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These Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes are moist, tender and totally addicting! There are pieces of chopped strawberry in the cupcake and they are topped with strawberry buttercream! So much flavor and perfect for spring and summer!
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
I have loads of strawberry-based desserts on this site and certainly no shortage of variations of strawberry cake and cupcakes. What I love about these though is that they are pretty straight forward with a one-bowl vanilla cupcake base and chunks of strawberries in the batter. There’s plenty of strawberry flavor from the chunks of berries and then they are topped with a delicious strawberry buttercream. These cupcakes are light, moist and full of flavor. I’m so in love!
This is actually the second time this recipe has been updated. The original version was posted way back when I first started this blog, in 2012. Then it was updated in 2014. And now it’s being updated again, only this time the recipe is basically the same.
There are a few little updates to the method for the cupcake to give you a smoother batter that’s easier to put together, plus a little more chopped strawberry. And then the strawberry buttercream now uses a reduced strawberry puree, rather than just a regular strawberry puree, to give you that extra strawberry flavor. But overall the cupcake is the same. Despite being about 7 years old, it’s still delicious and just as wonderful now as when I originally shared it. Love it!
Recipe Ingredients
For the Strawberry Cupcakes
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking powder and Baking Soda: The combination of the two gives this cupcake the ultimate texture.
- Salt: For flavor.
- Butter: Unsalted and melted, since this recipe doesn’t cream the butter.
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Eggs: Large sized eggs.
- Sour Cream: Not only does sour cream add moisture, it also helps to keep the batter thick enough so that the strawberries don’t all sink to the bottom of your cupcakes.
- Milk
- Chopped Strawberries: One and half cups of chopped strawberries for cupcakes that are loaded with flavor!
For the Strawberry Buttercream
- Strawberries: You’ll need about 1 1/2 cups of chopped strawberries, measured after chopping.
- Unsalted Butter: Control the amount of salt in your buttercream by adding it yourself. Butter should be room temperature.
- Powdered Sugar: For volume and thickness.
- Vanilla Extract: For flavor.
- Salt: To taste
How to Make Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
These cupcakes are quite simple to make. I LOVE that they use only one bowl for the cupcake batter! Unlike my typical cupcake recipes, there’s no creaming involved, so they are super quick to make.
Make the Strawberry Cupcakes
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- Combine Butter, Sugar and Vanilla: In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract together until well combined.
- Add Eggs, Sour Cream and Milk: Add the eggs, sour cream and milk one at a time, mixing well after adding each. Adding them one at a time ensures they all incorporate nicely, without giving you a lumpy batter.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients and whisk together until combined, but do not over mix. You want the batter to be evenly mixed and smooth, but don’t over do it or you could end up with tough cupcakes.
- Stir in Strawberries: Fold in the chopped strawberries gently. You don’t want to beat up your strawberries or over mix the batter.
- Bake: Fill the cupcake liners a little more than half full and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Make the Strawberry Buttercream
- Make the strawberry reduction: Using a strawberry reduction doubles up the strawberry flavor. To make it, you’ll puree your strawberries, then cook them down by half. So after pureeing your strawberries, you should have about 3/4 cup of puree. Add the puree to a small sized saucepan and cook over medium heat. Allow the mixture to come to a slow boil, stirring consistently to keep it from burning, until it has thickened and reduced to about 6 tbsp, about 10-15 minutes. To measure, pour the puree into a measuring cup. If it’s more than 6 tbsp (between 1/4 and 1/2 cup), add it back to the pan and continue cooking. Set aside to cool when it’s done.
- Beat Butter: Add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Carefully add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and well combined.
- Add Strawberry Reduction, Vanilla and Salt: Add 4 tablespoons of the strawberry reduction, vanilla extract and the salt to the frosting and mix until well combined.
- Finish Powdered Sugar: Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
- Get the Right Consistency: Add additional strawberry reduction as needed to get the right consistency and flavor.
Assemble the Cupcakes
- Pipe the Frosting: Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. I used Ateco tip 844.
- Garnish: Decorate with a strawberry half, if desired.
More Great Strawberry Recipes
Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes
Homemade Strawberry Cake
No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
Strawberries and Cream Cheesecake Cake
Strawberry Crunchy Layer Cake
Watch How To Make Them
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 14-16 Cupcakes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes are moist, tender and totally addicting! There are pieces of chopped strawberry in the cupcake and they are topped with strawberry buttercream! So much flavor and perfect for spring and summer!
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
- 1 2/3 cups (217g) all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (207g) sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (115g) sour cream
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp milk
- 1 1/2 cups (200g) chopped strawberries
FROSTING
- 1 1/2 cups (200g) chopped strawberries
- 1 1/4 cups (280g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 5 cups (575g) powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch or two of salt
- Strawberries, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract together until well combined.
- Add the eggs and whisk together until well combined.
- Add the sour cream and whisk together until well combined.
- Add the milk and whisk together until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and whisk together until combined, but do not over mix.
- Fold in the chopped strawberries.
- Fill the cupcake liners a little more than half full and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove cupcakes from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.
- To make the strawberry buttercream, make the strawberry reduction. Add the strawberries to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. You should have about 3/4 cups of puree.
- Add the puree to a small sized saucepan and cook over medium heat. Allow the mixture to come to a slow boil, stirring consistently to keep it from burning, until it has thickened and reduced to about 6 tbsp, about 10-15 minutes. To measure, pour the puree into a measuring cup. If it’s more than 6 tbsp (between 1/4 and 1/2 cup), add it back to the pan and continue cooking.
- When the puree has thickened and reduced, pour into a large measuring cup and allow to cool to at least room temperature. This strawberry mixture can be made ahead, if you like, and stored in the fridge.
- Add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth.
- Carefully add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and well combined.
- Add 4 tablespoons of the strawberry reduction, vanilla extract and the salt to the frosting and mix until well combined.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add additional strawberry reduction as needed to get the right consistency and flavor.
- Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. I used Ateco tip 844. Decorate with a strawberry half, if desired.
- Cupcakes are best when stored well covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. Serve at room temperature
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 26.3 g
- Sodium: 100.8 mg
- Fat: 15.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34.1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 42.6 mg
Filed Under:
Enjoy!
I just made these and they are very dense
Wondering if it’s because it dorant call for salt and I used unsalted butter? Anybody know.
I don’t think the salt would be a problem. The cupcakes should be somewhere in the middle of dense and light and fluffy. There are a few things that could make them a little more dense – you want to make sure you measure the wet ingredients correctly using a measuring cup rather than the scoops used for dry ingredients. It’s possible that not enough air was beat into the batter – you don’t want to overbeat it, but once everything is combined, maybe beat another 20-30 seconds or so to get a little more air into it. And while this likely isn’t it – you could check your baking soda and baking powder for freshness – they are what makes the cupcake rise.
Also, because of the strawberries, make sure they aren’t too soft and liquid-y (like frozen strawberries). You don’t want to add more moisture from the berries.
Hi lindsey
thank you for the wonderful recipe. tried today for mother’s day. My frosting, however didnt turn out as good-it kind of split and wasnt firm, i also found it too sweet. is there a wau that we can cut down the sugar and fix the split?
I’m sorry the frosting didn’t turn out. I’m not sure why that would happen. The strawberry puree should really just add moisture and flavor to the icing base. Next time, try adding a little bit of puree at a time, just until it’s the right consistency. As for cutting down on the sweetness, if you use less powdered sugar, the icing probably won’t be thick enough. Some people tend to think cream cheese icing is less sweet though. You could try replacing the butter and shortening with cream cheese and make a strawberry cream cheese icing. I hope that helps!
You can add a touch of salt and that really helps cut the sweetness .
I just whipped up a batch for Mothers Day tomorrow and I have to say these are the best cupcakes I have ever made. And the best strawberry creation I’ve tasted. I made my own purée for the icing by boiling down 1/2 lb Strawberries and 1 Tblsp of Sugar until it’s like gooey jam and then blending it. This made the perfect amount for this recipe. My yield ended up being 18 cupcakes not 2 dozen. Next time I’ll just fill them half way to get the full yield. Thank you for this recipe!
Awesome! Thank you! I’m so glad you are happy with them! 🙂
These look amazing! Am I able to use frozen strawberries for this? Or does it have to be fresh?
I love baking. My friend goes to meetings every week & I often make something for her to take. She will love these, especially since they are made with fresh strawberries and homemade at that. Many thanks for sharing – can’t wait to try them. My mouth is watering just looking at the pics.
Gorgeous! I love baking with fresh strawberries!
Thanks Jessica! I do too 🙂
I love when a recipe for a baked good can pull off fresh fruit successfully. These look completely delightful!
I made the icing with just butter and although the icing tasted wonderful it did not look appealing. Any suggestions? The cupcake was a great hit with my family. Thank you 🙂
Hi Christine! I’m glad everyone loved the cupcake! Can you describe what about the icing looked unappealing? What is not firm enough?
Thank you Risa!
I was wondering if the strawberry cupcakes should be refrigerated or would they become runny?
These are absolutely gorgeous! I am obsessed. When I get fresh strawberries from the farmers market this summer I am 100% going home to bake these right away.
Thanks Rachel! You definitely should – SO good!
These cupcakes are total perfection Lindsay! I want to shove that frosting in my face right now. Pinned and shared on FB!
Haha, thanks Trish! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
I absolutely love strawberry frosting and could eat it straight out of a bowl with a spoon!! But it looks just gorgeous on top of these pretty cupcakes Lindsay!!
Thanks Renee! 🙂
These look so delicious! And perfectly dressed for Spring!
Thanks Lindsey! 🙂
Is strawberry puree just strawberries blended up and mashed in a blender?
Yes, basically. You can use a blender. I used my food processor.
I can’t wait till berry season so I can make these delicious cupcakes.
I’m in strawberry heaven! Love these cupcakes…and your other strawberry recipes too!
Thank you Marly! 🙂
These look insanely delicious! And that frosting? Get out!
Thanks Mandy!
Is there a way to pin individual recipes from your blog. I already have your blog pinned but it would be super if I could figure out a way to pin individual. I have tried pinning from the Bloglovin pin at the top but no picture shows up.
Thanks.
I’m sorry you’re having trouble Patty! At the bottom of each post, a little above the comments, is a line of social media icons that you can use to share posts – pinterest is one of them. I’ve also just installed something that will now put a “pin it” button at the top of each post. I hope that helps!
These cupcakes are absolutely gorgeous! I love the strawberries in them. Pinned 🙂
Thanks Lisa!
Are these standard size or minis ?
They are standard size cupcakes.
Hi do I add all the milk(1/4 + 1/8) in the cup cake mix
Yes, you add it all. There’s just not a good way to note that measurement. Though I guess technically it’s 3/8 of a cup. 🙂
I am not a fan of sorr cream. Could i replace that with whipped cream?
You could try using plain yogurt.
Is there an available video for this recipe?
Not at this time. Sorry!