Pureed and freeze-dried strawberries give this Strawberry Buttercream Frosting a double punch of strawberry flavor.  It also pipes beautifully on cakes and cupcakes!

This Strawberry Buttercream Frosting is the purest of strawberry flavor.  It’s made with pure strawberry puree and strawberry gold, aka freeze-dried strawberries  There’s no added food coloring in the picture above.  The natural pink color comes from the strawberries.  You can add a drop of food coloring if you prefer.

STRAWBERRY GOLD aka FREEZE-DRIED STRAWBERRIES

I added freeze-dried strawberries to my blender and pulsed them into a fine powder.  Freeze-dried strawberries are strawberries that have been…well…freeze-dried.  Freeze-dried fruit is fruit that has been dehydrated and frozen and has all of the moisture extracted from it.  It can be rehydrated when ready to use or left in its dry form.  I placed freeze-dried strawberries into a blender and reduced them to a fine powdery substance and I call this strawberry gold. 

WHERE TO FIND FREEZE-DRIED STRAWBERRIES 

I find freeze-dried strawberries at Jungle Jim’s and Trader Joe’s, but you can find them in some grocery stores too.  My friend actually found some at her local dollar store.

STRAWBERRY PUREE

For the strawberry puree, I pureed some fresh strawberries in my blender.  Then I added them to a small pan along with a little bit of sugar and cooked them under they were reduced.

Check out these Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes that I topped with this Strawberry Buttercream Frosting!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Cindy Gibbs
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 3 1/2 cups 1x
  • Category: Frostings
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Strawberry Buttercream Frosting has a double punch of strawberry flavor from both pureed strawberries and powdered freeze-dried strawberries.  Just pure strawberry flavor and it pipes beautifully!


Ingredients

Units Scale

FOR THE STRAWBERRY GOLD aka FREEZE DRIED STRAWBERRIES

  • 1/4 cup freeze dried strawberries

FOR THE PUREE

  • 1 cup fresh strawberries quartered

FOR THE STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons strawberry puree
  • 2 tablespoons strawberry gold, (powdered freeze-dried strawberries)
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon half & half


Instructions

FOR THE STRAWBERRY GOLD aka FREEZE DRIED STRAWBERRIES

  1. Add the freeze-dried strawberries to a blender and pulse until they become a fine powder and set aside.

FOR THE STRAWBERRY PUREE

  1. Place the strawberries in a blender and pulse 3 to 4 times.
  2. Transfer the strawberries to a small pan and simmer over medium-low heat until the strawberries are reduced by about 1/2.  This could take up to 15 minutes or so.  Check it frequently until it looks like it’s reduced to about 1/2 cup. It doesn’t half to be exact.  However, the more reduced, the more potent the strawberry flavor.
  3. Transfer the reduced mixture to a small bowl and refrigerate until cool.  Make sure it’s cool before adding it to the other frosting ingredients.

FOR THE STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM

  1. Add the butter to the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, (or use a hand mixer).  Whisk on high speed until the butter is light and creamy.  Add the vanilla, salt, strawberry puree, strawberry gold, and vanilla.  Whisk on medium speed until all ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is light and creamy.
  2. With the mixer on low, slowly add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing until the powdered sugar is fully incorporated.  Add the half & half and mix until smooth.  Add a little more half & half as needed to get the perfect consistency for piping.  The buttercream frosting should be thick and able to stand on its own when piped.
  3. Refrigerate the frosting until ready to use.  Once you use the frosting for a cake or cupcakes, they should be refrigerated until about 1 hour before serving.
  4. The frosting will keep for up to 5 days refrigerated.

Notes

  • In the cupcake picture above, I used a Wilton 1M piping tip.
  • This frosting needs to be refrigerated due to the pureed strawberries in it.  It’s best to keep it chilled until about one hour or so before serving.
  • This recipe will frost one double layer 9 inch cake or up to 24 cupcakes.  However, if you’re piping the frosting really high, like in the picture above, it will frost about 12 cupcakes.
  • Use the extra strawberry puree and freeze-dried powdered strawberries in your favorite milkshake or smoothie.