whip, vanilla, and jello together.

2.  In the bowl of the stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth.  Slowly add whipped cream one heaping spoonful at a time, mixing slowly until all the cream is incorporated.  Add the mashed strawberries.

3.  Add powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until the desired sweetness and consistency is reached.