Description
Delight in these Monster Strawberry Cupcakes featuring moist, fluffy strawberry-infused cupcakes topped with vibrant green vanilla buttercream. Perfect for a fun and festive treat, these cupcakes combine fresh strawberries, strawberry preserves, and a creamy, colorful frosting, finished with decorative monster strawberries and Oreo crumbs for a spooky touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 3 tbsp strawberry jam or preserves
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh strawberries
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 egg whites
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 drops pink food coloring
- 1/3 cup milk
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 6-8 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3-4 drops green food gel dye
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare cupcake batter: Set oven to 350 F. In a small bowl, combine fresh chopped strawberries and strawberry preserves. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients and food coloring: Beat in egg whites, vanilla extract, and pink food coloring into the creamed butter and sugar until fully incorporated.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture alternately with milk into the wet mixture, beating on low speed just until blended.
- Fold in strawberries: Gently fold in the chopped strawberries and preserves mixture to distribute them evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake the cupcakes: Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full with batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare vanilla buttercream frosting: Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment, beat butter until light and fluffy. Add 6 cups powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until combined, then beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes to aerate the frosting.
- Adjust consistency and color: Add additional powdered sugar one cup at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Beat in green food gel dye thoroughly for vibrant color.
- Decorate cupcakes: Frost cooled cupcakes generously with the green vanilla buttercream. Sprinkle with Oreo crumbs and top with monster strawberries or decorative elements as desired.
Notes
- Strawberry cupcake recipe adapted from Karas Party Ideas.
- Frosting method inspired by Martha Stewart’s vanilla buttercream recipe.
- Use room temperature butter to achieve a smooth and creamy frosting.
- Fold in strawberries gently to avoid breaking them up and discoloring the batter.
- If fresh strawberries are not available, use frozen and thawed strawberries with excess juice drained.
- For best results, allow cupcakes to cool completely before applying frosting to prevent melting.
- Oreo crumbs and monster strawberries add a fun decorative element, but can be omitted or substituted with other toppings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
