Strawberry Lemonade Olive Oil Cupcakes
Your favorite summer beverage becomes a delicious dessert in these sweet-tart cupcakes. Fresh strawberry purée lends a pop of color, while olive oil enhances the fruity flavor and moist texture. The cupcakes are topped with a velvety smooth lemon buttercream frosting and garnished with candied lemon wheels and fresh strawberries. To make the strawberry purée, stem and hull about 8 large strawberries and blend in a food processor until smooth.
Tasty Team
June 24, 2021
92% would make again

Ingredients
for 18 cupcakes
Candied Lemon
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup water (240 mL)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 g)
Strawberry Cupcakes
- 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour (345 g)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300 g)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¼ cup olive oil (60 mL)
- ¾ cup strawberry puree (170 g)
- 4 large egg whites
- ⅓ cup whole milk (80 mL)
- 3 drops red gel food coloring
Lemon Buttercream
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 oz cream cheese (225 g), softened
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 cup powdered sugar (110 g)
- strawberry, sliced, for garnish
Nutrition Info
- Calories 246
- Fat 8g
- Carbs 37g
- Fiber 0g
- Sugar 24g
- Protein 4g
Estimated values based on one serving size.
Preparation
- Make the candied lemon: Preheat the oven to 200°F (95°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Thinly slice the lemon into rounds, about ⅛–¼-inch-thick, removing the seeds.
- In a medium shallow skillet, combine the water and granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, 3–4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the lemon slices to the syrup, and simmer until the flesh of the lemons begins to turn translucent, about 15 minutes.
- Transfer the lemon slices to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until crisp. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 18 muffin tin cups with paper liners.
- Make the cupcakes: In a large bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, salt, and baking powder.
- In a medium bowl, combine the butter, strawberry purée, and olive oil. Beat with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on medium-low speed until just combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg whites, milk, and red food coloring.
- Add the egg white mixture to the batter and mix on medium-low speed until smooth.
- Divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups, filling each about ¾ of the way.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
- Make the lemon buttercream: In a large bowl, combine the butter, cream cheese, salt, vanilla, lemon juice, and powdered sugar. Mix with an electric hand mixer on low speed until smooth. Transfer to a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off or a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
- Pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes. Garnish with the candied lemon wheels and sliced strawberries.
- Enjoy!
- Love this recipe? Download the Tasty app to save it and discover others like it.
