These Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes have super yummy fruit flavor, and are a great option for a first birthday, toddler birthday, or any event you can dream up. Plus, they are just the prettiest pale shade of pink!
I first made these cupcakes when my oldest daughter turned three and we shared them with a few friends. My girl was obsessed with pink then, so these pale pink cupcakes were made with that love in mind. But I also was happy to offer her a festive birthday treat that had real berries inside!
I use fresh strawberries to make a quick strawberry puree that delivers a big burst of fresh berry flavor. It’s a lovely kids birthday cake recipe to make in the spring when berries are plentiful—or simply if you have a kiddo who likes strawberries and/or the color pink.
The cupcakes are lightly sweetened with maple syrup, making them a fun first birthday party idea.
(You may also like One-Year-Old Birthday Cake, First Birthday Smash Cake, Sweet Potato Baby Cake, and Strawberry Sheet Cake.)
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
To make these Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes, you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go.
- Flour: I prefer to use all-purpose flour in this recipe so the final result is light and tender cupcakes.
- Strawberries: We use fresh strawberries in this cupcake recipe so they are moist and filled with fruit flavor.
- Coconut oil or butter: I typically use butter in this recipe, but you can use coconut oil if needed to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Maple syrup or honey: You can use either of these to add natural sweetness to the strawberry cupcakes. Avoid honey for babies under age 1, though.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting: This is my favorite frosting to use in this recipe since it amplifies the strawberry flavor.
TIP: You can use a gluten-free cup-for-cup flour if needed in this recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process involved in making these Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes. Scroll down for the full recipe, including the amounts and the timing.
Step 1. Blend the strawberries to make a smooth strawberry puree. Measure out the amount you need.
Step 2. Add the puree to a bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine gently, but thoroughly.
Step 3. Divide the batter among a muffin tin lined with paper cupcake liners. Bake.
Step 4. Remove the cupcakes from the muffin tin to a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cup of fresh strawberry puree makes these cupcakes both moist and flavorful.
This recipe uses strawberry puree to make the batter slightly pink, but you can also add red or pink food coloring to the batter if desired.
I prefer to use my Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting for maximum strawberry flavor.
How To Store
Store the frosted strawberry cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To make these ahead, store the cupcakes, once cooled and without frosting, in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Frost right before serving.
Best Tips for Success
- You can make the strawberry puree up to 3 days ahead. (This makes this recipe really easy!)
- Let the Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes cool for a few minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack or tilt the pan to allow air underneath to more quickly cool them down and prevent them from over-baking.
- Let the cupcakes cool before adding the icing. I prefer to use my Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting here.
- To make these ahead, store the cupcakes, fully cooled and without frosting, in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Frost right before serving.
- Store any leftover frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- You may also like Banana Cupcakes, Healthy Vanilla Cupcakes, and Easy Chocolate Cupcakes.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear what you think if you make this recipe so please comment below to share!
Strawberry Cupcakes with Fresh Berries
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh strawberries
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (or coconut oil)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Wash the berries and remove the stems. Puree in a food processor or blender. You should have about 1 cup puree.
- Combine the butter (or oil) and maple syrup in a glass, heatproof measuring cup. Warm in 15-second increments in the microwave, stopping to stir, until the butter (or oil) is melted. Let cool slightly.
- Stir in the vanilla, eggs, and strawberry puree.
- Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Stir the puree mixture into the flour mixture.
- Fill the prepared liners with the batter to about ¾ full. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the centers comes out clean. Let cool for 2-3 minutes in the pan, then remove and let cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make the Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting and pipe or spread onto cupcakes. Serve.
Equipment
Video
Notes
- To make these ahead, store the cupcakes, fully cooled and without frosting, in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Frost right before serving.
- Store any leftover frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- You can make the puree up to 3 days ahead. (This makes this recipe really easy!)
- Dairy-free: Use melted coconut oil instead of butter.
- Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose.
- You can use whole wheat pastry flour instead of all-purpose.
- You can use honey instead of maple syrup (if your child is at least 1).
- Let the cupcakes cool before adding the icing.
- To make the lightest color cupcakes possible (if that matters to you!), use honey and all-purpose flour.
Hi I puréed 16oz container of strawberries and it made 2 cups. So should I only use one cup of it?
Yes, enjoy! (You can add the rest to a smoothie or freeze it into an ice pop.)
Hi.
I just made these and followed the recipe to the T.
They have been in the over for almost 40 minutes and the center is not cooked. They are also flat.
I am wondering if it’s because I used a silicone type of muffin tin.
The comments are 50/50 so I wonder if this was my mistake.
It could be the silicone muffin pan, which doesn’t heat up the same way, or your baking soda isn’t active. I’m sorry this happened of course!
Hi can I freeze these cupcake without the frosting?
Sure!
Hey,
Beautiful taste however mine came out very soggy inside even after leaving them in for much longer.
Any advise on where I went wrong with this?
The only thing I can think of is that maybe the baking soda wasn’t active?
Hi! Can you use frozen strawberries?
Yes, just thaw them first.
Tasted great while they were still warm
Does the sugar per cupcake include the frosting?
Yes
Hi.
I just made a trail half batch for my daughter’s birthday and they turned out more like a muffin consistency than a cupcake.
They rose when in the oven but got totally flat when cooled down.
Any tips on how to make them more fluffy and cake like consistency? And did yours get flat too?
Thank you!!!!
PS: the taste is amazing
Hi- the tops of these are fairly flat. You might try beating the eggs a little more to get additional air in the batter though. I hope it’s a wonderful birthday!
Hi! Do you think reducing the strawberry purée would give it a stronger strawberry flavor or a pink or color? I’m assuming I would just have to add more strawberries to get the same amount if reduced, but just wondering what you thought. 🙂 thanks!
Yes, you could double the amount and then reduce it by half? I am not sure it would make them a vibrant pink, but the flavor should be a little stronger.
Hi! Can these be made egg free?
How would you compare the taste and texture of the cupcakes to your strawberry sheet cake? Do they come out pink? I am looking to bake a strawberry cake in a loaf pan that will then be used to make a hidden design cake. Thank you!
I would use the sheet cake recipe if you want to bake it in a loaf, though it’s not super pink like a boxed mix. Hope that helps!
Hi Amy!
I LOVE your website!
I was wondering if frozen strawberries can be substituted in this recipe and how to alter it for them?
Thanks!
Anna Houck
Hi! To use frozen strawberries, just let them thaw and then proceed with the recipe. Enjoy!
If I made this into a sheet cake, what size and time would you recommend?
I haven’t made this recipe that way so I can’t say for sure but let me know what size you’re hoping to use and I can try to guess.
Did anyone happen to do this?
These are my daughters favorite cupcakes — we’ve eaten them for ALL of our birthdays this past year 😉 I wanted to make some for her upcoming birthday at school, but the teacher asked that they be mini cupcakes as they’re less messy. Any tips for cooking time, etc for mini cupcakes (vs full sized)?
Yay! For minis, I think the baking time would be about 16-18 minutes (with everything else the same). Enjoy!
Hi, I made these once before and we all loved them! I don’t have any strawberries, and wondered if this could be done with raspberries instead?
Yes, though there will be some seeds in the texture and it may be less sweet.
Could I make this into a mini cake for a smash cake? 4 inch round. Wondering what the potential bake time would be. Thank you!
Yes, though you’ll have enough for a few layers. Depending on how much batter you use, I would guess you’d want about 1 cup in each, the baking time would likely be about 14-16 minutes. Set it for the lower end of the time and check the center with a cake tester.