Irresistible Strawberry Cardamom Cupcakes with Berry Basil Frosting Recipe

Strawberry cardamom cupcakes bring a whimsical dance of flavors that tantalize the senses with unexpected culinary harmony.

Sweet, fragrant berries mingle beautifully with warm, aromatic spices in this delightful dessert creation.

Each bite promises a complex sensory experience that challenges traditional baking boundaries.

Delicate and sophisticated, these cupcakes elevate the humble strawberry into a gourmet masterpiece of texture and taste.

cardamom subtle warmth provides an intriguing counterpoint to the fruit’s bright, fresh notes.

Bakers seeking to elevate ordinary ingredients into extraordinary treats will adore this innovative recipe.

Rich buttercream infused with herbal undertones adds a sophisticated finishing touch that elevates these cupcakes from simple to spectacular.

Custom Styles for Strawberry Basil Cupcakes

• Fresh Berry Bonanza: Swap strawberries with mixed berries like raspberries and blueberries for a vibrant, colorful cupcake variation with complex flavor profiles.
• Tropical Paradise Punch: Replace cardamom with ground ginger and add mango puree to the cupcake batter for a sunny, tropical-inspired dessert that screams summer.
• Citrus Burst Edition: Incorporate orange zest into the cupcake batter and replace basil with mint in the buttercream, creating a bright, refreshing flavor combination that awakens the palate.
• Lavender Love Remix: Substitute cardamom with dried lavender buds and mix lavender-infused honey into the buttercream for an elegant, aromatic twist on the original recipe.

All About Strawberry Cardamom Cupcakes with Basil Buttercream

• Burst of Seasonal Flavors: Combine the sweet, juicy strawberries with aromatic cardamom for a uniquely refreshing taste that captures summer's essence in every bite.
• Elevate Ordinary Baking: Transform simple cupcakes into a gourmet dessert with the unexpected herb-infused buttercream, adding a sophisticated twist that surprises and delights taste buds.
• Masterful Technique Showcase: Learn professional Swiss meringue buttercream method, which creates an incredibly smooth, silky frosting that's lighter and less sweet than traditional American buttercream.
• Elegant Entertaining Dessert: Perfect for bridal showers, garden parties, or sophisticated gatherings where you want to impress guests with a visually stunning and deliciously complex cupcake that looks professionally crafted.

What You’ll Need for Strawberry Cardamom Cupcakes

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure for the cupcakes, choose unbleached flour for better texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cupcakes rise and become light and fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Ground Cardamom: Adds warm, aromatic spice with subtle complexity.

• Butter: Adds richness and creates a smooth, tender crumb, use unsalted for better flavor control.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cupcake browning and texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure to the cupcakes.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a soft cake texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides depth and enhances overall flavor profile.

• Fresh Strawberries: Adds natural sweetness and moisture, choose ripe, fragrant berries.
• Fresh Basil, Edible Rose Petals: Provide unique garnish and elegant flavor accent, select vibrant green basil leaves.

• Egg Whites: Create stable meringue base for buttercream.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes the meringue.

Steps to Make Strawberry Cupcakes with Basil Frosting

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank up your oven to a cozy 350°F. Grab your muffin tin and line it with cheerful cupcake liners.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cardamom in a bowl. Set this magical powder mixture aside.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud of deliciousness.

Step 4: Dance with Eggs

Add eggs one by one, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Watch your batter become smooth and dreamy.

Step 5: Create Liquid Magic

Combine milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Slowly blend this liquid mixture into your batter, alternating with the dry ingredients.

Step 6: Strawberry Surprise

Fold in pureed strawberries until they’re perfectly distributed throughout the batter.

Step 7: Fill and Bake

Distribute batter evenly into cupcake liners, filling each about three-quarters full. Slide the tin into the oven.

Step 8: Watch and Wait

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Check for springy tops and a clean toothpick test.

Step 9: Cool Down

Let cupcakes rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Step 10: Buttercream Ballet

Create a double boiler with a heatproof bowl over simmering water. Whisk egg whites and sugar until they reach 160°F.

Step 11: Whip It Good

Transfer to mixer and whip until stiff, fluffy peaks form.

Step 12: Butter Bliss

Gradually add butter pieces, mixing until smooth. Sprinkle in chopped basil.

Step 13: Strawberry Finale

Gently incorporate strawberry puree into the buttercream.

Step 14: Dress Up Your Cupcakes

Once cooled, frost cupcakes with the strawberry basil buttercream. Garnish with extra strawberry puree and delicate edible rose petals.

Tips to Nail the Flavor Combo in These Cupcakes

• Measure Precisely: Use measuring cups and spoons for exact ingredient quantities to ensure consistent texture and flavor.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Let eggs, butter, and milk sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to create smoother, more even batter.
• Don't Overmix: Gently fold ingredients until just combined to prevent tough, dense cupcakes with a rubbery texture.
• Check Cardamom Freshness: Use freshly ground cardamom for maximum aromatic flavor; whole pods ground just before baking deliver the most vibrant taste.
• Buttercream Rescue: If buttercream looks separated or curdled, continue mixing and gently warm the bowl's exterior with a warm towel to help ingredients emulsify smoothly.

Store and Reheat Instructions for Strawberry Cupcakes

• Refrigerate: Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent buttercream smudging.
• Room Temperature: Let cupcakes sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to restore optimal texture and flavor after refrigeration.
• Freezing: Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and frost before serving.

Cupcake Pairings You’ll Want to Try

• Sip Sparkling Rosé: Complement the sweet strawberry and delicate cardamom notes with a chilled, light sparkling rosé that enhances the cupcake's fruity and floral undertones.
• Pair with Lavender Tea: Brew a fragrant lavender tea that mirrors the herbal basil in the buttercream, creating a harmonious flavor connection and refreshing palate cleanse.
• Serve Alongside Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Scoop creamy vanilla bean ice cream next to the cupcake, allowing its smooth richness to balance the bright strawberry and subtle spice of cardamom.
• Match with Prosecco Cocktail: Mix a prosecco cocktail with a dash of elderflower liqueur, which will echo the delicate flavors and provide a sophisticated drinking experience that complements the cupcake's elegant profile.

Strawberry Cardamom Cupcakes with Strawberry Basil Buttercream Recipe

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4.7 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Strawberry cardamom cupcakes blend Mediterranean spice with sweet summer fruit, creating a delicate dessert that surprises and delights. Luscious strawberry basil buttercream crowns these elegant treats, promising pure culinary bliss for anyone seeking a refined and unexpected flavor experience.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups (532 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (255 g) sugar
• 2 eggs
• 8 tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 12 tablespoons (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (255 g) sugar

Spices and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped basil

Liquid and Additional Ingredients:

• ½ tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
• ¾ cup (177 ml) pureed strawberries
• ½ cup (118 ml) pureed strawberries

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Instructions

1. Meticulously prepare the oven environment by warming it to 350°F and positioning cupcake liners within the muffin tin.
2. Thoroughly combine dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cardamom – in a comprehensive mixing vessel.
3. Utilize a stand mixer to cream butter and sugar until the mixture achieves a luminous, airy consistency.
4. Incorporate eggs individually, ensuring thorough integration after each addition.
5. Create a liquid blend of milk and vanilla extract, then systematically alternate between dry mixture and milk combination while mixing at low speed.
6. Gently fold pureed strawberries into the batter, ensuring uniform distribution.
7. Carefully allocate batter among cupcake liners, filling each approximately three-quarters full.
8. Transfer the muffin tin to the preheated oven, allowing cupcakes to bake for 20-25 minutes until they demonstrate resilient surfaces and pass the toothpick test.
9. Allow cupcakes to rest momentarily in the pan, then transition to a cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
10. Construct the Swiss meringue buttercream by whisking egg whites and sugar over a water bath, maintaining consistent movement until sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 160°F.
11. Transfer the heated mixture to a stand mixer, whisking at medium-high velocity until robust peaks form.
12. Gradually introduce butter fragments, maintaining consistent mixing until fully amalgamated.
13. Incorporate finely chopped basil, continuing to whisk until peaks re-establish themselves.
14. Switch to paddle attachment, cautiously blend pureed strawberries at low speed.
15. Once cupcakes have thoroughly cooled, artfully apply strawberry basil buttercream.
16. Elevate presentation by drizzling residual strawberry puree and adorning with delicate edible rose petals.

Notes

• Master the art of precise ingredient measurement for consistently perfect cupcakes every single time.
• Ground cardamom adds a warm, exotic spice that beautifully complements the sweet strawberry flavor, creating a sophisticated dessert experience.
• Swiss meringue buttercream requires patience and careful temperature control to achieve its silky, luxurious texture.
• Fresh strawberry puree ensures intense fruit flavor and natural moisture throughout the cupcake, preventing dryness.
• Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent buttercream from melting and losing its delicate structure.
• Edible rose petals offer an elegant, Instagram-worthy finishing touch that elevates the presentation from simple to extraordinary.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg