Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting

Strawberry shortcake cupcakes with whipped cream frosting are the perfect dessert for any occasion. These beautiful cupcakes are made with box cake mix, fresh whipped cream frosting, and topped with a fresh strawberry. A shareable treat that tastes exactly like traditional strawberry shortcakes!

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake Recipe

Do you know how some people like to take a run or drink a giant cup of coffee when they're feeling stressed or just not themselves? For me, that go-to stress relief activity is baking.

I cook every day, but there's something extra special to me about baking fluffy cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies or a fruit crisp.

I'm all about baking from scratch when I can, but sometimes I don't have the time to do that. I keep a few boxes of brownie and box cake mix around for those days when I want to bake something but don't have a ton of time for completely made-from-scratch desserts.

And I've got to tell you, this simple strawberry shortcake cupcakes recipe is the new go-to in our house when we want to do some "lazy" baking. The process for making these easy strawberry shortcake cupcakes helps to spruce up the box cake mix.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

If you need a refreshing summer dessert to use those beautiful strawberries during peak strawberry season, just grab some vanilla cake mix and get to baking! You'll love this recipe because...

• It only takes about 30 minutes to make these tasty cupcakes from beginning to end!
• You can make this fun twist on strawberry shortcake with just a few pantry and refrigerator staples.
• Cupcakes are a better way to serve dessert at parties! No need to slice a cake and find plates and forks.

I add some salt and vanilla extract to make these strawberry cupcakes fluffier and have a richer flavor. These two small changes go a long way in making the perfect cupcake! Plus, topping these with homemade whipped cream frosting takes them to the next level.

Ingredients

Here's a list of the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe:

• yellow cake mix
• water
• vegetable oil
• eggs
• salt
• vanilla extract
• whipped cream frosting (recipe below)

See the list of substitutions below!

Whipped Cream Frosting

These cupcakes have the fluffiest, most delicious frosting! It is just like whipped cream and it is lick-the-bowl good.

For the frosting, you will need:

• heavy whipping cream
• vanilla extract
• salt
• sugar
• strawberries

Substitutions and Variations

Create some extra depth of flavor in the batter and/or whipped topping by adding lemon zest or fresh lemon juice!

Make gluten-free cupcakes by using a gluten-free box vanilla cake mix. There are plenty out there now! Just check the baking aisle of your local grocery store to find something you can use.

For extra strawberry flavor, scoop out some of the center of each cupcake and fill it with strawberry filling. You can make a strawberry sauce or use strawberry jam.

Whipped cream frosting is what makes these cupcakes taste most like shortcake, but you could also make cream cheese frosting! You can also add strawberries into the whipped topping to make strawberry frosting.

Feel free to add your favorite sprinkles, along with the fresh strawberries, to the top of the cupcakes!

This recipe calls for yellow cake mix, but you can use white cake mix too.

How to Make Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

First preheat the oven

In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, water, oil, eggs, salt, and vanilla according to the instructions on the package. Whisk together, or use a handheld electric mixer with the whisk attachment to combine the ingredients.

Hot Tip: Every cake mix is different. This recipe lists out measurements of wet ingredients to add to the dry ingredients, but if your box mix lists something different then go with that!

Prepare a muffin pan by lining it with cupcake liners or greasing it well. If you don't have paper liners and need tips to grease a cupcake pan, check out how to grease a muffin pan.

Evenly divide batter into the prepared muffin pan using ¼ cup measuring cup. Then, bake at 350° Fahrenheit for 22 minutes until the top of each cupcake is golden brown or a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.

Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes, then remove them from the pan and allow to cool to room temperature on a cooling rack.

While the cupcake cool on the wire rack, place a medium bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) and whisk attachment into the fridge.

Once the unfrosted cupcakes are completely cool, take the chilled bowl out of the fridge.

Beat one cup of heavy whipping cream on medium speed until the heavy cream is frothy. Then, add in a teaspoon of vanilla, pinch of salt, and ¾ cup powdered sugar, ¼ cup at a time.

Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Once the frosting comes together spoon it into a piping bag or quart size piping bag.

Pipe the homemade whipped cream frosting onto the top of the cupcakes and top with a slice of fresh strawberry. Serve when ready!

How to Store Leftover Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Storing unfrosted cupcakes is really similar to how to store muffins.

I have a whole post about how to store and freeze muffins, but here’s the gist:

Store in cupcakes airtight container, lined with paper towels to help collect condensation from residual heat in the muffins. Make sure they are completely cooled for best results.

The best way to store them depends on how soon you plan to frost them: 

• Within 2 days of baking them: Store them on the countertop at room temperature. 
• In the next few days: Store them in the fridge, but with the risk of a change in texture. They'll last about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Within the next 3 months: Store unfrosted cupcakes in the freezer — thaw them when you're ready to frost! 

You can also make the whipped cream frosting ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for one day until ready to use. Store leftover frosted cupcakes in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Tips for Success

• If you're crunched on time, speed up the process by cooling the cupcakes on a wire rack in the fridge. But for the best, fluffiest cupcakes, cooling at room temperature is recommended.
• Allow your eggs to come to room temperature before mixing them into the cupcake batter. They'll mix together with the other ingredients much more easily.
• Chilling a bowl and hand mixer beaters will help the whipped cream frosting come together and hold its shape. Especially if you're making these cupcakes on a hot day, this is a must!

FAQ

No matter what the occasion, baking these Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting is a great decision!

But here are some more recipe ideas if you are up for a baking marathon.

More Cupcake Recipes

• Confetti Cupcakes
• Strawberry Vanilla Cupcakes
• Orange Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream
• Easy Moscato Cupcakes

If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.