This is the best strawberry buttercream frosting made with fresh strawberry flavor! It’s creamy, fluffy and perfect for frosting desserts from cakes, to cupcakes and cookies.
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The Best Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
It doesn’t get better than fresh strawberry dessert recipes in the summer. This strawberry buttercream frosting is a favorite, as well as strawberry cream pie and strawberry shortcake biscuits.
If you love buttercream frosting and strawberry cream cheese frosting, you will love this easy strawberry frosting recipe that combines the best of both frosting recipes. It’s creamy and rich, and adds amazing, real strawberry flavor to chocolate cupcakes and more!
Ingredient Notes
- Salted butter: I prefer salted butter to balance the sweet icing. But you can use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt. Remember to soften to room temperature.
- Powdered sugar: The best sugar for frosting, it’s light sweet and the perfect texture.
- Vanilla extract: Balances the flavor.
- Heavy cream or milk: I prefer heavy cream for a richer frosting.
- Strawberries: For a thinner frosting, use finely chopped fresh strawberries but if you plan to pipe it on cupcakes use freeze dried strawberries. Strawberry puree works too.
How to Make Strawberry Frosting
- Whip the butter. In a large mixing bowl, whip the softened butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Slowly add in 2 cups of powdered sugar and mix until combined.
- Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Add vanilla and 1 more cup of powdered sugar and continue mixing. You may need to add a teaspoon or two of milk to thin the frosting down.
- Adjust consistency as needed. Add in your last cup of powdered sugar and mix until combined. Add more or less milk depending on the consistency. You want it to be thick, creamy and able to hold a point.
- Fold in strawberries. Then fold your fresh berries in. If you are wanting to pipe this frosting, I would recommend using freeze dried, so it will become stiffer.
How to Thicken
To thicken your strawberry frosting, I would suggest using freeze dried strawberries. If you use fresh strawberries, it will be thinner and less stiff. The picture above shows the difference in consistency for the two methods.
If you’re wanting to pipe the frosting, I definitely recommend using freeze dried strawberries so that it will be able to hold a point. Just pulse the dried strawberries into a strawberry powder in a blender before adding them in.
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?
Yes, but you will need to thaw and drain them first. I recommended pureeing them slightly in the blender before slowly adding a little bit at a time into the frosting. My recommendation is fresh strawberries or freeze dried strawberries, but frozen works in a pinch.
Ways to Use Strawberry Buttercream
I love how pretty and vibrant this easy strawberry frosting looks on baked goods! There should be enough frosting for a 9×13 cake, two 8 inch cake layers or 12 cupcakes.
- Cakes: It pairs wonderfully with a vanilla cake or strawberry sheet cake. Sometimes I use a box mix if I’m in a pinch and it still tastes delicious! It would also taste amazing on a chocolate cake or Neapolitan cake.
- Cupcakes: I love to pipe it on moist vanilla cupcakes or chocolate cupcakes. The color looks so pretty and I always love to add a fresh strawberry slice for garnish.
- Cookies: It would taste amazing on top of sugar cookies or sugar cookie bars. Talk about a match made in heaven!
- Snack: One of my favorite childhood snacks was graham crackers dipped in buttercream frosting. Seriously the most delicious thing ever!
Storage
- Store: Store strawberry buttercream frosting in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 days. Bring to room temperature before using on baked goods.
- Freeze: Freeze up to 3 months in a freezer safe bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then stir or mix again with an electric mixer.
Have more strawberries to use? Try this strawberry cake, homemade strawberry jam or strawberry crepes!
More Frosting Recipes
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter , softened
- 4 to 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk , more as needed
- 1 cup strawberries , finely chopped
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whip 1 cup butter. Slowly add in 2 cups of powdered sugar. Mix until combined.
- Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 more cup of powdered sugar and continue mixing. At this point you may need to add a teaspoon or two of milk to thin the frosting down.
- Add remaining ingredients. Add in your last cup of powdered sugar and mix until combined. Add more or less milk depending on the consistency. You want the strawberry frosting to be thick, creamy and to be able to hold a point.
- Fold in one cup strawberries. If you are wanting to pipe this frosting, I would recommend using freeze dried, so it will become stiffer.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
LA
How much freeze dried strawberries
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
1 cup. Enjoy!
Laura
I was curious if you can make this ahead of time? Also could I use a little bit of strawberry extract?
Jamielyn Nye
Yes you could definitely add in some strawberry extract (I’d start with less and taste as you go). Yes, you can make 24 hours in advance.
jacey corriveau
This has become my tried and true frosting recipe. i have made it in its original form with the strawberries so many times but have also swapped the strawberries for the same amount of blueberries, black or raspberries and in each case, the frosting turned out beautifully.
I Heart Naptime
So happy to hear this! I’m so glad other variations have worked out great for you. Thanks for your comment and review, Jacey :)
Tara
Where is the best place to find freeze-dried strawberries? I’ve seen them used in a number of recipes lately.
lauren kelly
I just need a big spoon! This frosting is incredible!
Sara Welch
I loved this recipe! It was perfect for my sister’s cupcakes at her baby shower! Delicious!
Jen
I could eat this by the spoonful! Love strawberries especially for spring and summer.
Jamielyn Nye
I’m so happy to hear you love it! :)
Suzy
My go to frosting during the spring and summer!
Danielle Hancock
This frosting is so delicious! Love the strawberry flavor! Thank you!
Cynthia
I’m looking for a mousse-like cream rather than a frosting. Can you recommend a way to make this frosting lighter and fluffier?
I Heart Naptime
Whip it in with your mixer for a lot longer! (At least, that works with my favorite chocolate frosting recipe!)
Karen
Hi,
I didn’t see where you added the jam to the recipe. Is the jam added with the strawberries?
Thanks,
Karen
I Heart Naptime
Hi Karen! The jam is spread on the cake layer, then the frosting is added on top of that. :)
Rosalie Feinen
Love your recipes. I also loved the green cake plate the white and strawberry cake is on. Would you tell me where you bought it?
Thank you
Jamielyn
Thank you Rosalie! I got it from Costco! :)
TJ
This sounds great, can I just check you used 32oz of powdered sugar? It seems a lot for the amount of butter but other comments say the strawberries made theirs runny so maybe thats why! Just wanted to check.
Jamielyn
Hi TJ! Yes, I used the whole 32oz of powdered sugar! It definitely helps make the frosting thicker. You can definitely do less though and add as needed. :)