Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe

The Sweetest Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe Ever

Chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes represent a delightful fusion of rich, velvety indulgence and fruity elegance.

Sweet and decadent, these treats blend classic dessert elements into a single, irresistible bite.

Soft cake layers whisper promises of intense chocolate flavor, while fresh strawberry notes dance through each moist crumb.

Delicate and sophisticated, these cupcakes elevate home baking to an artful experience.

Passionate bakers understand how such simple ingredients can reimagine into extraordinary culinary creations.

Intricate yet approachable, these cupcakes balance complexity with comforting familiarity.

The magic happens when carefully selected components merge into a harmonious, eye-catching dessert.

What’s So Special About Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

  • Indulge in Decadent Flavor Fusion: These cupcakes blend rich chocolate cake with bright strawberry buttercream, creating a mouthwatering contrast that dances between deep cocoa notes and fruity sweetness.
  • Master Bakery-Level Techniques at Home: The recipe teaches professional-style methods like ganache making, buttercream filling, and precision cake cutting, empowering home bakers to create stunning desserts with simple steps.
  • Quick Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: With just over 30 minutes of active preparation time, these cupcakes deliver maximum wow factor while being surprisingly easy to create, perfect for parties, celebrations, or spontaneous sweet cravings.
  • Customizable Gourmet Treat: Bakers can easily personalize the garnish, adjust filling intensity, or experiment with chocolate types, making this recipe a flexible canvas for creative dessert lovers.

Strawberry Cupcake Ingredients You’ll Need

Cupcake Base Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: A classic baking staple that provides structure and soft texture for the cupcakes.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender crumb in the cupcake.
  • Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep color to the cupcake base.
  • Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents that help the cupcakes rise and become light.
Liquid Ingredients:
  • Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and creates a tender, soft cupcake texture.
  • Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and helps activate the leavening agents for better rise.
  • Egg: Provides structure and helps bind the ingredients together.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, sweet aroma.
  • Coffee or Water: Deepens the chocolate flavor and adds moisture to the batter.
Filling and Topping Ingredients:
  • Fresh Strawberries: Creates a vibrant, natural flavor powder for the buttercream filling.
  • Unsalted Butter: Forms the base of the creamy, smooth buttercream filling.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize the buttercream filling.
  • Heavy Cream: Adds richness and helps create a smooth ganache and buttercream.
  • Chocolate: Provides a rich, glossy topping with deep chocolate flavor.
  • Salt: Balances and enhances the overall sweetness of the filling and ganache.

How to Prepare Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Arrange cupcake liners inside a 12-cup muffin pan.

Step 2: Mix Dry Cupcake Ingredients

Gather dry ingredients and whisk them together thoroughly in a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Combine Wet Cupcake Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together:
  • Vegetable oil
  • Sugar
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • Buttermilk

Step 4: Create Cupcake Batter

Merge wet and dry ingredients. Add coffee or water and mix until batter becomes smooth and consistent.

Step 5: Bake the Cupcakes

Pour batter into cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 20-22 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.

Step 6: Prepare Chocolate Ganache

Heat cream until it starts to simmer. Pour hot cream over chopped chocolate. Let sit briefly, then stir until mixture becomes smooth and glossy. Refrigerate to thicken.

Step 7: Create Strawberry Buttercream

Process fresh strawberries into fine powder. In a mixing bowl, beat:
  • Butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Strawberry powder
  • Heavy cream
  • Vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Beat until buttercream becomes light and fluffy.

Step 8: Fill Cupcake Centers

Carefully cut a small pocket in each cupcake. Fill pocket with strawberry buttercream. Replace cupcake top.

Step 9: Decorate Cupcakes

Drizzle cooled ganache over each cupcake. Add optional garnishes like fresh strawberry slices or chocolate shavings.

Cupcake Baking Tips for Success

  • Boost Chocolate Depth: Add a pinch of espresso powder to the batter to intensify the chocolate flavor without making the cupcakes taste like coffee.
  • Prevent Strawberry Clumping: Ensure strawberry powder is completely dry and finely ground to create a smooth, lump-free buttercream filling.
  • Achieve Perfect Ganache Consistency: Let chocolate and cream sit for 2-3 minutes after pouring to create a glossy, smooth ganache with no lumps.
  • Create Clean Cupcake Pockets: Use a small round cookie cutter or the back of a piping tip to create precise filling cavities without tearing the cake.
  • Enhance Strawberry Flavor: Fold finely chopped fresh strawberries into the buttercream for extra texture and intense fruit flavor.

Tips to Store and Reheat Strawberry Cupcakes

  • Refrigerate cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Preserve the ganache and filling's texture by storing in the coolest part of the refrigerator. When ready to enjoy, remove cupcakes 30 minutes before serving to bring them to room temperature. Avoid microwaving, as this can make the cake tough and melt the delicate ganache. Gently warm cupcakes in a preheated 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes for the best flavor and texture restoration. For best quality, consume within 2-3 days of preparation.

Cupcake Pairing Suggestions

  • Savor Decadent Wine Pairing: Rich, dark chocolate cupcakes beautifully complement a glass of ruby port or full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, highlighting the dessert's intense chocolate and strawberry notes.
  • Elevate Coffee Companion: Brew a smooth espresso or creamy cappuccino to balance the cupcake's sweetness, creating a delightful flavor harmony that enhances the dessert's deep chocolate undertones.
  • Match Refreshing Beverage: Cool down the rich cupcake with a chilled strawberry champagne cocktail or a crisp rosé, which cuts through the buttercream's richness while echoing the fruity strawberry elements.
  • Complement Dessert Drink: Enjoy a creamy Irish cream liqueur or a smooth milk stout beer, both offering complementary chocolate and vanilla notes that perfectly align with the cupcake's luxurious profile.

Different Takes on Strawberry Cupcakes

  • Berry Bliss Variation: Replace strawberry powder with raspberry or mixed berry powder for a tangy, fruity flavor profile that adds vibrant color and depth to the buttercream filling.
  • Dark Chocolate Dream: Substitute milk chocolate ganache with rich dark chocolate for a more intense, sophisticated chocolate experience that complements the strawberry notes.
  • Nutty Sensation: Sprinkle chopped toasted almonds or hazelnut praline on top of the ganache for a crunchy texture and nutty undertone that elevates the cupcake's complexity.
  • Liqueur Lover's Edition: Infuse the buttercream with a splash of strawberry liqueur or Grand Marnier to create an adult version with a subtle boozy kick that adds sophistication to the classic recipe.
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Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes Recipe


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4.8 from 34 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes blend rich chocolate cake with luscious strawberry frosting for an irresistible dessert. Sweet strawberry notes and deep cocoa layers create a romantic treat perfect for special occasions, inviting pure indulgence with each delightful bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (125 grams/4.4 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (42 grams/1.5 ounces) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
  • 1 cup (200 grams/7 ounces) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (113 grams/4 ounces) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups (240 grams/8.5 ounces) confectioners’ sugar

Leavening and Seasoning:

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Liquid and Additional Ingredients:

  • ⅓ cup (80 milliliters/2.7 fluid ounces) vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120 milliliters/4 fluid ounces) buttermilk
  • ½ cup (120 milliliters/4 fluid ounces) hot coffee or hot water
  • 6 ounces (170 grams/6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate
  • ⅔ cup (160 milliliters/5.3 fluid ounces) heavy cream
  • ½ cup (about 1213 grams/0.4 ounces) freeze-dried strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters/1 fluid ounce) heavy cream
  • Salt, to taste

Optional Garnish:


    Instructions

    1. Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F (177°C) and arrange cupcake liners in a 12-cup muffin pan.
    2. In a mixing bowl, thoroughly combine all dry ingredients for the cupcake base.
    3. Create a separate mixture with vegetable oil, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk, whisking until well incorporated.
    4. Merge the wet and dry ingredients, adding brewed coffee or water, and blend until achieving a smooth, consistent batter.
    5. Carefully distribute the batter into cupcake liners, filling each approximately two-thirds full.
    6. Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    7. Remove cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely at room temperature.
    8. For the ganache, gently heat heavy cream until it reaches a simmering point.
    9. Pour the hot cream over finely chopped chocolate, letting it rest for a few moments before stirring until achieving a glossy, smooth consistency.
    10. Refrigerate the ganache to allow it to thicken and set.
    11. Prepare the strawberry buttercream by pulverizing fresh strawberries into a fine powder.
    12. In a separate bowl, cream unsalted butter, then gradually incorporate powdered sugar, strawberry powder, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
    13. Whip the mixture until light, fluffy, and well-blended.
    14. Using a small knife, carefully create a pocket in each cooled cupcake.
    15. Pipe the strawberry buttercream into the cupcake centers, replacing the cut-out top delicately.
    16. Generously drizzle the chilled chocolate ganache over each filled cupcake.
    17. Embellish with optional decorative elements like fresh strawberry slices or chocolate shavings.

    Notes

    • Precise baking temperature ensures perfect cupcake texture, helping you achieve a moist and tender crumb every time.
    • Coffee or water in the batter enhances chocolate’s deep, rich flavor, creating a more complex and sophisticated taste profile.
    • Create a smooth strawberry buttercream by processing fresh strawberries into a fine powder, which concentrates the fruit’s natural sweetness and color.
    • Ganache technique requires patience: let hot cream sit with chocolate to create a silky, glossy topping that elevates the entire dessert.
    • Cutting a small pocket in each cupcake before filling allows for maximum buttercream without overwhelming the delicate cake structure.
    • Chilling ganache helps it set to the ideal spreading consistency, preventing a runny or too-thin topping on your decadent cupcakes.
    • Prep Time: 40 minutes
    • Cook Time: 22 minutes
    • Category: Desserts, Snacks
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 12
    • Calories: 320 kcal
    • Sugar: 28 g
    • Sodium: 180 mg
    • Fat: 18 g
    • Saturated Fat: 10 g
    • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
    • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 38 g
    • Fiber: 1.5 g
    • Protein: 3 g
    • Cholesterol: 45 mg
    Lucas Bennett

    Lucas Bennett

    Founder & Recipe Creator

    Expertise

    Simple Everyday Recipes, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Creative Meal Planning, Recipe Testing and Improvement

    Education

    Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin

    • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
    • Focus: Practical culinary training, fundamental cooking techniques, meal planning, and using fresh, local ingredients.

    Lake Superior College, Duluth, Minnesota

    • Program: Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
    • Focus: Cooking methods that promote sustainability, farm-to-table practices, and eco-friendly meal creation.

    Lucas Bennett’s cooking journey started in his parents’ kitchen, where he learned to prepare tasty, no-fuss meals from scratch. His culinary passion led him to Fox Valley Technical College, where he gained practical cooking skills.
    He then expanded his focus on sustainability at Lake Superior College. Today, Lucas shares easy, approachable recipes designed to make cooking enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.

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