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!
I have loads of strawberry 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 love them so much!
These cupcakes have been updated a couple times over the years with slight improvements, so that you get the best strawberry cupcakes. Compared to the original version from 2012, these cupcakes now use a method that gives you a smoother batter that’s easier to put together, plus has a few more chopped strawberries. The strawberry buttercream also now uses a reduced strawberry puree, rather than just a regular strawberry puree, to give you that extra strawberry flavor. All that said, overall the cupcake is the same. It’s still delicious and just as wonderful now as when I originally shared it.
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Cupcakes
- Loaded with strawberry flavor – From the chunks of strawberries in the cupcake, to the strawberry reduction in the buttercream, there’s no shortage of strawberry here. Bright, fruity and delicious flavor!
- No dyes – There’s no need for anything artificial here. The chunks of strawberry do the heavy lifting in the cupcake, and the buttercream gets it’s pink flavor naturally from the strawberry puree reduction.
- Easy to make – There’s no creaming involved, and you don’t even need a mixer for the cupcakes (just for the buttercream). These cupcakes come together quickly and easily. No gimmicks needed for amazing cupcakes.
- Moist for DAYS – With the fresh fruit adding moisture right into the cupcakes, these stay fresh for several days. Great for making ahead!
Ingredient Notes
Let’s take a look at the ingredients needed to make these cupcakes. They are pretty straight forward, but there are a few things to note. Please scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact measurements.
- All Purpose Flour – Measuring the flour correctly is key to getting the perfect texture. I like to use a food scale, but the spoon and level technique, as described in my How to Measure Flour Accurately post, also works. While I haven’t tested it myself, a quality 1:1 gluten-free flour should also work in these cupcakes.
- Baking powder and Baking Soda – The combination of the two gives this cupcake the ultimate rise and texture.
- Salt – Salt helps enhance the overall flavor of the cupcakes. Even a small amount makes a difference. Without it, the flavor is will be bland.
- Butter – Unsalted and melted for the cupcakes, since this recipe doesn’t cream the butter. It should be at room temperature for the buttercream.
- Eggs – Large sized eggs, not medium or extra large
- 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. If you don’t want to use sour cream, you could also try plain Greek yogurt.
- Milk – I use whole milk, but 2% would also work.
- Strawberries – I like to chop them on the smaller side for the cupcakes, so that more can fit into each cupcake. For the buttercream, they will be pureed and cooked down for a stronger flavor.
- Powdered sugar – To add sweetness and volume to the buttercream. You can always reduce the amount, if you’d like. Just keep in mind that you’ll have less buttercream and it’ll have a thinner consistency.
How to Make Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
Here’s a look at just how easy these cupcakes are to make. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool before frosting!
Make the Strawberry Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350°F 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, sour cream and milk one at a time, mixing well after adding each.
Add the dry ingredients and whisk together until combined. Don’t over mix.
Fold in the chopped strawberries gently.
Fill the cupcake liners a little more than half full. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Make the Buttercream and Frost Cupcakes
Puree your strawberries, then 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 3/4 cup to about 6 tablespoons.
Set reduced puree aside to cool.
Flavor the buttercream with the strawberry reduction, then frost the cupcakes.
Tips for Perfect Cupcakes
- Use strawberries with good flavor. The flavor of your cake will only be as good as your strawberries.
- Don’t over mix. When combining all of the cupcake ingredients, mix just until everything is combined and no streaks of flour remain. Over mixing = more gluten development = dense cupcakes.
- Keep an eye on bake time. Every oven is different, so I recommend checking the cupcakes at about the 18 minute mark, then adjusting from there. A toothpick inserted in the center of the cake should come out clean.
- Stir the reduction frequently. The strawberry reduction will burn to the pan if it’s not stirred consistently. The constant stirring also helps more liquid evaporate.
- Thicken your buttercream properly. I know it’s tempting to reduce the powdered sugar for many people, but if you make your buttercream too thin (by reducing the powdered sugar), you won’t be able to add the strawberry reduction without getting a frosting that’s much too thin, or even separated. If you really want to reduce the sugar, reduce everything and just make less buttercream that has the same consistency.
How to Store
- Refrigerator. Seal any leftovers in an airtight container tall enough to accommodate the frosting (ideally a cupcake carrier) and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer. When stored properly in a freezer-safe airtight container, these cupcakes will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in the fridge before enjoying.
These goodies are best at room temperature, so let them sit out on the counter for a bit before serving.
More Great Strawberry Recipes
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Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
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Ingredients
CUPCAKES
- 1 ⅔ cups (217g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (168g) unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup (207g) sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (115g) sour cream
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons (90ml) milk
- 1 ½ cups (200g) chopped strawberries
FROSTING
- 1 ½ cups (200g) chopped strawberries
- 1 ¼ cups (280g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 5 cups (575g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon 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 tablespoons, about 10-15 minutes. To measure, pour the puree into a measuring cup. If it’s more than 6 tablespoons (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 or in an air-tight container. Serve at room temperature. Best if eaten within 2-3 days.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Enjoy!
Categories:
Cakes and Cupcakes, Easter, Holidays, July 4th, Recipes, Recipes with video, Sweets and Treats, Valentine's Day,
Is the flour for the cupcake all purpose flour ?
Yes, all purpose flour
Hi lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com 🙂
I’m loving the sound of these cupcakes! Can’t wait to test them tomorrow. Wondering if you could freeze these at all? If so up to how long could you possibly leave them?
I have frozen similar cupcakes and they seem to do fine. To have a fresher cupcake, I’d say one to two weeks. But I know my mom freezes them for longer and still enjoys them.
I have a bit of a random question for you. My daughter’s birthday is in a couple weeks, I’ve made this recipe before and she really liked it. But she wants chocolate strawberry cupcakes, she’s turning 7. I want to make them together for her birthday, do you have any ideas? Thanks ahead of time, I know it’s a little weird but I can’t find a recipe anywhere and yours were so good!
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the cupcakes! One option would be to add chocolate frosting to these cupcakes. The other option would be to try these Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes. I hope that helps!
Hi Lindsay,
I just wanted to confirm that you use “salted” butter for the icing, and “non-salted” for the batter correct?
PS I just made the smores cupcakes and they turned out AMAZING!
I used salted butter for both.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the smores cupcakes! 🙂
Hi,
Did you use plain flour or self raising?
Thanks
It’s regular all purpose flour.
Thanks! 🙂
Greetings Linsday from Sunny Durban, South Africa,
Thank you so much for creating these cupcakes….. they are a huge hit!! so fresh and light.
Baked these for a birthday treat for the guys at the office and they ALL loved them.
Thanks again Lindsay 🙂
Take Care and have a supa weekend
Chantal Singh
Durban South Africa
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! And how fun that you are from South Africa! That’s where my husband is from and we are going to be visiting in a couple months. 🙂
Hi! These cupcakes look amazing and I’m really looking foward to bake them, but is there any substitute for the sour cream?
You should be able to substitute more milk for the sour cream. I haven’t tried it, but it should work.
Hello I followed your recipe and it tastes delicious! Texture wise on the inside , it was a bit different. I did the toothpick test and it came out clean. But when I ate it, the inside was a bit on the mushy side? When you look at it, it doesn’t look mushy but maybe after 2 seconds in your mouth, it kinda feels that way? Should I just put it in the oven a bit longer? or add more flour?
It’s possible that they needed to be baked a bit longer. But the strawberries get very moist when baked – maybe that is the mushiness you taste?
Hello,
Do you think creme fraiche could be substituted for the sour cream?
Thanks!
I’m really not familiar with creme fraiche so it’d be hard to say. I’m sorry.
I recently made these for my daughter’s farmer’s market themed 2nd birthday. They were a hit! I’ve passed the recipe onto three people already. One lady commented that she recently toured NYC looking for the best cupcakes and these topped them all ;). The cupcakes fell in the centers quite a bit after cooling, but the frosting covered that right up! Thanks for your diligent work on the recipe.
What a fun birthday theme! I’m so glad the cupcakes were loved by everyone! Thanks Katie!
These cupcakes look so good and great for summer!
Thanks Matea!
Would you know of any substitutes to make this gluten free?
I’m sorry, Jenny, I don’t know enough about baking gluten free to make suggestions.
Hi lindsay… love your recipes so much. Whats the different between sourmilk/cream with butter milk? Can be replace each other? Thank u
Thank you Linda! I’m so glad you enjoy the recipes! From what I can tell, the difference between the milks is subtle and they often can replace each other. I haven’t tried sour milk in these cupcakes though, so I can’t say if would make a difference or not. If you try it, I’d love to know what you think.
Do you think this would work with blueberries instead?
I think it’d be excellent with blueberries! I’ve been wanting to do it myself.
FYI: I tried the cupcake recipe yesterday and made 1/2 recipe with strawberries and 1/2 recipe with blueberries. I left the icing plain on the blueberries and added the puree to the icing for the strawberry cupcakes. They were delicious! Thanks so much for the recipe.
I baked them yesterday .. They are amazingly delicious .. My family loved them so much ..
I boiled down the strawberries to use it for the cake and i used strawberry jam for the frosting …
Thank you soooo much for the recipe 3>
I’m so glad you liked them! 🙂
It looks delicious ..
what if I use strawberry puree made of frozen strawberries instead of chopped strawberries, is that will change the result ??
bcuz I don’t have fresh strawberry right now ><
I’m glad your solution worked well! Sorry I didn’t get to respond sooner.
This recipie sounds great im going to make it tonight. One question. Can i substitue cream cheese for the sour cream ?
Cream cheese would be too heavy in the cupcakes. You’ll need sour cream.