Strawberry Cupcakes made with Real Strawberries

These amazing fluffy Strawberry Cupcakes are made with fresh strawberries. This is the best Strawberry Cupcakes recipe ever! It is the only one that I have used for years! Made with fresh strawberries and simple ingredients this homemade strawberry cupcake recipe will be a hit with anyone who tries them.

Strawberry Cupcakes

I came up with this fresh Strawberry Cupcakes recipe to satisfy my daughter’s pink obsession. Anything pink is something that she wants in her life. She wants to wear pink clothing, have pink food and decorate everything in pink that she can. We read the pinkalicious book more times then I can count, but she loves it so I am happy to oblige with the pink and make her happy.

My daughter was so excited when I made her these pink strawberry cupcakes made with real strawberries. I topped them with my favorite homemade strawberry buttercream frosting and she was happy as could be.

This homemade strawberry cupcakes recipe has the perfect balance of sweet strawberry flavor with a fluffy cupcake that makes it the best strawberry cupcake recipe ever.

What is a cupcake?

Cupcakes are individual cakes meant to serve one person, that are baked in muffin tins, in paper liners or reusable liners and typically topped with frosting. They are perfect for serving at parties and get togethers as they are individual desserts that can be eaten without utensils. This cupcake recipe is made with fresh strawberry puree that gives them the perfect natural strawberry flavor.

Cupcake Recipes

• Book Cupcakes
• Cafe Mocha Cupcakes
• Andes Mint Cupcakes
• Dirt Cupcakes
• Salted Caramel Cupcakes
• Baseball Cupcakes
• chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes
• Salted Caramel Cupcakes

Tips for Making the best Strawberry Cupcakes

Follow the recipe. Each cupcake recipe is different. It is important to follow the recipe as directed. all of our cupcake recipes have been tested multiple times to make sure they are perfect.

Do not over mix. When you make the cupcake batter it’s important that once you add the flour you’re not over mixing the batter. If you mix it too much the flour molecules will form a more strong gluten structure which in turn leads to a tough cupcake. So make sure you follow directions closely and you’ll have a nice light and airy cupcake.

Homemade Strawberry Puree. When it is time to make your strawberry puree the number of strawberries you will need will depend on the size of the strawberries. The important part is that you end up with 1/3 cup of the finished strawberry puree.

Bring ingredients to room temperature. Cupcakes will bake best when the ingredients are brought to room temperature before mixing the cupcake batter.

Allow cupcakes to cool completely. Before frosting the cupcakes let them cool completely. If you frost cupcakes while they are still warm then the frosting will melt.

Fill the cupcake liners appropriately. You do not want to over fill the cupcake liners. Follow the directions for the specific cupcake recipe, if the recipe doesn’t tell you how full stick to the 2/3 full rule. Which is roughly 3 tablespoons of cupcake batter per cupcake liner.

Use the best kitchen tool for filling liners. If you are working with a thick cupcake batter then you want to use a spoon or a cookie scoop to fill the cupcake liners. If it is a thin cupcake batter then use a bowl with a spout or a glass measuring cup to pour in the batter.

Use quality cupcake liners. While you might not think it matters a cupcake liner but having a quality cupcake liner will make it so your cupcakes don’t stick to the wrapper and peel off nicely so you can see the perfect cupcake in it.

Bake one tray at a time. Using the center of the oven rack and bake one tray of cupcakes at a time. This will give you the best cupcake results.

Fresh or Frozen Strawberries

If it doesn’t happen to be the strawberry season for you then you can always use frozen strawberries that have been thawed out.

How do Make the Strawberry Cupcakes pink?

If you are wanting to have bright pink cupcakes then you will want to add a few drops of red food coloring to the batter. You only need a few drops of food coloring to get a nice pink color. I personally don’t like to add food coloring and there is a great strawberry flavor in these cupcakes while not being bright in color.

How to tell when cupcakes are done baking

I like to use the toothpick test when I am making cupcakes with the kids because it is easier for them to see and learn. But if you have been making cupcakes for a while you may not want to use that method. If you are wanting an even easier method, the cupcake bounce done method as we call it is even easier. Pull the tray of cupcakes out from the oven and lightly press on a cupcake in the middle of the baking pan. If it bounces right back and no fingerprint is left behind then your cupcakes are done. If there is a fingerprint you need to bake them for a few more minutes.

How to Store Cupcakes

It is best to store cupcakes in an airtight container on the counter. Cupcakes are best to be enjoyed with in 48 hours of making them. They won’t be bad to eat after 40 hours but they will start to dry out and not be as fresh.

After frosting cupcakes you are ok to store them on the counter for a day or 2 but after that they should be stored in the fridge.

If you are storing them unfrosted you can store them in an airtight container or a plastic bag. If you are storing them with frosting on top I suggest using a cupcake storage container.

How to Freeze Homemade Cupcakes

You will want to freeze them without any frosting on them. Wrap them individually with plastic wrap and freeze on a baking sheet. Then once they are solid store in a zip close freezer bag. They will keep for up to 2 months when frozen.

How to thaw frozen cupcakes

To thaw, simply remove them from the freezer and defrost them. Then frost as normal.

Tips for Decorating Cupcakes

• Make an icing swirl. If you have always wanted to make an icing swirl so you have pretty cupcakes, check out this step by step guide on how to make an icing swirl. It really changes the look of your cupcakes!
• Swirl frosting on top of cupcakes. If you are using different flavored frostings and want them both on top of your cupcake swirled together, check out how to swirl two icing flavors. If you want to layer your frosting flavors, check out the layered frosting swirl!
• Use a frosting bag. Piping frosting on cupcakes is easy, the hardest part is filling a pastry bag with the frosting and not making a mess. Check out this post for the easy way to fill a pastry bag with frosting.

How to fill cupcakes with filling

If you are wanting to put a filling inside of a cupcake it is super easy to do so. Using your apple corer remove about one inch of the center of each cupcake fill the cupcake hole with the filling.

I find it easiest to use a pastry bag to add the filling to the cupcakes. It is much easier and a lot less messy if you use a pastry bag then using a spoon to fill the cupcakes. You will want to fill the pastry bag with the filling of your choice the same way you fill a pastry bag with frosting.

What Frosting Goes with Strawberry Cupcakes?

• Cream Cheese Frosting.This classic frosting pairs perfectly with the sweetness of strawberry cupcakes. The tangy flavor of cream cheese balances the sweetness of the cupcakes, creating a delicious and creamy combination.
• Strawberry Buttercream frosting. For a more strawberry-forward option, try a strawberry buttercream frosting.
• Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. If you want a simple and classic frosting option, vanilla buttercream is always a safe bet. The light and fluffy texture of the frosting pairs well with the soft and moist texture of the cupcakes, while the vanilla flavor provides a nice balance to the sweetness of the strawberries.
• Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. If you like the combination of strawberries and chocolate then pairing these cupcakes with a chocolate frosting is a great combination. The rich and decadent flavor of chocolate complements the sweet and fruity taste of the cupcakes, creating a deliciously indulgent dessert. If you want to get extra fancy to add some freeze-dried strawberries or a chocolate-covered strawberry on top of each cupcake after adding the frosting.
• Pink Lemonade Frosting. This is a delicious option to pair with strawberry cupcakes! The combination of strawberry and lemon creates a refreshing and tangy flavor that complements the sweetness of the cupcakes.

Strawberry Cupcakes Supplies

• Food processor or Blender
• Stand Mixer with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl and an electric mixer
• Rubber spatula 
• Large Cooke Scoop

Strawberry Cupcakes Ingredients

• 10 large strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/4 cups cake flour
• 2 cups granulated white sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup unsalted butter

How to Make Strawberry Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your cupcake pans with your choice of cupcake wrappers.

Wash the strawberries and then remove the stem and leaves from each whole strawberry. Place them into a blender or food processor. Pulse them until you have pureed strawberries. Measure out 1/3 cup of the strawberry puree for the cupcakes and save any extra puree for another recipe.

Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer, the self-rising flour, cake flour, and sugar. On low speed, mix them together for a minute or two until they are well combined.

Cut the butter into tablespoon pieces. Turn the mixer to medium speed and slowly add the pieces of butter into the flour mixture one piece at a time and continue mixing until you have reached the texture of sand.

Pour half of the milk into the flour mixture and mix just until the milk is incorporated. Use your rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of your bowl. Add the remaining milk, strawberry puree, and vanilla extract to the batter and mix until combined.

Slowly add in one egg at a time to the cake batter, making sure each egg is incorporated before adding the next egg.

Scoop the batter into the prepared cupcake pan, filling them 3/4 of the way full.

Bake for 10 minutes then rotate the cake pans so the pan that was on the top rack is now on the bottom and the pan that was on the bottom is now on the top rack.

Continue to bake for another 10-13 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cupcake.

Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack until they have reached room temperature.

Strawberry Dessert Recipes

• Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
• White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Strawberry puppy chow
• Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
• Strawberry Poke Cake
• Sugar Free Strawberry Buttercream

9 Weight Watcher SmartPoints on the Freestyle Program

More Great Cupcakes:

If you are looking for an awesome cupcake frosting recipe, you have to check out this list of 19 amazing cupcake frosting recipes.