Strawberry Frosting Recipe

Learn how to make Strawberry Buttercream with fresh strawberries and a simple strawberry frosting recipe! I’m showing you how to make strawberry buttercream with fresh strawberries and with freeze dried strawberry powder. Both ways are delicious and create a naturally pink frosting that’s perfect for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more!

If you’re looking for more frosting recipes, check out some of my other favorites like Vanilla Bean Buttercream, Honey Buttercream Frosting, or How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting in 10 Flavors.

I love strawberry buttercream because it’s naturally pink, perfectly sweet, and delicious on both chocolate and vanilla cakes! I love using real strawberries to make fresh strawberry buttercream because you get real fruit in the frosting, but sometimes I don’t have fresh strawberries on hand. So, this strawberry frosting recipe can be made with either fresh strawberries or strawberry powder.

When I don’t have fresh strawberries, then I love using freezes dried strawberry powder. This is an easy strawberry buttercream option, and it’s just as delicious and even faster to make because you don’t have to chop strawberries.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• 2 Ways: You can make strawberry buttercream two different ways and I’m sharing recipes for both! So if you have fresh strawberries on hand or just have freeze dried strawberry powder, you can make strawberry buttercream either way.
• Naturally Pink: I love strawberry frosting because not only is it so delicious, it’s also naturally colored!
• Quick and Easy: Both of these strawberry frosting recipes are simple to make and come together quickly. While using freeze dried strawberry powder is easier, using fresh strawberries creates a deliciously sweeter frosting.

Ingredients

• Butter: I use Organic Valley Salted Butter, you can use unsalted if you prefer but you may want to add a pinch of salt to your liking.
• Powdered Sugar: I used Wholesome in this recipe. Be sure to sift powdered sugar to achieve a smooth frosting without lumps.
• Strawberries: If you’re making the fresh strawberry buttercream, you’ll need fresh organic strawberries.
• Strawberry Powder: If you don’t have fresh strawberries, you’ll need organic strawberry powder or freeze dried strawberries if you want to food processor it yourself, either will work. I just think the powder is so much easier!

Tools Needed

• Scale: A digital food scale is essential for baking!
• Mixer: You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer, either work. I always prefer a stand mixer for buttercream as it’s quicker and hands free.
• Spatula: You'll need a spatula to scrape down the bowl and ensure the frosting is mixed evenly.

Steps to Make Strawberry Frosting

Step 1

No matter the recipe you’re using you’ll need to start with softened butter. Add it to your stand mixer.

Step 2

Then add in the remaining ingredients, sifted powdered sugar, chopped strawberries (or strawberry powder).

Step 3

Mix on low and then gradually increase the speed until you are mixing at full speed. If you are using strawberry powder, you may need a little liquid to loosen the frosting to your liking, which can be water, milk, or heavy whipping cream. If you are using real strawberries, you will not need any liquid as the real strawberries have water in them already!

You always want to scrape down the sides of the bowl part way through mixing to ensure the frosting is evenly combined. Continue to mix on high and whip for a few minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy!

With Fresh Strawberries

With Strawberry Powder

Baker’s Tips

For Strawberry Buttercream With Strawberry Powder

• When making strawberry buttercream with strawberry powder, you can buy the powder or you can even food processor freeze dried strawberries to create your own strawberry powder, either will work!
• If your strawberry frosting recipe with the strawberry powder is stiff you can add a little liquid, that can be water, milk, or heavy whipping cream. Start with 1 tablespoon of liquid and go from there.
• If you want a more intense strawberry flavor or a darker pink color, just add more strawberry powder. You may need to add more liquid as well to get the right consistency.
• This frosting doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge because it’s made with freeze dried strawberry powder.
• This recipe is recommended for layer cakes as you can spread it out smoothly without chunks.
• I also prefer this recipe for cupcakes if I want to use a cupcake tip, because there are no chunks to get stuck in the decorating tip.

For Fresh Strawberry Buttercream

• Be sure to chop the strawberries into small pieces so they mix in easier.
• If the frosting is not thick enough, you can add more powdered sugar until it’s the consistency you like. Start with 28 grams and go from there.
• Make sure to store fresh strawberry buttercream or anything made with it in the fridge.
• I love using Fresh Strawberry Buttercream for single layer cakes where you just top it with frosting for a more rustic look, like my Eggless Strawberry Snack Cake.

How to Use

You can use either of these recipes for cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, or anywhere that you’d use a strawberry frosting recipe! I prefer using the fresh strawberry buttercream for snack cakes, cookies, or brownies. This frosting is a little more rustic with pieces of fresh strawberries in it. This makes it best for more freeform applications. This option is not great for piping or decorating because the pieces of strawberries can get stuck in decorating tips easily.

I prefer using the strawberry buttercream made with strawberry powder for layer cakes when I want a very smooth finish. Or this option is great for cupcakes or cakes that you want to frost with a decorating tip. You can also use this for sandwich cookies or in any application you’d use the Fresh Strawberry Buttercream too! 

Both of these strawberry frosting recipes will make enough frosting for any of the following:

• 1 dozen cupcakes
• 6-inch layer cake
• 8-inch snack cake
• 9-inch snack cake
• 1 batch of brownies or blondies
• 1 batch of sandwich cookies
• 2 batches of cookies if you're frosting on top (if only making a dozen or so cookies, half the recipe)

FAQ’s

Craving More?

• Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting
• Strawberry Snack Cake
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• Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake
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