Creating Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes involves a few straightforward steps. Here’s how to do it:

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. Make the Cupcake Batter:
– In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
– In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
– Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, stirring until just combined.

3. Prepare the Cheesecake Filling:
– In another bowl, blend the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until creamy.
– Add the egg and mix just until incorporated. Gently fold in the diced strawberries.

4. Fill the Cupcake Liners:
– Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cupcake batter into each liner.
– Follow with 1 tablespoon of the cheesecake filling, then top with another tablespoon of cupcake batter.

5. Bake:
– Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Cool:
– Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. Make the Frosting:
– In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy.
– Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until well combined. Adjust the consistency with additional powdered sugar if needed.

8. Frost the Cupcakes: Once cooled, spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting onto each cupcake.

9. Garnish: Top each cupcake with a fresh strawberry for an extra touch of sweetness and aesthetic appeal.