Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
User Reviews
4.7
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
Description
These cupcakes begin with a batter blending all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and softened butter. Melted unsweetened chocolate is incorporated, followed by eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream, and boiling water to create a smooth, moist batter. Baked in a lined muffin tin, the cupcakes develop a tender crumb with concentrated chocolate notes.
The strawberry buttercream frosting combines freeze-dried strawberry powder, fresh strawberry puree, butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, whipped to a creamy, pink frosting with bright fruit flavor. Optional red food coloring intensifies the hue.
Twelve fresh strawberries are dipped in melted semi-sweet chocolate to garnish each cupcake, adding a decorative and flavorful complement. This layering highlights the chocolate-strawberry pairing in texture and taste.
The cake, frosting, and topping together form a celebratory dessert suitable for special occasions. The recipe uses fresh and freeze-dried strawberries to enhance the strawberry flavor in the frosting without excess moisture. Serving is best shortly after assembly to preserve the cherry finish on strawberries.
Ingredients
- 2 oz. (56g) unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour (spooned into measuring cup and leveled)
- 1/4 cup (21g) cocoa powder spooned into measuring cup and leveled, unsweetened
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream
- 1/2 cup (120ml) water boiling
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup (17g) freeze dried strawberries
- 1 cup (230g) Strawberry Puree from strawberries blended in a food processor, fresh
- 3/4 cup (170g) butter nearly at room temperature, unsalted
- 3 1/4 cups (390g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice fresh
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- red food coloring optional, few drops
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- 12 small strawberry fresh
- 4 oz. (113g) semi-sweet chocolate
Instructions
For the cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl on 50% power in 20 second intervals, stirring between intervals until melted and smooth, set aside to cool slightly.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt for 20 seconds, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer mix together sugar and butter until combined (it won't come together entirely but mix until lumps of butter are creamed).
- Mix in egg, egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix in melted chocolate then mix in sour cream.
- Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined then add remaining half and mix until combined.
- Add about 1/5 of the boiling water at a time, mixing until combined after each addition. Once water has all been blended mix batter on medium-low speed for 1 minute.
- Divide batter among prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake in preheated oven until set and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 17 - 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven, transfer to a wire rack and cool 10 minutes, then transfer to an airtight container (one that doesn't touch tops. I like to do this to seal in moisture) and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Once cool frost with strawberry buttercream frosting and top with a chocolate covered strawberry. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator (for best results serve within the day at room temperature).
For the strawberry frosting
- Place freeze dried strawberries in a small resealable bag, seal bag and crush strawberries to a fine powder with a rolling pin. Sift through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl to remove seeds, set aside.
- Strain strawberry puree through a fine mesh sieve and measure out 3/4 cup, then pour into a small saucepan set over medium-low heat.
- Simmer puree, stirring occasionally until reduced by about two thirds to a 1/4 cup, about 10 - 14 minutes (measure and if it isn't quite 1/4 cup then return and continue to simmer, if it's not reduced to correct amount it will make the frosting runny).
- Pour reduced puree into a small bowl, then freeze or refrigerate, stirring occasionally until fully cooled.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter until pale and fluffy.
- Mix in powdered sugar, reduced strawberry puree, freeze dried strawberry powder, lemon juice, and vanilla and continue to mix until frosting is pale and fluffy. Tint with color if desired.
For the chocolate covered strawberries
- Melt chocolate in a small microwave safe bowl on 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring between intervals, until melted and smooth.
- Dip strawberries in chocolate, let excess run off then transfer one to each cupcake.
- Recipe source: Cooking Classy
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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