Mango Strawberry Sunset Cupcakes (Printable)

Colorful tropical-inspired cupcakes featuring mango, strawberry, and sunset swirl buttercream icing.

# What You Need:

→ Cupcake Batter

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (approx. 180g)
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (113g)
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk (120ml)
09 - 1/4 cup mango purée (60ml), fresh or canned

→ Filling

10 - 1/4 cup strawberry jam (80g)

→ Sunset Swirl Buttercream

11 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (227g)
12 - 3 cups powdered sugar (360g)
13 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk (30ml)
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
15 - 2 tablespoons mango purée (30ml)
16 - 2 tablespoons strawberry purée (30ml)

→ Optional Garnish

17 - Fresh strawberry slices
18 - Fresh mango slices

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Stir in milk and mango purée until evenly combined.
06 - Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet, mixing just until incorporated to avoid overmixing.
07 - Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about 3/4 full.
08 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
09 - Use a small knife or cupcake corer to remove a small center from each cooled cupcake. Fill each cavity with about 1 teaspoon strawberry jam.
10 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
11 - Mix in vanilla extract and heavy cream (or milk) until fluffy.
12 - Divide frosting into three bowls; leave one plain, mix mango purée into the second, and strawberry purée into the third.
13 - Add spoonfuls of each colored frosting side-by-side into a large piping bag fitted with a star tip to create a sunset swirl effect.
14 - Pipe swirls onto each cupcake, creating a gradient resembling a sunset.
15 - Optionally garnish each cupcake with a fresh slice of strawberry or mango.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • One-pot meal
  • Freezer friendly
02 -
  • For best results, use ripe, fresh mango and strawberries.
  • Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for smooth mixing.
03 -
  • Use ripe, fresh mango and strawberries for best flavor
  • Keep all ingredients at room temperature for smooth mixing
Go Back