Home · Recipes · Desserts & Baking · Cupcakes & Muffins Strawberry Cupcakes Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Apr 22, 2013Updated: Oct 4, 2023 View Recipe25 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. Vibrant strawberry cupcakes naturally colored with freeze dried strawberries. They are topped with sweet strawberry cream cheese frosting and garnished with a fresh strawberry. Table of Contents IngredientsSecret Ingredient: Freeze Dried FruitStrawberry Cream Cheese FrostingMore Cupcake RecipesStrawberry CupcakesView moreView less The popularity of these blueberry-blackberry cupcakes inspired this new strawberry version. Cupcakes are the perfect starting point for new bakers. It’s not as intimidating as make a layer cake. Plus, cupcakes are a great way to practice your pipping skills! Have you ever tried boxed strawberry cake mix? I’ve never been a fan because the strawberry flavor is very artificial tasting. And, the unnatural pink hue throws me off. These strawberry cupcakes are nothing like that! Ingredients For best results, measure dry ingredients by weight using a kitchen scale. Otherwise, if you prefer to measure by volume, you the spoon and level method for flour. All-Purpose Flour: I exclusively use King Arthur Flour all-purpose flour for consistency. Any flour brand will work. Gluten-free all-purpose flour mixes work well in this recipe. Freeze Dried Strawberries: Freeze drying is a process that removes nearly all the moisture from food. Freeze dried strawberries are different from dried strawberries (which still contain a ton of moisture). More details in next section. Unsalted Butter: Use softened, room temperature unsalted butter. Omit salt in the recipe if you choose to use salted butter. Vegan butter used for a dairy free option. Milk: Any milk including non-dairy milks such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk may be used. Strawberries: Use either fresh or thawed frozen strawberries to make strawberry puree. Highly recommend using fresh strawberries for best results. Cream Cheese: Use brick-style cream cheese. Full-fat cream cheese has the best texture and flavor for frosting. Reduced fat or low fat cream cheese has extra moisture that will affect the consistency of the frosting. Secret Ingredient: Freeze Dried Fruit The secret to the all natural flavor and color of these cupcakes is ground freeze dried strawberries!Freeze dried strawberries are available in whole strawberries, sliced strawberries, or ground (powder). Make your own powder by processing whole or sliced freeze dried strawberries in a small food processor or a spice grinder. No need for artificial food coloring. The powdered strawberries naturally colors both the batter and frosting. The cupcake batter also utilizes real strawberries. However, fresh strawberries imparts a very subtle flavor. The freeze dried strawberries really help to amplify the fruit flavor! INGREDIENT TIP: What to do with leftover freeze dried strawberries? Add freeze dried strawberries to your morning cereal or granola, mix it into your trail mix, or simply snack on them. If you have more time, try using the extra freeze dried strawberries in these recipes: strawberry kiss cookies, strawberry matcha latte, and berry jelly donuts. Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting The super easy frosting is a simple mixture of butter, cream cheese, freeze dried strawberries, and confectioners’ sugar. Use a stand mixer or a hand held mixer to beat together all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. The combination of butter and cream cheese produces a pleasant tart-tang that balances out the sweetness of the strawberry cupcakes. This sweet frosting is also wonderful on vanilla cake, funfetti cinnamon rolls, or strawberry rolls! from a mixture of cream cheese and butter. More Cupcake Recipes Peaches and Cream Cupcakes Pineapple Coconut Cupcakes Coconut Cupcakes Strawberry Cupcakes 5 from 4 votes These strawberry cupcakes are naturally colored using freeze dried strawberries. The baked cupcakes are topped with strawberry cream cheese frosting. Prep Time: 30 minutes minutesCook Time: 20 minutes minutesTotal Time: 50 minutes minutes Servings: 12 cupcakes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe IngredientsStrawberry Cupcakes:▢ 1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour (215 g)▢ ½ Tablespoon baking powder▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt▢ 4 Tablespoon ground freeze dried strawberries (16 g)▢ ½ cup unsalted butter (113 g) softened, room temp▢ ¾ cup granulated sugar (150 g)▢ 2 large eggs room temp▢ ½ cup whole milk room temp▢ 5 oz strawberries, (142 g) pureed and strainedStrawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:▢ ½ cup unsalted butter, (113 g) room temp▢ 4 oz cream cheese, room temp▢ 4 Tablespoon ground freeze dried strawberries, (16 g) sifted▢ 2 cup confectioners' sugar (227 g) Instructions Strawberry Cupcakes:Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12-muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground freeze-dried strawberries*. Set aside.In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time and mix until combined. In a small bowl, mix together milk and strawberry puree.Add about ⅓ of flour mixture into the creamed butter. Mix at low-medium speed. Add ½ of the milk mixture. Continue to mix until almost combined. Add another ⅓ of flour mixture followed by the rest of the milk mixture. End with the last ⅓ of flour mixture. Continue to mix until batter is smooth and there are no longer any dry streaks of flour left.Divide batter among 12 cupcakes. Bake for 20-24 minutes until cake is done and a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cool in tin for a couple of minutes before unmolding and let cool completely on wire rack. Let cool to room temperature before frosting.Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and cream cream until smooth. Sift together ground freeze-dried strawberries and confectioners’ sugar. With the mixer on low speed, add sifted ingredients. Once all in, beat at medium speed until frosting is smooth. Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe over cooled cupcakes. Garnish frosted cupcake with fresh strawberry. Notes*Use a spice grinder or food processor to grind freeze-dried strawberries into powder. Ingredients: Milk: Any milk including non-dairy milks such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk may be used. Strawberries: Use either fresh or thawed frozen strawberries to make strawberry puree. Highly recommend using fresh strawberries for best results. Cream Cheese: Use brick-style cream cheese. Full-fat cream cheese has the best texture and flavor for frosting. Reduced fat or low fat cream cheese has extra moisture that will affect the consistency of the frosting. Storage and Leftovers: Frosted cupcakes can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days. For longer storage, frosted cupcakes can be keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Allow chilled cupcakes and frosting to sit at room temperature before eating (about 15-20 minutes). NutritionCalories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 326mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 541IU | Vitamin C: 127mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 3mg Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: DessertCuisine: American Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Linda@There and Back Again says: April 23, 2013 Great idea to used ground-up freeze-dried strawberries! I’ll have to give it a try. These cupcakes made me hungry! Reply
Maryanne says: April 23, 2013 I love freeze-dried fruits! Asides from the pop of color they bring to baked goods, they’re great for snacking.
deb says: April 23, 2013 We’ve just begun our strawberry season and I am looking forward to much baking with fresh berries! The cupcakes are joyful and scream spring! Adding freeze dried berries is inspired! Reply
Yii-Huei says: April 24, 2013 These are so pretty! I love the colour of the frosting and the sliced strawberries on top. Reply
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says: April 24, 2013 These are the prettiest looking cupcakes! I love that they’re full of real strawberries and the strawberry cream cheese frosting looks divine! Reply
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says: May 7, 2013 What gorgeous cupcakes! I have 4 lb of strawberries in the fridge too! Reply
Maryanne says: May 8, 2013 Thank you, Chung-Ah! That means a lot coming from you! I absolutely love your blog.
Ann says: May 14, 2013 What is 5 oz of strawberry puree in cups? They look delish! Would love to give them a try :) Reply
Maryanne says: July 23, 2013 Oh no. I’m sorry! There was a typo in the recipe. The cupcakes call for 2 large eggs.
Vera Zecevic – Cupcakes Garden says: October 9, 2013 I love strawberry anything and these cupcakes look gorgeous.I’ve featured this recipe on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best. Reply
Cheryl says: March 1, 2015 I know I would have to at least double the recipe, but how do you think it would work for a layer cake? I’m having the hardest time finding a from scratch strawberry cake that is light and fluffy. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: March 2, 2015 Hi Cheryl, I only tested this recipe for cupcakes. I’m not really sure how it would turn out as a layer cake, but it’s a try! :)
momina says: July 10, 2015 Hi… it yummylicious…… this freeze dried strawberry is mandatory? Can we skip it and make cupcakes? Reply
Marianne says: September 16, 2015 Can you explain the “5 oz strawberries, pureed and strained”? Do you mean strained to remove some amount of liquid and use all the pulp in the recipe, or strained to remove seeds and large chunks, using the smallest bits and liquid in the recipe? Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: September 21, 2015 Weigh out 5 oz of hulled strawberries. Puree strawberries and strain out the seeds. Use the strained puree in the recipe.
Jackie says: August 22, 2016 Hi Maryanne I see that you bumped the amounts of strawberry puree and freeze dried strawberries in this recipe compared to the sprinkles strawberry cupcake you have on your blog. By doing that, do this recipe have more strawberry flavor than the sprinkles cupcake recipe. Reply