Description
This Strawberry Compote Filling for Cupcakes is sweet, vibrant, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. Made with simple ingredients and ready in minutes, this homemade strawberry compote adds a juicy, fruity center to vanilla, chocolate, or lemon cupcakes. It’s the perfect natural filling that tastes fresh, bright, and beautifully balanced — no artificial flavors, just real strawberries cooked gently into a luscious, spoonable compote.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Wash, hull, and finely chop the fresh strawberries.
- Add the strawberries and sugar to a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir gently and cook for 5–7 minutes until the strawberries release their juices and begin to soften.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water until smooth to create a slurry.
- Pour the slurry into the saucepan and stir continuously to prevent lumps.
- Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt.
- Cook for another 2–3 minutes until the mixture thickens into a glossy compote.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Allow the compote to cool completely before using it to fill cupcakes.
- Core the center of each cupcake and spoon about 1 tablespoon of compote into the center before frosting.
Notes
Use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavor. If strawberries are very sweet, reduce the sugar slightly. You can substitute frozen strawberries — thaw and drain excess liquid first. Store the compote in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The compote can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Always let it cool fully before filling cupcakes to prevent melting the frosting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: B
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg