08/11/2026
🍓 Red Velvet Cupcakes with Strawberry Cheesecake Center 🧁
Ingredients
For the Red Velvet Cupcakes:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon fine salt
¾ cup vegetable oil
½ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 tablespoon red liquid food coloring
For the Strawberry Cheesecake Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
½ cup fresh strawberries, hulled and diced into small pieces
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Garnish (optional):
Fresh strawberry slices
Crumbled red velvet cake scraps
Instructions
Preheat and Prepare: Position an oven rack in the center and preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper cupcake liners. Set aside.
Make the Red Velvet Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt until thoroughly combined. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, vinegar, and red food coloring until smooth and uniform in color. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula or whisk just until a smooth batter forms. Do not overmix.
Prepare the Cheesecake Filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Gently fold the diced strawberries into the cream cheese mixture with a spatula until evenly distributed.
Assemble the Cupcakes: Spoon about one tablespoon of the red velvet batter into each lined cupcake cup, filling it about halfway. Add a generous teaspoon of the strawberry cheesecake filling to the center of each cup, right on top of the batter. Divide the remaining red velvet batter among the cups, covering the cheesecake filling completely. The cups should be about two-thirds to three-quarters full.
Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the cake portion of a cupcake (avoiding the cheesecake center); it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The tops should spring back lightly when touched.
Cool Completely: Remove the pan from the oven and let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The cupcakes must be at room temperature before frosting.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the cupcakes cool, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture is completely smooth, light, and fluffy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and continue beating until the frosting is fluffy and holds its shape.
Frost and Decorate: Fit a piping bag with your desired tip (such as a star or round tip). Fill the bag with the cream cheese frosting. Pipe a generous swirl onto each completely cooled cupcake. Garnish each frosted cupcake with a fresh strawberry slice and a sprinkle of red velvet cake crumbs, if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.