Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Published February 13, 2013. Updated January 3, 2019

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Strawberry Buttercream Frosting – rich creamy frosting that’s brimming with real, bright strawberry flavor! The perfect finish to your favorite vanilla cake or cupcakes!

strawberry buttercream frosting2

What’s the only thing you need this Valentines day? This. Strawberry Buttercream Frosting… well and maybe some cupcakes to spread it on =). This frosting is melt in you mouth strawberry divinity.

I’ve made my fair share of strawberry frosting that is too runny and finally realized one day fresh strawberries just wasn’t cutting it (or strawberry jam) because they contain too much liquid to their flavor ratio. It takes a lot of strawberries to get a really good pronounced strawberry flavor in a frosting, so what’s the solution?

Freeze dried strawberries. You can usually find them near the dried fruits in the grocery store (i.e. by the raisins/craisins). The pack a lot of punch for such a light weight. You won’t be left with a frosting where you are wondering what the main flavor is supposed to be. And the other great thing – it’s naturally pink frosting. Those freeze dried strawberries also give off a lot of color.  Spread this over vanilla or chocolate cupcakes/cake and you will be in heaven with the first bite. Enjoy and Happy Valentines Day!

UPDATE: I’ve had a few questions asking if fresh strawberries could be substituted for the freeze dried because they can be hard to find, here is another strawberry buttercream frosting recipe I recently posted that uses fresh strawberries instead here. I found if you simmer the berries first (reducing the liquids) they work great in frosting.

strawberry buttercream frosting

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5 from 1 vote

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Rich creamy frosting that's brimming with real, bright strawberry flavor! The perfect finish to your favorite vanilla cake or cupcakes! Makes enough for 1 dozen cupcakes.
Servings: 12
Prep15 minutes
Ready in: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature*
  • 1 cup (15g) freeze dried strawberries
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp heavy cream
  • 2 cups (230g) powdered sugar

Instructions

  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment, whip butter on medium-high speed until very pale and fluffy 6 - 8 minutes, frequently scraping down sides and bottom of bowl. 
  • Meanwhile, pulverize freeze dried strawberries in a food processor** until finely ground (wait about 10 second before opening food processor allowing the powder in the air to settle a bit. There should have 3 1/2 Tbsp of the strawberry powder). 
  • Transfer strawberry powder to whipped butter and blend mixture until combine. Stir in heavy cream followed by powdered sugar and whip mixture 4 - 5 minute longer on medium-high speed, until very pale and fluffy, frequently scraping down sides and bottom of bowl. For best results frost and serve within an hour.

Notes

  • *Or softened in microwave on HIGH power in 4 - 5 second intervals, rotating butter to next side between intervals until lightly softened.
  • **If you don't own a food processor, you can place the strawberries in a resealable bag, seal bag and crush to fine powder with a rolling pin.

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73 Comments

  • Stephanie

    I love this frosting recipe so much. My roommate and I found it while searching for a strawberry frosting recipe. She made it that time (on a funfetti cake) and I’ve made it twice (as part of banana split cupcakes and on funfetti cupcakes.)

    It is SOOOO good. Addicting, even. Love it.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      That’s great to hear, so glad you’ve loved it Stephanie! I need to try it on a banana split cupcakes, that sounds delicious. thanks for your comment!

  • Novi

    How about if I substitute the dried strawberry with strawberry jam ? thank you

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I wouldn’t recommend it because it will make it too sweet and alter the consistency. If you can’t find the dried strawberries the next best thing would be fresh strawberries pureed and omitting the cream.

  • Kinsey B

    I just made this icing for my daughter’s 3rd birthday party today. They turned out great and I can’t wait to try them. I also made blueberry icing, which looks great. Thanks for a dye free recipe.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’ve been wanting to try blueberry! I’m glad it turned out for you thanks for your comment Kinsey! I hope she has a great birthday!

  • Jazzelynn

    Could real strawberries be used instead of freeze dried strawberries if I were to puree it down?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      No because it would make the frosting too runny, that’s why I went with the freeze dried you get a lot of flavor without all the liquid.

  • Ashlee

    Have you ever tried to use half butter half shortening on this recipe to help with stability? I’m just wondering how it will affect the flavor. I’m using this to torte and ice a cake and I wonder if half shortening will hold up better as I will have it out of the fridge for a while to decorate it.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I haven’t ever tried with half of each but it’s pretty stable with butter alone. It’s fluffy but it holds up pretty well.

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  • Aicha

    My store was out of strawberries so I bought freeze-dried mixed berries. I think that made the frosting too tangy. And it was too sweet for my taste. Super easy to make and looked so pretty with the freeze-dried fruit color. I wanted to love it. Do you think it will turn out as fluffy if I decrease the sugar??

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I think so, if you still whip it for a long period of time it should be nearly just as fluffy.

    • Debbie

      Can a perso use frozen strawberries? I don’t have freeze dried.