Best Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

This Best Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes Recipes combines everything you love about all your favorite sweet treats in one! These delectable graham cracker cupcakes are filled with a made-from-scratch strawberry purée, and then topped off with a rich and creamy cheesecake icing. So crowd-pleasingly delicious, you'll be making these gorgeous little creations all summer long.

I think it's pretty safe to say that cupcakes are universally adored. Whether you're 5 or 95, coming across a big platter of cupcakes will stop you in your tracks and make you smile.

I personally love cupcakes because they're super versatile and can be made in any flavor imaginable. They come together quickly and easily, and they're portable, individual serving size makes them the ideal dessert for all sorts of occasions. Perfect for bringing on picnics, serving up at parties and taking to potlucks, since no dishes or utensils are required. And who doesn't love a no-fuss dessert?

So if you love cupcakes, Go crazy for cheesecake, and can't get enough of that sweet strawberry flavor, these Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes are for you! They're the perfect dessert for birthday parties, Valentine's Day, or a spring celebration!

If you're a strawberry lover like us, check out our delicious Strawberry Cupcakes, Strawberry Rhubarb Layer Cake, and Strawberry Coconut Cupcakes.

WHY WE LOVE THESE DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

• Not your average cake- Instead of just using the standard vanilla cupcake base, these strawberry cheesecake cupcakes combine a buttery delicious graham cracker cupcake, cream cheesecake filling, and fresh strawberry preserves! They are so good, you may just eat them all plain!
• Strawberry filling- It's like a cupcake surprise with one bite. Fresh real strawberries add so much flavor and freshness.
• Real cheesecake in the frosting- We took the cheesecake filling from the tub in the refrigerator section (please tell us were not the only ones that eat that with a spoon) and turned it into a mouthwateringly delicious frosting!

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THESE STRAWBERRY FILLED CUPCAKES

Graham Cracker Cupcakes

• Ground graham crackers 
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Unsalted butter, room temperature
• Granulated white sugar
• Large eggs 
• Vanilla extract
• Buttermilk or sour cream room temperature

Strawberry Filling

• Strawberries, finely diced
• Granulated sugar
• Cornstarch
• Water

Cheesecake Frosting

• Tub Philadelphia No-Bake Cheesecake Filling
• Powdered sugar

HOW TO MAKE THIS EASY STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES RECIPE

Mixing graham cracker crumbs into the batter gives these cupcakes an extra delightful buttery flavor and the homemade strawberry purée filling is surprisingly quick and easy to make, adding tons of great fresh strawberry flavor.

STEP ONE- MAKE THE CUPCAKES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two muffin pans with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, whisk together graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.In the bowl of your mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly before each new addition. Stir in vanilla extract.

Alternate adding the graham mixer and the buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour and mixing only until just combined. Do not over mix. Spoon cupcake batter into liners ⅔ of the way full. Bake cupcakes for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted into one and comes out clean. Cool completely.

STEP TWO- MAKE THE STRAWBERRY FILLING

In a small sauce pan set over medium heat, cook strawberries and sugar for 4-5 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together corn starch and water then pour into strawberries. Continue to cook while stirring, until strawberry mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely before filling cupcakes. PRO TIP- This filling can be made up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.

STEP THREE- MAKE THE CHEESECAKE FROSTING 

Beat cheesecake filling and powdered sugar until smooth.

STEP FOUR-ASSEMBLE THE CUPCAKES

Using a sharp knife or the large end of a frosting tip, cut a circle/hole into the center of the cupcake about ½ inch deep. Keep removed cake for topping. Place a teaspoon of strawberry filling inside the whole. Pipe cheesecake filling frosting onto cupcakes using a large star tip, if desired.Crumble cake pieces (from the holes made to fill) and sprinkle over the cheesecake frosting. Top with a sliced strawberry, if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

TIPS FOR MAKING STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

• Make the strawberry puree before the cupcakes, so it has enough time to cool completely. You can even make it a day (or three) ahead of time and store it in the fridge until needed.
• Pipe the cheesecake frosting onto the cupcakes using a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. You can also pipe the frosting using a plastic storage bag with the corner snipped off.
• For a fun presentation, garnish the cupcakes with a dusting of graham cracker crumbs and top with a fresh strawberry.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

• Use frozen strawberries for the filling. You may need to mash them up a bit more or give them a few swirls in the food processor for a smooth consistency. If you're short on time, strawberry jam is a great replacement too.
• Make cream cheese frosting- If you're having a hard time finding the tub of Philadelphia Cheesecake Filling, make a cream cheese frosting instead. To get even more strawberry flavor, dust the top of the cupcake or mix in pulverized (into a fine powder) freeze-dried strawberries into the frosting (like I did in my strawberry cake) for next level deliciousness. Or, make a strawberry buttercream!
• Be extra with a graham cracker crust- For an even more decadent and buttery mix up some graham cracker crumbs with a bit of melted butter and sugar and press into the bottom of the cupcake paper liners before adding the batter.
• Add a bit of cream cheese filling (cheesecake) to the center of the cupcakes with the strawberry preserves.
• If you're short on time, make vanilla cupcakes- homemade or a box cake mix!

MORE RECIPES FOR DELICIOUS DESSERT MASHUPS 

If you love dessert mashups like these cupcakes, you'll want to check out my recipe for S'Mores Dessert Layer Cake, these Lemon Meringue Pie Bars, and this Caramel Apple Pie Cake recipe.

Print

Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

 

Buttery graham cracker cupcakes are filled with a sweet strawberry puree and topped with a cheesecake filling frosting.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: strawberry cheesecake, strawberry recipes

Servings: 15 cupcakes

Author: Jackie

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Cupcakes

• 1 cup finely ground graham crackers about 1 sleeve
• 1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 4 eggs room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk room temperature

Strawberry Filling

• 2 cups strawberries finely diced
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon warm water

Cheesecake Frosting

• 1 24.3 ounce tub Philadelphia No-Bake Cheesecake Filling
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Cupcakes-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two muffin pans with cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of your mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly before each new addition.
5. Stir in vanilla extract.
6. Alternate adding the graham mixer and the buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour and mixing only until just combined. Do not over mix.
7. Spoon batter into liners ⅔ of the way full.
8. Bake cupcakes for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted into one and comes out clean.
9. Cool completely.

Strawberry Filling-

1. In a small sauce pan set over medium heat, cook strawberries and sugar for 4-5 minutes.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together corn starch and water then pour into strawberries.
3. Continue to cook while stirring, until strawberry mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely before filling cupcakes.

Cheesecake Frosting-

1. Beat cheesecake filling and powdered sugar until smooth.

Assembly-

1. Using a sharp knife or the large end of a frosting tip, cut a circle/hole into the center of the cupcake about ½ inch deep. Keep removed cake for topping.

2. Place a teaspoon of strawberry filling inside the crevice.

3. Pipe cheesecake filling frosting onto cupcakes using a large star tip, if desired.

4. Crumble cake pieces (from the holes made to fill) and sprinkle over the cheesecake frosting. Top with a sliced strawberry, if desired.

5. Refrigerate until ready to serve.