Strawberry shortcake is a fresh and flavorful, and this strawberry shortcake cupcakes recipe doesn’t disappoint. These delicious vanilla cupcakes are swirled with a sweet cream cheese frosting. Then diced fresh strawberries are added for a delicious twist on a classic strawberry shortcake.
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We go strawberry picking almost every year as a family, have you been? We always come home with big buckets full of delicious juicy berries.
One of the first sweet treats that comes to mind after a fun day picking strawberries is strawberry shortcakes. We usually have a big bucket of strawberries to take home. While those little yellow round cakes at the grocery are convenient for making shortcakes, this version of strawberry shortcake blows them out of the water.
These cupcakes are sweet and fluffy without overpowering the bright strawberry flavor. The vanilla cake is moist and fluffy. Topped with cream cheese frosting and the star of the cupcake, fresh strawberries in every bite.
Family and friends always love these strawberry shortcake cupcakes at a summer BBQ or Fourth of July party. They are perfect for any summer parties really and the strawberries in season, sweet and juicy.
But don’t forget these cupcakes at other times of the year. They are adorable for a baby shower and the perfect treat for your Valentine,
Check out these fun Patriotic Fourth of July cupcakes for another delicious summer BBQ treat.
How To Assemble Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
When making these strawberry shortcakes cupcakes you’ll start by baking the vanilla cupcakes just as you normally would for cupcakes. After baking according to to the recipe, let them cool completely. (or the frosting will melt off your cupcakes!)
Once the cupcakes are cool, then you start making the toppings. Whip up the cream cheese frosting with an electric mixer. Dice the strawberries then toss with a little sugar if they aren’t super ripe. This will bring out their flavor, but can be skipped if you have super sweet and fresh berries.
Start frosting your cupcakes with a thin layer of frosting across each cupcake.
Love cupcakes with fresh fruit? Check out my Raspberry Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
The rest of your frosting you want to load into a pastry bag fitted with a piping tip.
Tip: Put the pastry bag into a large drinking glass and to help you open and fill the bag easier.
Pipe a thick circle of frosting around the outer edge of the cupcakes.
I used a 1M frosting tip but any wider, ridged frosting tip will look pretty.
If you’re taking these cupcakes with you or making these cupcakes ahead of time then store your cupcakes and your strawberries separately. Right before serving place a spoonful of strawberries on top of each cupcake. Delicious!
Why did you dice the strawberries? Can’t I just put a whole strawberry on top?
Sure, you could put a whole strawberry on top of your strawberry shortcake cupcakes. Cupcakes look really pretty with a whole strawberry on top, or even topped with pretty strawberry slices.
But what I like most about the diced strawberries is the flavor. I find it dicing the berries help you to have a bit of strawberry in every bite of the cupcake.
Love strawberry desserts? Try these Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts that can be made in the oven or air fryer!
Can I substitute whipped cream for frosting?
Traditional strawberry shortcakes are made with whipped cream and layers of cake and fresh strawberries.
You can use whipped cream for these cupcakes if you prefer, however, I recommend using a stabilized whipped cream recipe. This will keep your whipped cream from deflating or starting to weep, aka ending up in a whipped cream puddle.
Can I Make This Recipe With Frozen Strawberries?
This strawberry shortcake recipe doesn’t work well with frozen strawberries, they will just be too mushy. I recommend using fresh strawberries for this recipe.
If you have frozen strawberries to use, try them in my blueberry muffin loaf recipe. This recipe is made with fresh or frozen blueberries but strawberries can easily be swapped for the blueberries.
Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Ingredients
For The Cupcakes
- ½ Cup Unsalted Softened Butter
- ¾ Cup Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- ½ Cup Vanilla Yogurt
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 ⅓ Cups Flour
- 1 ¼ Teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING AND TOPPINGS
- 1 Cup Diced Strawberries
- 2 Teaspoons Granulated Sugar see notes
- 1 Cup Unsalted Softened Butter
- 6 Ounces Cream Cheese
- 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Milk
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Love Family Recipes?Follow @OnMyKidsPlate On Pinterest For MoreInstructions
For The Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake pan with paper liners.
- Cream together the softened butter and sugar until well combined. Then add your eggs, yogurt and vanilla. Mix the ingredients well into your wet ingredients
- In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients the flour, baking powder and salt and stir. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the liner cups. Fill the liners until they are about 2/3 full. Try to keep the batter even between the cupcakes. Don’t overfill! This recipe will make between 12-14 cupcakes.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 14- 17 minutes. Check with a toothpick to make sure they are done, the toothpick should come out of the cupcake clean. Let cupcakes cool completely!
For The Frosting And Toppings
- Dice the strawberries and place in a bowl. Add the granulated sugar and mix well. If your strawberries are super ripe and sweet, the extra sugar may not be necessary.
- With an electric mixer beat your softened butter on medium for about five minutes. Your butter will change to a slightly lighter color. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
- Add softened cream cheese and beat for an additional 2-3 minutes until well combined.
- Next add the powdered sugar to the mixer a cup at a time. Allow each cup of powdered sugar to fully mix into the frosting before adding the next cup, it takes a little less than a minute. Add milk and vanilla and mix into the frosting.
- Frost a layer of frosting on each cupcake, then fill a piping bag with the rest of the frosting. I fitted my bag with the 1M tip but any wide grooved frosting tip works. Pipe circles of frosting around the outer edge of the cupcake only.
- Just before serving place a spoonful of diced strawberries in the center of each cupcake. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe? Tell us about it, and be sure to leave us a star rating to help others know how delicious this recipe is. Or tag @onmykidsplate on Instagram and show us your yummy strawberry shortcake cupcakes.
Nichole says
For the frosting – you talk about using powdered sugar. But the ingredients list doesn’t have powdered sugar on there. How much are we supposed to use?
On My Kids Plate says
Hi Nichole, I don’t know how I missed adding that I’m so sorry. The recipe needs four cups of powdered sugar in the frosting. I’ve updated it, thank you for pointing this out. Hope your cupcakes are delicious! -Kristy
Nichole says
Yay! Thank you for answering my question so quickly! I’ve made the cupcakes but I was holding off on the frosting. You saved me! Haha 🙂 thank you!!! The cupcakes are absolutely DELICIOUS by the way!
On My Kids Plate says
Oh you’re so welcome, happy to help- and to correct it so it helps future people too! I’m glad you enjoyed the cupcakes, that totally made my day! They are one of our family’s new favorites too!