A favourite spring and summer time dessert in hand-held type, these vanilla bean-speckled strawberry shortcake cupcakes are stuffed with selfmade 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 revealed them again in 2013!
3 Components to Love in These Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes: As a substitute of biscuits like traditional strawberry shortcake, the bottom of this summery deal with is a delicate and lightweight 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, identical to this raspberry cake filling.
Strawberry Whipped Cream: No piping ideas wanted to prime these strawberry shortcake cupcakes! I’m giving selfmade whipped cream a berry enhance by folding in among the reserved strawberry filling. It’s fast and straightforward 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 good and he or she stated they had been one of the best 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:
Contemporary 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 somewhat 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 selfmade strawberry jam with just a few superb chunks of actual strawberry. It’s loads 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 a substitute of softened butter means you don’t want a mixer to make these splendidly delicate cupcakes. I additionally recognize that you could 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 wonderful substitute.
Milk: Entire milk makes for one of the best style and texture, however lower-fat or nondairy can work in a pinch.
Vanilla Bean Paste: You possibly can simply use vanilla extract if that’s all you have got, however I extremely advocate giving these cupcakes a taste improve with some pure vanilla bean paste. You’ll be able to often discover it subsequent to the vanilla extract within the grocery retailer baking aisle, or you possibly can order it on-line.
Or should you occur to have a vanilla bean (an additional one leftover from making selfmade vanilla extract, maybe?), you possibly can scrape the seeds from half a bean, and add together with vanilla extract, identical to when making my common vanilla cupcakes. You too can add vanilla bean seeds to the whipped cream. See recipe Observe beneath.
The method for making these cupcakes is easy. Whisk collectively dry elements, whisk collectively moist elements, after which mix the 2.
Success Tip
You’ll have sufficient batter for 15 cupcakes, so line a regular 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 edges when baking, and also you’ll have a giant sloppy mess. (Moreover, should you serve a dozen cupcakes, nobody can have any concept there have been 3 further cupcakes that in some way 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, lower 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 possibly can. (Often 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 advocate 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 house stretch! Of the three elements to this recipe, making the strawberry whipped cream topping is the quickest and best. It’s much like my traditional selfmade whipped cream, however we’re folding within the reserved 1/2 cup of strawberry filling for somewhat 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 crowning glory, 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 right this moment’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 may be loads of whipped cream for the outside of the layer cake.
You’re 100% selfmade 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. Assessment 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 among the strawberries as you stir. Carry it to a simmer. As soon as simmering, stir within the cornstarch combination. Enable to simmer for five minutes, stirring continually. 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’ll be able to full just a few 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 elements into the dry elements and whisk till the batter is totally mixed. Batter must be creamy and principally easy; just a few small lumps are OK.
Pour/spoon the batter into the liners, filling solely 2/3 full to keep away from spilling over the edges. It’s best to have sufficient batter for 15 cupcakes.
Bake for 20–22 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the middle 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, lower a circle into the middle of the cooled cupcakes to create somewhat pocket about 1 inch deep. The piece you eliminated will likely be kind of cone-shaped. Spoon among the cooled and thickened strawberry filling inside every carved-out cupcake—use nevertheless a lot will match. (I exploit a teaspoon for this. Often you possibly can 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. When you unintentionally over-whip the cream, and it seems to be curdled and heavy, pour in somewhat 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 wonderful. I pile the whipped cream on actually excessive as pictured, and you may actually do the identical! You’ll have some leftover should 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 provider for storing and transporting adorned cupcakes.
Notes
Make Forward & Freezing Directions: Bake the cupcakes 1 day upfront. Hold 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.
Replace in 2023: This recipe was initially revealed 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 a substitute of 1/2 teaspoon. They rise somewhat 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 advocate 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 make sure that the crumb will not be weighed down by the fats in egg yolks. If wanted, you should use 1 full egg as a substitute. Take note the feel of the cupcake will change.
Bitter Cream & Entire Milk: Bitter cream and entire milk are strongly really helpful for one of the best style and texture. A full-fat plain yogurt would work as a substitute of bitter cream, although the cupcakes will not be as gentle. Identical goes with a lower-fat milk (I don’t advocate nonfat). Nondairy milk works in a pinch. You’ll be able to exchange 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’ll be able to, in fact use pure vanilla extract as a substitute. If utilizing vanilla extract, and if you need that further 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 right this moment’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 may be loads of whipped cream for the outside of the layer cake.
