These Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes have super yummy fruit flavor, and are a great option for a first birthday, toddler birthday, or any event you have in mind. Plus, they are just the prettiest pale shade of pink!
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 3/4 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.
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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.