Simple & Sweet Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe

Sweet, decadent chocolate strawberry cupcakes dance between rich cocoa and bright berry notes.

These delightful treats blend indulgent chocolate with fresh strawberry essence perfectly.

Soft, moist cake layers promise a remarkable dessert experience.

Each cupcake delivers a delectable combination of smooth chocolate and vibrant strawberry flavors.

Delicate strawberry frosting crowns these irresistible miniature cakes with elegance.

The recipe brings restaurant-quality desserts straight to your kitchen with simple steps.

One bite promises pure bliss that will delight every chocolate and strawberry lover.

Cupcake Ingredients for Chocolate Strawberry Lovers

Main Ingredients:

• Cocoa Powder: Provides deep chocolate flavor and dark color to the cupcakes.
• Chocolate Chips: Adds extra chocolate intensity and melty chocolate pockets.
• Flour: Creates the essential structure and texture of the cupcakes.
• Sugar: Brings sweetness and helps with cupcake caramelization.

• Boiling Water: Helps dissolve cocoa powder and activate chocolate flavors.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and creates a tender, rich cake texture.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures the cupcakes remain soft and prevents dryness.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and provides structure to the cupcake batter.

• Baking Soda: Helps cupcakes rise and creates a light, airy texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor balance in the cupcakes.

Frosting Ingredients:

• Freeze-Dried Strawberries: Creates intense strawberry flavor without added moisture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the frosting.

• Butter: Provides creamy, rich base for the frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet frosting texture.

• Strawberry Jam: Adds extra fruity sweetness and moisture to cupcake filling.
• Milk or Fresh Strawberry Puree: Helps adjust frosting consistency and adds fresh strawberry notes.

Steps for Baking Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a cozy 325°F.

Grab your muffin tin and line it with cute cupcake liners, creating a perfect home for your delicious treats.

Step 2: Create Chocolate Magic

• Cocoa powder
• Chocolate chips
• Espresso powder
• Boiling water

Stir until the mixture becomes silky smooth.

• Sour cream
• Oil
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Vanilla

Mix everything until it’s beautifully combined.

Step 3: Blend Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

Gently fold these into your wet mixture, whisking until just combined.

Don’t overmix!

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into your lined muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.

Slide the tin into the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes.

Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

Let the cupcakes cool completely.

Step 5: Whip Up Strawberry Frosting

Transform freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder by processing and sifting.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter until it’s wonderfully creamy.

• Powdered sugar
• Strawberry powder
• Vanilla
• Strawberry jam
• Milk or fresh strawberry puree

Blend until the frosting is light and fluffy.

Step 6: Create Jammy Centers

Using a small knife, carefully cut out the centers of your cooled cupcakes.

Fill each cavity with a dollop of strawberry jam, then gently replace the tops.

Step 7: Decorate with Flair

Grab a piping bag and swirl the strawberry frosting onto each cupcake.

Get creative with your decorations – sprinkle with extra strawberry powder, add fresh strawberry slices, or dust with cocoa for a final touch.

Tips for Rich, Moist Cupcakes Every Time

• Add a pinch of espresso powder to intensify the rich chocolate taste without making the cupcakes taste like coffee.
• Dust freeze-dried strawberry powder with powdered sugar to help stabilize color and prevent moisture from seeping into frosting.
• Use sour cream to keep cupcakes incredibly soft and tender, ensuring a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Use a small cookie cutter or apple corer to remove cupcake centers cleanly and create uniform jam-filled centers.
• Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, bringing to room temperature before serving for best flavor.

Strawberry Cupcake Variations for a Fresh Twist

• Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes: Replace eggs with flax eggs, use plant-based milk, swap butter for vegan butter, and coconut cream for sour cream.
• Gluten-Free Berry Chocolate Treats: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend, use almond flour for extra moisture and nutty flavor.
• Low-Sugar Chocolate Strawberry Mini Cakes: Use monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, replace jam with fresh strawberry chunks, reduce overall sweetness while maintaining rich chocolate taste.
• Dairy-Free Chocolate Berry Cupcakes: Use coconut oil, almond milk, and coconut cream to create creamy texture without dairy products, maintain intense chocolate and strawberry flavors.

Serving Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes for Any Event

• Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair these decadent cupcakes with a light champagne mimosa or fresh strawberry smoothie for an elegant morning treat.
• Romantic Date Night Finale: Serve on a beautiful platter with extra fresh strawberries and a dusting of powdered sugar for a show-stopping dessert perfect for intimate celebrations.
• Afternoon Tea Centerpiece: Arrange cupcakes on a tiered cake stand surrounded by fresh mint leaves and whole strawberries, creating a stunning visual display that invites conversation and delight.
• Kids' Party Favorite: Let children decorate the cupcakes with extra strawberry powder, chocolate sprinkles, or mini chocolate chips for a fun, interactive dessert experience.

Storing Cupcakes and Flavor

• Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving to enjoy the best texture and flavor.
• Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and frost before serving.
• Keep unfrosted cupcakes in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Protect from direct sunlight and heat to maintain freshness.
• Separate frosted and unfrosted cupcakes when storing to prevent smudging or sticking. Use parchment paper between layers for clean separation.

FAQs

• What makes the chocolate chips important in this recipe?

The chocolate chips melt into the batter, creating extra richness and depth of chocolate flavor, enhancing the overall moisture and taste of the cupcakes.

• Why use espresso powder in a chocolate recipe?

Espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor without adding coffee taste, making the chocolate notes more complex and deeper.

• How do freeze-dried strawberries work in the frosting?

Freeze-dried strawberries create a concentrated strawberry powder that adds genuine fruit flavor without extra moisture, ensuring a pure and intense strawberry taste in the frosting.

• What's the purpose of sour cream in the cupcake batter?

Sour cream adds moisture, tenderness, and a slight tanginess to the cupcakes, helping create a softer, more delicate texture while balancing the chocolate’s richness.

Reasons Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes Are Always a Hit

• Quick and Simple Baking: Whip up these delightful chocolate strawberry cupcakes with minimal effort, perfect for both novice and experienced bakers.
• Bursting with Flavor Combinations: Enjoy the rich chocolate base paired with vibrant strawberry frosting, creating a mouthwatering dessert that balances sweet and tangy notes.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Ideal for birthdays, potlucks, or just satisfying a chocolate craving, these cupcakes will impress friends and family with their stunning look and incredible taste.
• Customizable Decoration: Get creative with garnishing options, allowing you to personalize each cupcake and make them visually appealing for any special occasion.

Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe

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4.7 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet indulgence meets classic charm in these chocolate strawberry cupcakes, where rich cocoa embraces fresh berry essence. Delicate crumb and luscious frosting promise a delightful escape that will transport dessert enthusiasts straight to culinary bliss you won’t soon forget.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cupcake Base:

• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (not non-fat)
• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 1/2 cup boiling water

Filling:

• 1/2 cup strawberry jam

Strawberry Frosting:

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
• 3/4 cup freeze dried strawberries
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 heaping tablespoon strawberry jam
• 2 tablespoons milk or 5–8 fresh strawberries

Optional Garnishes:

• Sliced strawberries
• Mini chocolate chips
• Chocolate sprinkles
• Chocolate ganache
• Chocolate dipped strawberries

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and prepare a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. Create a rich chocolate base by whisking cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and espresso powder with boiling water until completely smooth and glossy.
3. Incorporate sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract into the chocolate mixture, blending until well integrated.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt, then gently fold into the wet ingredients until just combined.
5. Distribute batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each approximately 2/3 full.
6. Bake for 18-22 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean when inserted into the center of a cupcake.
7. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack at room temperature.
8. Transform freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder by processing and sifting.
9. Cream butter until light and fluffy, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, strawberry powder, vanilla extract, strawberry jam, and milk.
10. Carefully hollow out the center of each cooled cupcake using a small knife or cupcake corer.
11. Fill the centers with strawberry jam, replacing the small cake tops gently.
12. Pipe the prepared strawberry frosting decoratively onto each cupcake.
13. Optionally garnish with fresh strawberry pieces, chocolate shavings, or additional strawberry powder.

Notes

• Prevent dry cupcakes by ensuring precise ingredient measurements and not overmixing the batter.
• Enhance strawberry flavor by using high-quality freeze-dried strawberry powder and fresh strawberry jam.
• Try dairy-free alternatives like coconut oil and almond milk for a more inclusive recipe.
• Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for optimal moisture and texture.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 275
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg