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Best Spring Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes Recipe

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These light and airy strawberry champagne cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are the perfect spring treat. The secret is reducing the champagne to concentrate the flavor without making the batter soggy.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup champagne or sparkling wine, reduced to ¼ cup
  • ⅓ cup fresh strawberry puree (about 6–8 medium strawberries)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 3–4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons champagne reduction (reserved)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of salt (for frosting)
  • Fresh strawberries, sliced thin (for garnish, optional)
  • Edible flowers (for garnish, optional)
  • Gold sprinkles (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the champagne: Pour ½ cup of champagne into a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Let it bubble away until it reduces to about ¼ cup, about 8-10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
  2. Make the strawberry puree: Wash and hull 6-8 medium strawberries. Blend until smooth. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing with a spatula to get all the liquid out. Discard the seeds. You should have about ⅓ cup of puree. Set aside.
  3. Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your muffin tin with 12 paper liners. Optionally, spray the liners with non-stick spray.
  4. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  5. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
  6. Add eggs and vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  7. Add the champagne reduction: With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the cooled champagne reduction. Mix until just combined.
  8. Add the strawberry puree: Gently fold in the strawberry puree with a spatula. Don’t overmix—you want streaks of pink throughout.
  9. Add dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low until just combined. Stop as soon as you don’t see any more white flour streaks.
  10. Fill the liners: Divide the batter evenly among the 12 liners, filling each about ⅔ full.
  11. Bake: Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Rotate the pan halfway through for even baking.
  12. Cool completely: Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  13. Make the frosting: Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla, salt, and 2 tablespoons of the reserved champagne reduction. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low until incorporated. Once all the sugar is in, beat on medium-high for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  14. Frost and garnish: Once cupcakes are completely cool, pipe or spread the frosting on top. Garnish with a thin slice of fresh strawberry, an edible flower, or a sprinkle of gold sprinkles.

Notes

The champagne reduction is non-negotiable for concentrated flavor. Room temperature ingredients are crucial for proper creaming and texture. Don’t overmix the batter to avoid dense cupcakes. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting to prevent melting. For alcohol-free version, use sparkling white grape juice reduced the same way. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend with ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry champagne cupcakes, spring cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes, champagne cupcakes, cream cheese frosting, spring dessert, Easter cupcakes, Mother's Day dessert

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/best-spring-strawberry-champagne-cupcakes-recipe/