Just a few basic ingredients are needed to make homemade strawberry frosting! This is the perfect summer frosting for cakes, cupcakes, and more. 

A vanilla cupcake topped with strawberry frosting and garnished with a fresh strawberry half.

This is a no-frills strawberry buttercream frosting that delivers perfect results every time. 

My secret? Freeze dried strawberries! They don’t have to be cooked down on the stove like fresh strawberries, won’t curdle the buttercream, and are easy to find at any major grocery store chain. 

You can make a big batch of frosting to use on cakes and cupcakes, or freeze some for future baking projects. It pipes like a dream and pairs well with white, yellow, and chocolate cakes. 

Keep this frosting recipe on hand for your summer baking. It’s incredibly versatile and so easy to prepare!

An overhead view of the ingredients needed to make strawberry buttercream.

Ingredients for Strawberry Frosting 

This recipe calls for just five basic ingredients, plus a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness of the frosting. Here’s what you’ll need to make homemade strawberry frosting: 

  • Freeze-dried strawberries: Regular strawberries are acidic and tend to cause buttercream to curdle. I prefer to use freeze-dried strawberries because it prevents this from happening and gives you a delicious concentrated strawberry flavor. If you can only find a .8 ounce bag instead of a 1-ounce bag, that will work fine too!
  • Butter: I always use unsalted butter when baking because the amount of salt in salted butter varies between brands. 
  • Powdered sugar: Sweetens the frosting without masking the strawberry flavor. 
  • Heavy whipping cream: Makes for an ultra rich and creamy frosting. If you don’t keep heavy cream on hand, you may substitute it with regular milk or half and half. 
  • Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract is best. 

How to Make Strawberry Frosting 

If you’ve never worked with freeze-dried strawberries before, let me assure you that they’re very easy to work with! You simply have to grind them into a fine powder before starting the recipe. 

  • Blend the freeze-dried strawberries: You can do this using a blender or food processor. You’re looking for them to have the texture of a fine powder.
  • Beat the butter until smooth: You’ll want to do this in a separate bowl using either a stand mixer or a handheld mixer. 
  • Mix in the powdered sugar: Add the sugar to the butter 1 cup at a time. Mix well after each addition, and start the mixer on low speed so you don’t toss powdered sugar everywhere.
  • Add the remaining ingredients: To the butter-sugar mixture, add the strawberry powder, vanilla, salt, and heavy cream. 
  • Mix until fully combined: I recommend stopping a few times to scrape around the sides and bottom of your bowl to ensure that everything is well combined.

A cluster of vanilla cupcakes, some with frosting and some plain. A piping bag of frosting rests in the foreground.

Uses for Strawberry Frosting 

Strawberry buttercream pairs beautifully with a variety of desserts. Almost any cake or cupcake that has a chocolate, vanilla, lemon, or fruity base would likely pair well with the frosting. 

Try pairing the frosting with: 

An overhead view of strawberry frosted cupcakes, fresh berries, and a piping bag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Frosting Be Made in Advance? 

Yes! The frosting can be frozen for up to three months or refrigerated for up to three days, so make a big batch as far in advance as needed. 

Where Can I Find Freeze-Dried Strawberries?

I can usually find freeze-dried strawberries at Walmart or Target, but you can purchase them on Amazon too. You can usually find them in the grocery store close to other dried fruits like raisins. 

How Much Frosting Will This Recipe Make?

This recipe will make about 2 and 1/2 cups of frosting, which is enough to frost 12 to 14 cupcakes or a 6-inch cake.

For a two layer 8 or 9-inch cake, I recommend increasing the recipe by half. For a three layer cake, I recommend doubling the recipe.

Several vanilla cupcakes topped with strawberry frosting. A piping bag with frosting rests near the cupcakes.

Baking Tips 

  • The strawberry powder will give this buttercream a beautiful pink hue like the pictures in this post. You can add a drop or two of red food coloring to enhance the color, if you prefer.
  • Make sure your butter has been softened to room temperature before making this recipe. This will ensure a smooth and creamy frosting!
  • I don’t typically sift my powdered sugar when making this frosting. However, if your powdered sugar is lumpy, you may want to sift it before adding it to the frosting. 

More Easy Frosting Recipes to Try! 

Several vanilla cupcakes topped with strawberry buttercream frosting. A piping bag sits next to the cupcakes.

Strawberry Frosting

5 from 2 ratings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Just a few basic ingredients are needed to make homemade strawberry frosting! This is the perfect summer frosting for cakes, cupcakes, and more. 

Ingredients

Servings: 12 servings
  • 1 (1-ounce) bag freeze-dried strawberries (28 grams)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks; 230 grams)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (360 grams)
  • 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream or milk (45 ml)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Add the freeze-dried strawberries to a blender or food processor and blend into a fine powder. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth.
  • Mix in the powdered sugar on low speed, one cup at a time, making sure to mix well after each addition.
  • Add the strawberry powder, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and salt and mix on low-medium speed until fully combined, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Use immediately to frost cupcakes, cakes, etc. or store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Frosting may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Allow to come to room temperature before using.
Freezing Instructions: Frosting may be frozen in a large freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before using it.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Danielle Rye
Did you make this recipe?Mention @livewellbakeoften on Instagram or tag #livewellbakeoften.