Description
Real Strawberry Cupcakes are moist, tender cupcakes bursting with fresh strawberry puree and topped with a smooth, tangy cream cheese frosting. Made with natural ingredients, they offer authentic strawberry flavor without artificial additives.
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
8 large fresh strawberries, or as needed
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
⅓ 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)
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 to 325°F (165°C). Spray or line cupcake pans.
- Puree 8 strawberries in blender until smooth. Strain to remove seeds; set aside about ¾ cup puree.
- In large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla, lemon zest, and strawberry puree until combined.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, pudding mix (if using), and food coloring (if desired) until smooth.
- Fill cupcake cups about two-thirds full with batter.
- Bake 23 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool at least 10 minutes.
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
- Frost cupcakes with about 2 tablespoons frosting each and top with sliced strawberries.
Notes
Add chopped strawberries to batter for extra texture.
Substitute lemon zest with orange zest for different citrus flavor.
Use strawberry jam in frosting for sweeter topping.
Replace cream cheese frosting with whipped cream for lighter option.
Use gluten-free flour for gluten-free cupcakes.
Store airtight in refrigerator up to 3 days; bring to room temp before serving.
Freeze unfrosted cupcakes up to 2 months; thaw completely before frosting.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
