If you are looking to fill your kitchen with the irresistible scent of fresh berries and bake something that genuinely celebrates the juicy, vibrant flavor of strawberries, then this Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe is exactly what you need. These cupcakes are a delightful harmony of tender cake and creamy frosting, bursting with the essence of genuine strawberries rather than artificial extracts, making each bite a fresh, fruity experience. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply craving a sweet, homemade treat, this recipe brings the heart of spring right into your dessert plate.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe relies on a handful of simple, fresh, and essential ingredients that work together to create a moist texture, beautiful color, and authentic strawberry flavor. Every component is carefully chosen to complement the others, ensuring a balanced and delicious cupcake.
- Fresh strawberries (8 large): The star of the show, pureed to infuse the batter with natural sweetness and vibrant color.
- Eggs (2): They provide structure and help bind the ingredients into a tender crumb.
- White sugar (1 cup): Adds sweetness and helps with browning during baking.
- Vegetable oil (â…“ cup): Keeps the cupcakes moist and soft without overpowering flavors.
- Vanilla extract (½ teaspoon): Enhances the overall flavor and pairs beautifully with the strawberries.
- Lemon zest (½ teaspoon): Adds a subtle, refreshing zing that brightens the cupcake.
- All-purpose flour (1 ½ cups): The base of the cupcake, providing structure.
- Baking powder (2 teaspoons): Gives the cupcakes a light and airy rise.
- Salt (¼ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
- Instant vanilla pudding mix (3 tablespoons, optional): Adds extra richness and softness.
- Red food coloring (1 drop, optional): For that perfect pink hue if desired.
- Cream cheese (¾ cup, softened): Creates a creamy, tangy frosting that complements the strawberries perfectly.
- Butter (2 tablespoons, softened): Adds richness and smooth texture to the frosting.
- Confectioners’ sugar (½ cup): Sweetens and thickens the frosting to just the right consistency.
- Fresh strawberries (3 large, sliced for topping): The perfect finishing touch to showcase the real fruit.
How to Make Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pans
Start by preheating your oven to 325°F (165°C). This moderate temperature allows the cupcakes to bake evenly without drying out. Spray your cupcake pans with cooking spray or line them with cupcake liners to ensure the cupcakes come out easily after baking.
Step 2: Puree the Strawberries
Take your fresh strawberries and blend them until smooth, then strain through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. This creates a luscious puree that delivers an intense strawberry flavor without any grit, contributing to the cake’s moisture and natural pink tone.
Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until slightly fluffy. Add the vegetable oil, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and the strawberry puree you just made. Mixing these ingredients well ensures they combine smoothly, giving your cupcakes a tender crumb and an aromatic strawberry-laced base.
Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and instant vanilla pudding mix if you’re using it. Slowly incorporate this dry mixture into your wet ingredients, stirring just until smooth to keep the batter light. Adding a drop of red food coloring here is optional but will intensify the pink strawberry aesthetic without altering the flavor.
Step 5: Fill and Bake
Distribute your batter evenly into the cupcake pans, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Bake for around 23 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once baked, allow the cupcakes to cool for at least 10 minutes before frosting.
Step 6: Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting
While the cupcakes cool, whip together the softened cream cheese and butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract, beating until you have a silky, spreadable frosting that’s just sweet enough to complement the strawberry cake without overpowering it.
Step 7: Frost and Garnish
Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, generously spread about 2 tablespoons of frosting on each. Top with fresh strawberry slices to add a fresh, juicy bite and an elegant appearance. Your Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe is now ready to impress!
How to Serve Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe
Garnishes
A simple sliced fresh strawberry on top brings a bright, authentic touch both visually and flavor-wise. You can also sprinkle a few tiny mint leaves or a light dusting of powdered sugar to elevate the presentation and add some extra freshness to every bite.
Side Dishes
These cupcakes pair beautifully with a cup of tea, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a fresh fruit salad. The light, fruity nature of this Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe means you can serve it alongside other mildly sweet treats without overwhelming your taste buds.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving these cupcakes in rustic paper liners with a small decorative pick holding a miniature strawberry or a tiny flag for festive occasions. Another idea is to arrange them on a tiered stand alongside other berry-flavored treats for a colorful dessert spread that will wow your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This helps preserve the freshness of the cream cheese frosting and keeps the strawberry flavor vibrant. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture and taste.
Freezing
You can freeze unfrosted cupcakes by wrapping them individually in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight and frost just before serving to maintain the integrity of the frosting and fresh strawberry flavor.
Reheating
For warmed cupcakes, allow refrigerated cupcakes to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes, or warm unfrosted ones in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Avoid reheating frosted cupcakes to prevent melting the cream cheese frosting and altering its texture.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
While fresh strawberries provide the best texture and flavor for the Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe, you can use thawed frozen strawberries. Just be sure to drain excess liquid to avoid making the batter too wet.
What if I don’t have instant vanilla pudding mix?
The pudding mix is optional and used to add extra moisture and tenderness, but if you don’t have it, your cupcakes will still turn out delicious and moist. Simply omit it and adjust baking time slightly if needed.
How do I prevent the cream cheese frosting from being runny?
Make sure your cream cheese and butter are softened but not melted, and gradually add confectioners’ sugar to reach the perfect consistency. Chilling the frosting slightly before use can also help it firm up.
Can I make these cupcakes vegan or dairy-free?
This recipe isn’t designed vegan or dairy-free but you could experiment with substitutes like flax eggs for binds and vegan cream cheese and butter alternatives. Keep in mind the texture and flavor might vary slightly.
Why is my frosting too sweet or too tangy?
Adjusting the amount of confectioners’ sugar can help balance the sweetness. If your cream cheese is particularly tangy, a little more powdered sugar or a touch of vanilla extract often helps mellow it out.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly special about baking with real fruit, and this Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe brings all the fresh, juicy goodness of strawberries inside every tender bite. I hope you’ll enjoy making and sharing these cupcakes as much as I do—they’re the perfect way to brighten any day with a splash of natural sweetness and a warm homemade touch.
Print
Real Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in these Real Strawberry Cupcakes bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, moist texture, and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting and sliced strawberries. Perfect for any celebration or a sweet treat!
Ingredients
Cupcake Batter:
- 8 large fresh strawberries, or as needed
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup white sugar
- â…“ cup vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix (optional)
- 1 drop red food coloring (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ¾ cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large fresh strawberries, sliced (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease or line your cupcake pans with liners to prevent sticking and set them aside.
- Make Strawberry Puree: Place 8 fresh strawberries into a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine sieve to remove seeds, reserving about ¾ cup for the batter.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, white sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and the fresh strawberry puree until thoroughly combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually stir in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, optional pudding mix, and optional red food coloring until the batter is smooth and even.
- Fill Cupcake Cups: Pour the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for approximately 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, remove from the oven and allow cupcakes to cool for at least 10 minutes.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting is creamy and smooth.
- Frost and Top Cupcakes: Using about 2 tablespoons of cream cheese frosting per cupcake, frost each one generously. Garnish the top with sliced fresh strawberries for a pretty, fresh finish.
Notes
- To avoid seeds in the batter, be sure to strain the strawberry puree thoroughly.
- Instant vanilla pudding mix adds extra moisture and flavor but can be omitted for a more traditional cupcake.
- Use fresh and ripe strawberries for the best flavor and sweetness.
- Ensure cream cheese and butter are softened for smooth frosting.
- These cupcakes are best eaten within 2 days or stored refrigerated due to the cream cheese frosting.
