One of the most common questions that shows up in my inbox has to do with my Doctored Up Cake Mix Recipe for chocolate cupcakes. It yields a batch of pretty stellar cupcakes, so people are always curious if they can adapt the recipe with different flavor combinations. To which I respond, why not? To me, baking is all about playing around in the kitchen, sometimes I get it right and sometimes, I get it wrong – way wrong.
However, a lot of my readers come here for recipes that have been tested in my kitchen and aren’t too keen on me advising them to head into the realm of recipe development and testing. And that’s okay too. I’ll get responses like, Well, have you tried it? What pudding did you use? What brand of cake works best? Can I use less oil? The list goes on and on.
I love hearing from you guys, and really what’s the point of this blog if people aren’t making the recipes – so I try to answer each question, even if it takes me weeks and weeks and weeks.
My point is, a lot of what I do here on MBA is trial and error and it’s okay to make mistakes and get frustrated and cuss out your cupcakes. But, I promise you that with each error, you’ll learn something. Even if that something is not to bite into a hot Rolo Cookie because it will burn your lip and leave a weird purple mark – not that I did that or anything.
When my BFF, Brittani, told me that she made Strawberry Cupcakes using the boxed mix recipe, I immediately started asking her questions to which she had very few answers. I thought her idea would be the perfect way to show you that playing around with a simple idea can have great results and there’s really nothing to be afraid of.
Boxed vanilla cake mix combines with Greek strawberry yogurt and fresh strawberries to create simple, moist cupcakes that are bursting with strawberry flavor. Add on a swirl of strawberry buttercream and you’ve got one stellar summery cupcake with minimal fuss. The world is your oyster here, folks. Try it with Peach Greek yogurt and fresh peaches, or Blueberry yogurt and fresh blueberries. I’d love to hear the combinations you come up with, and how they worked for you.
Easy Strawberry Cupcakes
Yield: 24 cupcakes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18-22 minutes
Ingredients:
For the Cupcakes
1 (15.25 ounce) package French Vanilla cake mix (see note below)
1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup Greek strawberry yogurt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup diced fresh strawberries (about 10 medium berries)For the Strawberry Buttercream
4 sticks (2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
1.5 pounds (24 ounces or about 5.5 cups) confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
about 8 medium fresh strawberries, pureed (you'll need 4-5 tablespoons of puree)Directions:
For the Cupcakes
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat together the cake and pudding mixes, Greek yogurt, oil, water, eggs and vanilla. Beat for about two minutes on medium speed until well combined. Fold in diced strawberries
3. Using a large cookie scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells; about 3 tablespoons of batter per well.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched. Allow cupcakes to cool inside muffin tins for about 10 minutes. The cupcakes may develop a slight divot in the center as they cool, but no worries, you'll cover that with delicious frosting.
5. Remove cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to fully cool on a wire rack. Once cupcakes are cool, prepare your frosting.
For the Frosting
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes.
2. Turn the mixer down to low speed and gradually add in the confectioners' sugar until it is completely incorporated. Add in vanilla and 3 tablespoons of the strawberry puree, mix until incorporated. Turn off the mixer and check the buttercream for taste and texture. Gradually add in the last 2 tablespoons of strawberry puree until you reach the desired level of strawberry flavor. Please note that adding more than the recommended 5 tablespoons could result in a thinner frosting. Turn the mixer back up to medium-high speed and beat the mixture for about 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy.
3. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and if desired, garnish with fresh strawberries.
Notes:
- My favorite French Vanilla Cake is made by Betty Crocker - Pudding in the mix.
- I used Chobani Greek Yogurt
- Polka Dot liners from Shop Sweet Lulu
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{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
This is wonderful, Jamie! I love the addition of Greek yogurt…I can’t imagine how moist it is. These are right up my alley!
Cant wait, these look awesome!
Yum, yum, yum! I like taking a box mix and fancying it up. Great stuff!
Do you still add more pudding even though there’s pudding in the cake mix?
NinNH-
Yes, check out the notes section of the recipe for info on the brand that I use. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
These are gorgeous!
These are so perfect looking. Love it!
Hi, I really love your recipes and they’re very helpful in my kitchen, even your hints about measures and how to use ice cream spoons to spread the batter in the cupcake lines.
Well my problem is that I live abroad and I don’t have packages of French Vanilla cake mix. Actually, we have similars, but they’re not good. Which one of your recipes in MBA do you think would be better to replace the one above?
The basics of this recipe has been around for longer than I care to admit (OK I know for at least 30 years) and you are so right Jamie…it’s imminently pliable. I’ve seen it used for pistachio cake (vanilla cake mix and pistachio pudding), Kahlua cake (chocolate cake and Kahlua liqueur) and my own personal favorite I make for every Christmas, rum cake (french vanilla cake and french vanilla pudding with a butter/rum glaze poured into holes you poke into the cake). I revised that recipe a couple of years ago to also come up with what I call Manhattan Cake (yellow cake mix and vanilla pudding with a bourbon/butter glaze and maraschino cherries).
I mentioned to a friend two years ago that maybe I should develop a full recipe; you know…scuttle the box cake mix. She was adamant that I not and she is right; sometimes there is nothing wrong with an easier method…especially if the end result is good.
Well, these look gorgeous…I already know they taste that way too! I think the variations are endless and that’s part of the fun isn’t it?
Great recipe – can’t wait to try it – but with peaches instead of strawberries. My question: how to change the buttercream from strawberry to peach… would it work to substitute the same amount of pureed peaches?
Thanks – and happy baking!
Mmm…I love the idea of customizing the cake to your taste! Your frosting looks so yummy, how do you pipe it on like that?
oh my yum…. LOVE strawberry cupcakes, and these look especially awesome. So pretty. Perfect fresh fruit baked treat for summer
Looks good! I like the addition of strawberry greek yogurt. Delish!
I nominated your wonderful blog for the Lovely Blog Award. You have probably been nominated many times but I thought I would do it again. If you are interested in participating you can access this link:
http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/2012/08/03/one-lovely-blog-award/
I made a cake like this today using the almost same ingredients, just in the chocolate taste direction. Like yours, too.
I always have a mix in my pantry for a quick easy sweet tooth fix. This sounds like a great idea!
Gosh, I love strawberries and cupcakes. These look amazing!!
p.s. Love the white ceramic(?) fruit basket….where did you find it?
The cupcakes look stunning, love the colors!
These sure do look good!
I cant wait to try these out!
I have a lot of friends who are deathly afraid to deviate even 1/4 teaspoon from a recipe – when I suggest substitutions, they look at me like I told them they had 12 hours left to live! So glad you’re inspiring others to branch out in the kitchen – you’re so right, trial and error is the best way to learn. (Not that I also have a burn mark on my lip from testing hot sugar the other day. Nope.)
Hi Jamie
, it says ” 1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix”.. would that be half the package of the 3.4 ounce.. or is it half of something else? (like tablespoon/teaspoons, etc)
Michelle-
Yes, half of the 3.4 ounce package. I just eyeballed it and saved the rest to use at a later date. Thanks for stopping by!
-Jamie
What a great idea using the strawberry yogurt! These turned out just beautiful
Hi Jamie- I love your blog so much! Isn’t 1.5 lbs of powdered sugar 24 ounces?
Rachel-
Ha! Yikes, yes, yes it is. I’ll make the change now, thanks for catching that! Math is clearly not my strength.
-Jamie
Well, I’m on a strawberry tear this summer and have just discovered the wonder that is Greek strawberry yogurt so, “Hello, cupcakes”! I think we come to your blog for inspiration and guidance, definitely appreciate all you present here. And, you have made me a braver baker. Thank you!
Paula-
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words, I’m thrilled that MBA has made you a braver baker! Have a great day.
-Jamie
Hi – first post -I adore your website; I have a quick question -the icing associated with your cupcake recipes seems like a lot – do you think I could get away with halving it and if I only do one layer of icing? I am going to give it a shot but was just wondering your thoughts. Thanks!
Jennifer-
We are guilty of loving A LOT of frosting. You can certainly half the recipe and lessen the amount that you top each cupcake with. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
What beautiful and perfect look these cupcakes:)
Making these TONIGHT!
Lori-
I hope you enjoy them as much as we did! Have a great day.
-Jamie
Such beautiful little cupcakes ~ I love the one perched on the basket!
Jamie – I just made these for my family today and everyone LOVED them . Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Mary
Jamie, I love your blog; it is one of the things I look forward to reading when I turn my pc on in the mornings….and coffee.
In Australia our boxed cake mixed come with frosting mix in the box and we can buy instant pudding, you whip it with cold milk to make a mousse like dessert, once refrigerated it becomes thicker. Is this what you mean when you are talking about pudding or are you referring to the frosting mixture in the box? Guess I could try both and test it out for myself.
I regularly try recipes from your site and usually have great success, will load some pictures sometime.
Happy Baking!
Nichelle
Nichelle-
Definitely the one that creates a mousse-like dessert. That should be perfect. I hope this helps.
-Jamie
I’ve always been strawberry lover! Especially with cupcakes! Adorable ! Really excellent recipe! Congratulation!
Love this recipe and how easy it is to adapt! One of my favorite things to do is play around with a recipe and see what else I can turn it into.
Wow, Jamie.. these cupcakes look incredible. Literally perfect. I think I would want to put that strawberry frosting on just about any treat!
These are adorable! Love it!
Yum! These cupcakes look amazing, and I bet they taste it too!
I found this on accident while browsing… they looked so good I made them right away! I used strawberry cake mix (didn’t have vanilla) and swapped in vanilla greek yogurt… I figured I’d get a similar result. They came out great and I used your frosting recipe (yum!) and imitated your presentation with a fresh strawberry on top. WOW!! Thanks for sharing and I will be bookmarking your blog now so I can check out your other recipes!
Sooo perfect for summer, Jamie. Love this pretty switch-up from chocolate.
oh wow do these look good! Perfect for summer. I tend to love all your cupcake recipes and I’m sure these are no exception
Such beautiful cupcakes and pictures. I love all the suggestions you give too. It is so helpful! Thank you!
love a good kicked up cupcake recipe!!!
I tried these last night with fresh peaches instead of strawberries as I had some ripe peaches to use up. Turned out SOooooo good. Moist, fresh, and delicious. Definitely doing these again. I would like to find an icing that isn’t so sweet though. My hubby prefers less sweet icing, me…I could eat buttercream on all desserts!
Rebekah-
That sounds fantastic – thanks for sharing your idea with us!
-Jamie
I used to always just bake from scratch until I found Anne Byrn’s “The Cake mix Doctor”. Her Fresh Orange Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting is so good. My friends never ate orange cake before and I love it. I have never had strawberry cupcakes myself, but they look delicious and I love the variations in your recipe by adding extra pudding and the Greek yogurt. I will be making this soon. Just recently discovered your Blog (I must have been living under a rock) and am addicted. Lots to look at and so many recipes to try….
these were so amazing my whole family enjoyed them they cant wait for more!! They wont stop bugging me!! THANKS SO MUCH!!!!
Hi I Was just wondering about the instand pudding and french vanilla cake mix. as i live in australia and wouldnt even know where to buy them.
Nicole-
Unfortunately, I don’t have a substitute for boxed cake mix. My best advice would be to use your favorite yellow cake recipe and add in fresh strawberries. I hope this helps!
-Jamie
Jamie,
I’m a beginner with know change recipe experience…how do I know how much of anything I can substitute without changing the batter to the point that the cake doesn’t reuse? How do I know what’s the right measurements?
Is there a basic 101 formula?
With boxed mixes, you can keep the core ingredient (eggs, oil, etc.) amounts the same, but simply play around with flavor combinations. I hope this makes sense. Have a great day.
Jamie
Thanks for the great recipe! Made these for my mom’s birthday and everyone loved them and I mean loved them. Brought the rest to work and I’m getting complimented left and right. The frosting I could eat with a spoon…thank you, thank you!
Julie-
I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for taking the time to report back on your experience with the recipe.
-Jamie
I made these! Should the baked cupcake be a bit ‘mushy’ inside because of the strawberries in the batter? At first I though the batter wasn’t baked through but found it was the strawberries that were soft and made the cupcake mushy inside?
Sara-
I am so sorry to hear yours were mushy. I didn’t have this issue at all, the strawberries definitely soften up due to the baking process, but definitely weren’t mushy. If you baked them completely through, I am kind of perplexed as to what the issue was. Sorry I am not more of a help.
-Jamie
It’s very possible I underbaked them, or the strawberries had too much juice in them, so to speak. I’m going to try again regardless, once strawberry season hits again
thanks for your response!
Sara, I had the same problem sort of. I think I was surprised at how moist they were so I baked them a little longer. They came out like what I’d call ‘Strawberry Cobbler’ consistency. I also changed the ingredients a bit because I used a different cake mix. I really enjoyed them and my co-workers did too. Thank you for sharing the recipe Jamie.
Please tell me what size tip you use for frosting and maybe a how-to-frost tutorial please!! LOVE YOUR SITE!
Heather-
I used a large star tip for this frosting. I hope this helps. Have a great day.
Jamie
Heather-
You can view a piping tutorial here: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/snickers-cupcakes/ scroll down towards the bottom. I filmed it a couple of years ago. Have a great day.
-Jamie
In the country where I live we don’t have Greek Yogurt, can I substitute it with regular one or simply leave it out of the recipe?
Thanks
Vanessa-
Sour cream would work well too! I hope this helps.
-Jamie
Can you substitute frozen strawberries for the fresh?
i need to know this too Michelle
Do you think this frosting would work for an outdoor event in the shade but mid to upper 80′s? If not could you recommend a substitution! Thanks so much!
I just made these for my son’s b-day party, and they were a huge hit. A lot of people thought the frosting tasted like strawberry ice cream. Thanks for the great recipes—I love your site.
is this a crusting buttercream??
Angela-
Yes, the buttercream recipe does get a slight crust on the top to hold the decoration; however, still holds the creaminess as if it was just made. Enjoy!
-Jamie
These are great, simple recipe for awesome cupcakes,I’ve featured them on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best.
Can you use milk and butter for the oil and water in the cake mix?
BTW..I absolutely love your site!!
Brandi-
Thank you so much! I haven’t replaced the ingredients with milk and butter so I cannot say for sure, but feel free to stop back and let us know how it turns out. Have a great day!
-Jamie
I just made these for my daughters birthday. The majority of these cupcakes fell! I make cupcakes ALL the time and have never had this issue. Beware. I will not use this recipe again.
But they do taste great!
I made these cupcake tonight for a Valentine’s Day party for daughter. I did add a bit of pink food coloring to pinken up the cake. But they are awesome! Super moist and fluffy, just awesome! The frosting is great, I added the full amount of strawberry puree and it is perfect texture and color and not horribly sweet. I love all your recipes and this one was no different. Keep posting, I love them all!