A favourite spring and summer season dessert in hand-held type, these vanilla bean-speckled strawberry shortcake cupcakes are stuffed with do-it-yourself strawberry filling and topped with strawberry whipped cream—all made with actual strawberries. It’s like consuming strawberry shortcake, however as a buttery delicate cupcake!
I’ve been on a stuffed cupcake kick! I like these chocolate-covered strawberry cupcakes for Valentine’s Day, and at all times take pleasure in hopping over to those coconut and chocolate Easter cupcakes… however as the times proceed to heat up, and recent strawberries come into season, I simply knew I needed to revisit this older recipe. These are my beloved strawberry shortcake cupcakes. I initially printed them again in 2013!
3 Elements to Love in These Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
- Vanilla Bean Cupcakes: As an alternative of biscuits like basic strawberry shortcake, the bottom of this summery deal with is a delicate and light-weight vanilla cupcake, flavored with pure vanilla bean paste. My strawberry vanilla crisp additionally pairs strawberry + vanilla collectively—what a pleasant duo!
- Strawberry Filling: You’ll fill the cupcakes with a jam-like strawberry filling, which comes collectively simply on the range, similar to this raspberry cake filling.
- Strawberry Whipped Cream: No piping suggestions wanted to prime these strawberry shortcake cupcakes! I’m giving do-it-yourself whipped cream a berry increase by folding in a few of the reserved strawberry filling. It’s fast and simple to make, and so very tasty.
One reader, Vicki, commented: “I provided to make my neighbor cupcakes for her birthday and he or she requested one thing gentle and never too candy. This recipe appeared excellent and he or she stated they had been the perfect cupcakes she’s ever had in her life! I completely love the whipped topping and assume the leftover quantity could be nice on pancakes or waffles. Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe! Will certainly make it once more! ★★★★★“
Make the Strawberry Filling First
Seize These Components:
- Recent Strawberries: You want about 2 cups (about 300–320g) of diced strawberries.
- Sugar: Use white granulated sugar to sweeten the berry filling.
- Cornstarch + Water: Cornstarch is the thickener for this filling. Combine along with water to make a “slurry” earlier than including to the saucepan. In any other case you’ll have lumps of powdery cornstarch in your strawberry filling—no thanks!
- Lemon Zest: After making a number of batches of those crowd-pleasing cupcakes, I made a decision so as to add a bit of lemon zest to the filling. WOW. It actually, actually brightens up the flavour. I exploit it within the topping for this strawberry cream cheese pie, too.
The filling combination thickens on the range and is similar to a candy and thick do-it-yourself strawberry jam with a number of superb chunks of actual strawberry. It’s so much like this strawberry sauce topping, solely thicker as a result of we’re utilizing it inside cupcakes.
Make it first, so it has time to fully cool and arrange/thicken earlier than you want it to fill the cupcakes.
Subsequent, Make the Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
Right here’s What You Want & Why:
- Flour: All-purpose flour is the bottom of this cupcake batter.
- Baking Powder + Baking Soda: These leavening brokers give the cupcakes raise.
- Salt: Taste enhancer/sweetness balancer.
- Melted Butter: Utilizing melted butter as an alternative of softened butter means you don’t want a mixer to make these splendidly delicate cupcakes. I additionally respect that you would be able to actually style that buttery taste, one thing you don’t at all times get in a cupcake recipe utilizing creamed butter or oil.
- Egg Whites: Utilizing simply the whites of the eggs makes for the lightest, fluffiest vanilla cake crumb… one thing you’ll additionally take pleasure in in my favourite white cake recipe.
- Bitter Cream: This retains the cupcakes moist. Plain yogurt works as a advantageous substitute.
- Milk: Entire milk makes for the perfect style and texture, however lower-fat or nondairy can work in a pinch.
- Vanilla Bean Paste: You would simply use vanilla extract if that’s all you’ve got, however I extremely suggest giving these cupcakes a taste improve with some pure vanilla bean paste. You may normally discover it subsequent to the vanilla extract within the grocery retailer baking aisle, or you’ll be able to order it on-line.
Or when you occur to have a vanilla bean (an additional one leftover from making do-it-yourself vanilla extract, maybe?), you’ll be able to scrape the seeds from half a bean, and add together with vanilla extract, similar to when making my common vanilla cupcakes. You may also add vanilla bean seeds to the whipped cream. See recipe Notice beneath.
The method for making these cupcakes is easy. Whisk collectively dry components, whisk collectively moist components, after which mix the 2.
Success Tip
You’ll have sufficient batter for 15 cupcakes, so line a typical 12-cup muffin pan after which a second one with 3 extra cupcake liners. Fill the liners simply 2/3 of the best way full. Don’t attempt to match all of the batter into 12 cups—the cupcakes will spill over the perimeters when baking, and also you’ll have an enormous sloppy mess. (Apart from, when you serve a dozen cupcakes, nobody could have any thought there have been 3 additional cupcakes that by some means went lacking… that may be our little secret.)
Filling These Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
When your cupcakes and filling are each fully cool, it’s time to fill them. Earlier than you begin, put aside 1/2 cup of the filling to make use of within the strawberry whipped cream topping.
We’re utilizing the identical methodology I exploit to fill these cream-filled chocolate cupcakes, and it’s a chunk of [short]cake.
With a pointy knife, minimize a circle within the cupcake and take away the middle, which will likely be roughly the form of a cone. Utilizing a small spoon, fill the center of the cupcake with as a lot cooled strawberry filling as you’ll be able to. (Normally between 1–2 teaspoons.) Slice/tear off the pointed tip of the cone-shaped piece of cupcake, and gently press the spherical piece again on prime of the filling.
It doesn’t should look fairly, since you’ll prime the cupcakes with a fluffy cloud of strawberry whipped cream. I don’t suggest utilizing a piping bag/tip to fill the cupcakes, as a result of the filling is fairly thick and chunky.
Selfmade Strawberry Whipped Cream
Now you’re within the dwelling stretch! Of the three components to this recipe, making the strawberry whipped cream topping is the quickest and best. It’s just like my basic do-it-yourself whipped cream, however we’re folding within the reserved 1/2 cup of strawberry filling for a bit of extra taste, coloration, and texture. I like the little chunks of strawberry hiding within the gentle pink whipped cream.
Pile the strawberry whipped cream on prime of the stuffed cupcakes, and, for a of entirety, I like so as to add a few strawberry slices. You’ll LOVE these!
Can I Make These As a Cake?
Completely, and I have already got a separate recipe for strawberry shortcake cake. For a layer cake, use my white cake recipe, and at this time’s strawberry filling. Fill the cooled cake layers with a lot of the strawberry filling, and avoid wasting to fold into the whipped cream. There’s loads of whipped cream for the outside of the layer cake.
Extra Favourite Strawberry Dessert Recipes
Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook dinner Time: 22 minutes
Complete Time: 3 hours (consists of cooling)
Yield: 15 cupcakes
Class: Cupcakes
Technique: Baking
Delicacies: American
Description
You’re 100% do-it-yourself strawberry shortcake, however in cupcake type! Selfmade strawberry filling joins vanilla bean cupcakes and berry-speckled whipped cream to create an epic deal with that’s completely match for spring and summertime. Put together the strawberry filling first so it has time to chill and thicken earlier than utilizing. Evaluate recipe Notes earlier than starting.
Strawberry Filling
Cupcakes
Strawberry Whipped Cream
Directions
- Make the strawberry filling first: Utilizing a fork, combine the cornstarch and water collectively in a small bowl till the cornstarch has dissolved—combination is thick. Heat the strawberries and sugar collectively in a small saucepan over medium warmth. Stir the combination because it cooks, and break up a few of the strawberries as you stir. Convey it to a simmer. As soon as simmering, stir within the cornstarch combination. Permit to simmer for five minutes, stirring always. After 5 minutes, take away from warmth, stir within the lemon zest, and funky fully. Combination thickens because it cools. (It should fully cool, so transferring to a bowl out of the saucepan helps velocity that up, as does refrigerating it. You may full a number of different steps within the recipe because the combination cools.)
- Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. This recipe yields about 15 cupcakes, so line a second muffin pan with 3 cupcake liners, or bake in batches.
- In a big bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt collectively. Put aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter and sugar collectively. Combination will likely be gritty. Whisk within the egg whites, bitter cream, milk, and vanilla bean paste/extract till mixed.
- Pour the moist components into the dry components and whisk till the batter is totally mixed. Batter needs to be creamy and largely clean; a number of small lumps are OK.
- Pour/spoon the batter into the liners, filling solely 2/3 full to keep away from spilling over the perimeters. You need to have sufficient batter for 15 cupcakes.
- Bake for 20–22 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear.
- Take away cupcakes from the oven and permit them to chill within the pan for 10 minutes, after which switch to a wire rack to chill fully. Cupcakes have to be fully cooled earlier than filling and topping.
- Fill the cupcakes: First, put aside 1/2 cup of the filling for the whipped cream topping. Utilizing a pointy knife, minimize a circle into the middle of the cooled cupcakes to create a bit of pocket about 1 inch deep. The piece you eliminated will likely be form of cone-shaped. Spoon a few of the cooled and thickened strawberry filling inside every carved-out cupcake—use nonetheless a lot will match. (I exploit a teaspoon for this. Normally you’ll be able to match between 1–2 teaspoons of filling in every.) Slice/tear off the sharp finish of the “cone” piece of cupcake you eliminated, and gently press the spherical piece again on prime of the filling.
- Make the whipped cream: Utilizing a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla bean paste/extract on medium-high velocity till medium peaks type, about 3–4 minutes. Medium peaks are between delicate/free peaks and stiff peaks, and are the proper consistency for topping and piping on desserts. Should you unintentionally over-whip the cream, and it seems to be curdled and heavy, pour in a bit of bit extra chilly heavy cream, and fold it in gently by hand with a spatula till it smooths out. Fold within the reserved 1/2 cup of strawberry filling. Use instantly or cowl tightly and chill within the fridge for as much as 24 hours.
- Frost cooled cupcakes. I used an icing spatula, however a knife works simply advantageous. I pile the whipped cream on actually excessive as pictured, and you may definitely do the identical! You’ll have some leftover when you don’t use as a lot on every cupcake. Garnish cupcakes with sliced strawberries and/or recent mint.
- Serve instantly or retailer within the fridge till able to serve. Cowl and retailer leftover cupcakes within the fridge for as much as 5 days. I like to recommend a cupcake carrier for storing and transporting adorned cupcakes.
Notes
- Make Forward & Freezing Directions: Bake the cupcakes 1 day upfront. Preserve cupcakes lined tightly at room temperature and fill/frost the day of serving. You can also make the strawberry filling and retailer it lined within the fridge for as much as 2–3 days earlier than utilizing. Likewise, you may make the strawberry whipped cream and retailer it lined within the fridge for as much as 1 day earlier than utilizing. Unfrosted, unfilled cupcakes will be frozen as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and produce to room temperature earlier than assembling and serving.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): USA Pan Cupcake Pan or Wilton Cupcake Pan | Cupcake Liners | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer) | Small Icing Spatula | Cupcake Carrier
- Replace in 2023: This recipe was initially printed in 2013. Over time, I made some refined enhancements. The filling used to name for 1/2 cup (100g) of sugar, and I discovered it was just too candy. I additionally added lemon zest to the filling, to assist brighten up the flavour. The cupcakes now use 1 teaspoon of baking powder, as an alternative of 1/2 teaspoon. They rise a bit of taller and style a bit fluffier now.
- Can I Use Frozen Strawberries? Frozen strawberries work in a pinch, however the filling holds MUCH higher form when utilizing recent strawberries. I strongly suggest utilizing recent. If utilizing frozen, thaw and pat dry earlier than beginning.
- Egg Whites: It’s finest to make use of solely egg whites on this cupcake recipe as a result of they may be sure that the crumb will not be weighed down by the fats in egg yolks. If wanted, you need to use 1 full egg as an alternative. Consider the feel of the cupcake will change.
- Bitter Cream & Entire Milk: Bitter cream and complete milk are strongly really useful for the perfect style and texture. A full-fat plain yogurt would work as an alternative of bitter cream, although the cupcakes will not be as gentle. Identical goes with a lower-fat milk (I don’t suggest nonfat). Nondairy milk works in a pinch. You may change each the entire milk and bitter cream with buttermilk (1 cup/240ml) if wanted.
- Vanilla: I like utilizing vanilla bean paste within the cupcakes and whipped cream as a result of it combines each extract AND vanilla bean seeds. You may, in fact use pure vanilla extract as an alternative. If utilizing vanilla extract, and in order for you that additional vanilla bean taste, be happy so as to add the seeds scraped from 1/2 of a vanilla bean within the cupcake batter, and use the seeds from the opposite half of the vanilla bean within the whipped cream. (That is along with the liquid vanilla extract.)
- Can I Make This Right into a Cake? Completely, and I have already got a separate recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Cake. For a layer cake, use my white cake recipe, and at this time’s strawberry filling. Fill the cooled cake layers with a lot of the strawberry filling, and avoid wasting to fold into the whipped cream. There’s loads of whipped cream for the outside of the layer cake.
- You should definitely take a look at my 10 suggestions for baking the BEST cupcakes earlier than you start.
Key phrases: strawberry shortcake cupcakes