These sweet little cupcakes are, hands down, the best strawberry cupcakes out there. And, made with real, actual strawberries, is it any wonder they’re so good? Using fresh, local strawberries from a local farmers’ market sets these above the rest!
INGREDIENTS:
For the Cupcakes:
1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
¾ cup unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks), room temperature
2 cups fresh whole strawberries, pureed
3 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup sour cream, room temperature
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon strawberry extract
3-4 drops red food coloring, optional
For the Buttercream:
3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
¼ cup pureed fresh strawberries
½ teaspoon strawberry extract
Pinch of salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
For the Cupcakes:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two 12-count muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the granulated sugar and butter and beat together on medium-high speed for about 6 minutes, until very pale yellow and fluffy.
Add the eggs 1 at a time to your stand mixer, combining well after each addition and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
Reduce your mixer speed to low and mix in the strawberry puree.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add ½ of the flour mixture to your stand mixer. Mix on the lowest speed until combined.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and oil. Add to your stand mixer bowl.
Add the remaining flour mixture to your stand mixer bowl and mix on low speed until well incorporated. Be careful not to overbeat.
Add the vanilla and strawberry extracts and food coloring, if using. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix the batter until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, scoop the batter into the cupcake liners until each is ¾ full. Be careful not to overfill.
Bake for 17 to 21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean but still moist.
Let the cupcakes cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack. Let cool to room temperature before covering them with foil or plastic wrap so they do not dry out.
For the Buttercream:
Clean your stand mixer bowl and whisk attachment. Add the confectioners’ sugar and butter and mix on low speed, increasing the speed to medium-high once the sugar is fully incorporated. Continue to mix until light and fluffy.
Add the strawberry puree, strawberry extract, and salt and beat until the mixture is cotton-candy pink and the puree is fully incorporated.
Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, pipe them with the buttercream and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Grandbaby Cakes. Bake ‘em, post ‘em, and tag ‘em @GrandbabyCakes
