California Cupcakes

Ingredients

Original recipe makes 4 dozen cupcakes

 2 (19.8 ounce) packages brownie mix
 1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
 5 eggs
 1/4 cup water
 1 (18.25 ounce) package strawberry cake mix
 1 cup water
 4 eggs
 1/2 cup vegetable oil
 2 cups unsalted butter
 1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar, sifted
 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2-Line 48 muffin cups with paper liners.
3-Stir both packages of brownie mix with 1 cup vegetable oil, 4 eggs, and 1/2 cup water in a large bowl until evenly combined and smooth.
4-Mix strawberry cake mix with 1 cup water, 3 eggs, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil in a separate bowl until moistened. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
5-Spoon about 2 tablespoons brownie batter into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup.
6-Top the brownie batter with strawberry cake batter, filling each cup about 2/3 full.
7-Bake in the preheated oven until the cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
8-Cool in pans for about 10 minutes before removing to finish cooling on racks.

9-Beat unsalted butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a bowl until butter is pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.