My daughter requested strawberry cupcakes for her birthday this year. Of course, I’m going to do my level best to make it happen for her!
This recipe has the perfect strawberry flavor. Light, fluffy cupcakes and the MOST amazing strawberry buttercream icing. I wanted these cupcakes to be all from scratch, no jello here, please.
Try our Strawberry Shortcake!
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream

Puree the strawberries and finely chop another 1/4 cup of strawberries.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine strawberry puree, room temperature butter, and sugar.
Slowly add in eggs and vanilla. (Add food coloring if desired)
I didn’t add any food coloring but if you want them pinker you can certainly use some. The batter was pink enough for me.
In another bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Add into sugar mixture.
Slowly add milk and stir gently. Stir in chopped strawberries.

Fill the cupcake liners with equal amount of batter.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
This can also make a 9×13 strawberry cake.

While the cupcakes cool, whip up the buttercream icing.
Check out our Monster Cookies!
Strawberry Buttercream Recipe
Add 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp strawberry puree to a small saucepan. Heat mixture over medium-low heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally until reduced by about 2/3 to 3 Tbsp, about 10 – 14 minutes
Pour reduced puree into a small bowl, then refrigerate until cool.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip unsalted and salted butter until very pale and fluffy (nearly white). Stop and scrape down the bowl occasionally throughout the entire mixing process.
Mix in 1 cup powdered sugar (confectioners sugar), then blend in 3 Tbsp reduced strawberry puree, vanilla extract, and optional red food coloring.
Add remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and continue to mix until frosting is pale and fluffy, adding an additional 1/4 cup powdered sugar if needed to reach desired consistency.
Once the icing is done put it in a piping bag and decorate away. That’s the fun part, right?
Our Coconut Cupcakes recipe is divine!
Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe
Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cups granulated sugar
- ½ Cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 Cup milk
- 1/2 Cup strawberry puree
- 1/4 Cup chopped strawberries
- 3-4 drops of red food coloring Optional
Buttercream Icing
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp strawberry puree
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter almost room temperature
- 1/4 cup salted butter almost room temperature
- 2 1/2 – 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line cupcake pan with liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine strawberry puree butter and sugar.
- Slowly add in eggs and vanilla (Add food coloring if desired)
- Whisk dry Ingredients together and add into sugar mixture.
- Slowly add milk and stir gently.
- Slowly stir in smashed strawberries.
- Pour batter into a cupcake pan 9×13 cake pan and bake. A cake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees, or cupcakes for 20 minutes on 350 degrees.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
For the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Add 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp strawberry puree to a small saucepan.
- Heat mixture over medium-low heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally until reduced by about 2/3 to 3 Tbsp, about 10 – 14 minutes (measure and if it isn’t quite 3 Tbsp then return and continue to simmer if it’s not reduced to correct amount it will make frosting runny).
- Pour reduced puree into a small bowl, then refrigerate until cool
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip unsalted and salted butter until very pale and fluffy (nearly white. Stop and scrape down bowl occasionally throughout entire mixing process).
- Mix in 1 cup powdered sugar, then blend in 3 Tbsp reduced strawberry puree, vanilla extract, and optional red food coloring.
- Add remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and continue to mix until frosting is pale and fluffy, adding an additional 1/4 cup powdered sugar if needed to reach desired consistency.
Comments
[email protected] Freshman Cook
January 22, 2016Beautiful cupcakes! I am looking forward to trying these! Thank so much for sharing at Celebrate It!
DSTR
January 22, 2016Thank you, Teri!
Alicia
January 26, 2016Holy moly, these look amazing!
DSTR
January 26, 2016Thank you, Alicia!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
January 26, 2016Yum!! Love the fresh strawberry in this!! How delicious– I love when fresh fruit is used in baking.
DSTR
January 26, 2016Thanks, Julie!
All about a Mummy
January 26, 2016I always struggle using strawberries in my cupcakes. I hadn’t thought about pureeing then and adding the that way. I will have to try it! #tastytuesdays
DSTR
January 26, 2016It works beautifully! Thank you for coming by!
Kim~madeinaday
January 26, 2016Yum what a great sounding recipes with real Strawberries! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on Twitter! Have a great week!
Kim
Quirky Homemaker
January 26, 2016I have been wanting cupcakes for some reason lately and I bet my daughter would love strawberry ones. Stopping by from Two Uses Tuesday. I hope you have a great week!
DSTR
January 26, 2016Thanks for coming by!
Gina
January 26, 2016I really REALLY want to try these! I have strawberry cupcakes at my wedding and haven’t had any since. They were so good and I didn’t know where to start with a recipe. I can’t wait to give this a try. They look so delicious! Pinning for later!
DSTR
January 27, 2016Thanks for coming by, Gina! I hope you enjoy the cupcakes as much as we did.
Sarah Koontz
January 27, 2016These look delicious. I love all of the fresh fruit in the recipe…you go girl!
DSTR
January 27, 2016Thank you, Sarah!
christina
January 27, 2016Just pinned these! My daughter isn’t much of a chocolate girl, she will love these!!
DSTR
January 27, 2016Thank you for coming by, Christina! I know your daughter will just love these cupcakes.
Kaitlin
January 27, 2016These look wonderful! The hubs loves strawberry cupcakes. I can’t wait to try these.
DSTR
January 28, 2016Thank you, Kaitlin!
Laurie
January 27, 2016I’ve never seen a strawberry cupcake recipe using fresh strawberries – yum! Pinning and tweeting to share! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us at Brag About it!
DSTR
January 28, 2016Thanks, Laurie!
Tracey Abrahams
January 28, 2016Wow, they look fantastic, strawberrys are my favourite fruit and cake is my favourite food!! #Sharewithme
DSTR
January 28, 2016Thank you for coming by, Tracey!
Emily Marie
January 28, 2016Love that you used fresh strawberries! I definitely prefer the fresh ones to frozen or jarred. I cannot wait to try!
From the Pin Junkie Party!
DSTR
January 29, 2016Thank you for coming by, Emily!
Theresa @DearCreatives
January 29, 2016looks yummy! Pinned & shared. Thanks for joining in to share at the Inspiration Spotlight party. See you again soon!
Lindsay
January 29, 2016Yum yum yum! Thanks so much for sharing at #funtasticfriday !
Linda @ Home Cooking
January 31, 2016What beautiful cupcakes. I picked you for my post of the week on Home Cooking. Please come and visit. Have a great week.
https://homecookingrecipebox.blogspot.com/
DSTR
February 1, 2016Thank you so much, Linda!
swathi
February 1, 2016looks delicious, my kids will love it, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. pinning and tweeting.
Valentine's Day Treats and Ideas - A Bird and a Bean
February 2, 2016[…] Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes by Don’t Sweat the Recipe […]
Erin
February 2, 2016Looks so good! Thank you for linking up to Good Tips Tuesday. You will be featured today. https://abirdandabean.com/2016/02/valentines-day-treats-ideas.html
DSTR
February 2, 2016Thank you so much, Erin!
Valentines Treats and Ideas | A Diligent Heart
February 2, 2016[…] Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes by Don’t Sweat the Recipe […]
jenny
February 2, 2016Wow I am huge foodie and cupcakes are always my most favorite thing ever! I love these. Will have to pin it for later to try out. Yummy. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me. I hope to see you again tomorrow for another great round of #sharewithme
Lauren @ Mom Home Guide
February 2, 2016These cupcakes look so good! Thanks for sharing your recipe at Craft Frenzy Friday at Mom Home Guide!
DSTR
February 3, 2016Thank you, Lauren!
Elaine
February 3, 2016Oh My these look great and no jelly or food coloring… great job!! I’m featuring you tomorrow! 🙂 Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! hope to see you again this week! Pinned!
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February 3, 2016[…] Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes by Don’t Sweat the Recipe […]
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February 4, 2016[…] 1st Favorite Thing is these Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes from Don’t Sweat the Recipe. I love how she used fresh strawberries and no Jell-O or food coloring!! Don’t they look to […]
Craft Frenzy Friday (February 5) - momhomeguide.com
February 4, 2016[…] 2.Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes at Don’t Sweat The Recipe […]
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February 6, 2016[…] […]
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February 7, 2016[…] Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes by Don’t Sweat the Recipe […]
Easy Peasy Life Matters
February 13, 2016These sound heavenly!!! Pinned! 🙂
DSTR
February 15, 2016Thank you!
April R - Uncookie Cutter
February 23, 2016They look amazing! I’m so glad you linked up at You Link It, We Make It! You are one of our two main features for tomorrow! I hope you come back tomorrow and link up some more! And if you send me an email at [email protected] from your email that you use for Pinterst, I’ll send you an invitation to our group board. Thanks again for sharing this amazing recipe!
DSTR
February 24, 2016Thanks, April!
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
April 22, 2016Ooooh yum! These look so pretty and sound delicious. I love adding fresh fruit to bakes, it makes them less of a guilty snack! x #BakeoftheWeek
DSTR
April 23, 2016Thank you, Kirsty!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
April 26, 2016I’ve done something similar with raspberries in the past so I bet strawberries are great too! Thanks for joining in with #BAKEoftheWEEK !
DSTR
April 26, 2016I must try it with raspberries! Thank you, Sarah!
Courgette Muffins with Herby Pesto (spiralizer recipe) and #BAKEoftheWEEK - Maison Cupcake
April 26, 2016[…] Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes by Don’t Sweat the Recipe […]
Terry C.
August 26, 2019May I be the first to say that I DID make these. They are amazing and I received stellar reviews from those I made them for. They were moist, light and spot on flavor in the cake and frosting alike. I did not alter or embellish this recipe in any way. They are absolutely perfect as they are. Definitely my strawberry cupcake and frosting from now on!! Thank you for your recipe.👩🍳
DSTR
August 27, 2019Oh, Terry! This makes us so happy! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop by and let us know how much you enjoyed the cupcakes!!!!