Raspberry filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I brought this dessert to recipe night on Tuesday, I was really happy with how they turned out. 

Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 30 cupcakes
Recipe idea from Jamie Cooks It Up! Cake recipe from Cindi Schut

RASPBERRY FILLING: 
2 heaping C (one 12 ounce package) frozen raspberries
1 1/2 T cornstarch
2 T lemon juice
1/2 C sugar
1 T butter
1 t almond extract
dash salt

CUPCAKE: 
1 box Duncan Hines White Cake Mix
1/3 C flour
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
4 eggs
1/3 C sour cream
1 1/2 C water
1/3 C oil
1 t almond extract
  
FROSTING:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 C butter, softened
3 T shortening (I use butter flavored Crisco) 
5 1/2 C powdered sugar
4 T whipping cream   
1 t vanilla
dash salt

RASPBERRY FILLING
1. Place 2 heaping cups frozen raspberries, 1 1/2 T cornstarch, 2 T lemon juice and 1/2 C sugar into a medium sized sauce pan. Stir it around with a whisk to combine.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly. The raspberries will break down very quickly. Continue to stir while the mixture boils for about 2 minutes. 
or until the filling becomes glossy and thick...like this.
3. Remove the pan from the heat, add 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon almond extract and a dash of salt. The filling is a bit sour if eaten plain. However, remember that we are going to pipe it into a sweet cupcake and top it with an even sweeter frosting. The sweet and tart will work nicely together.
4. Set the filling aside to cool.
CUPCAKES
1. Into your stand mixer add 1 box white cake mix, 1/3 C flour and 1 small box of vanilla pudding. Toss it around with a fork to combine.
2. Add 4 eggs, 1/3 C sour cream, 1 1/2 C water, 1/3 C oil and 1 t almond extract to the dry ingredients. Mix on low for about 1 minute. Then scrape the sides of you mixer with a rubber spatula and beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and a bit thick. 2-3 minutes should do the trick.
3. Line your muffin tins with cupcake liners and spoon the batter into them. Now...a word to the wise here. I always tend to fill them too full. Don't make my same mistake, ok? Fill the liners just a bit over half way full. This will give you a nice round domed cupcake. If you fill them too full like I always seem to do, you will have cupcakes with more of a mushroom shape.
4. Bake the cupcakes at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Remove the pans from you oven and allow the cupcakes to rest in the pans for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack and let them cool completely. 
6. When your cupcakes (and filling) have cooled completely, place a large cake decorating tip into a pastry bag. Carefully fill the bag with the raspberry filling. This can get a little bit messy. Be sure that when you are filling the bag you turn the tip end up a bit so the filling doesn't run out.
7. Pipe the filling into each cupcake.

FROSTING
1. Place 1 package softened cream cheese,  1/2 C softened butter and 3 tablespoons shortning into your stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until well combined and smooth.
2. Add 5 1/2 C powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons whipping cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla and a dash of salt. Mix until well combined. If the mixture is too thick, add a bit more whipping cream. If it gets too runny, add a bit more powdered sugar.
3. Fill another pastry bag with the frosting and pipe it onto each cupcake.
Might be fun to add a few sprinkle hearts or something...since Valentines Day is just around the corner. :)
Enjoy!