Low calorie strawberry cupcakes recipe

I’m calling all strawberry dessert obsessed girlies to stand – strawberry cupcakes are on the menu! These low calorie strawberry cupcakes are the perfect spring and summertime sweet treat for weight loss. These cupcakes have a light, fluffy and super soft sponge topped with silky smooth strawberry cream cheese frosting!

This post contains affiliate links, to learn more, read my disclosure policy.

I don’t know what it is about strawberry desserts that just feel so right in the summertime. I just can’t seem to get enough of them! These low calorie strawberry cupcakes are my new obsession. They’re so incredibly moist and soft with the most delicious velvety cream cheese frosting. There is strawberry infused into every bite from the sponge to the frosting. At just 87 calories, these strawberry cupcakes NEED to be included in your summer dessert rotation!

Weight loss is hard enough with the calorie restriction, there is no need to restrict desserts on top of that. I can not stand when people spread misinformation about not being able to eat carbs and desserts to lose weight. That can not be further from the truth! These low calorie strawberry cupcakes are a testament to that. They taste just as delicious as regular strawberry cupcakes but for a fraction of the calories. Plus, you 1000% CAN lose weight and you CAN eat dessert while doing it!

I have never actually found a strawberry cupcake that I love besides homemade ones. I hate the artificial strawberry flavor – these cupcakes have not artificial flavoring whatsoever! They are all natural baby – so not only are you skipping the artificial colors and flavors but you’re also getting that delicious authentic strawberry flavor in each and every bite!

Low calorie strawberry cupcakes

These cupcakes taste like they require so much effort when in reality, you can have them from kitchen countertop to your belly in under 30 minutes! You only need one bowl and under 10 minutes to prep these little cups of joy.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• Super simple recipe that requires just 9 ingredients!
• No artificial colors or flavors!
• This recipe is sugar-free and can easily be made gluten-free and vegan.
• Just 87 calories per frosted cupcake!
• You can have these cupcakes ready in under 30 minutes!
• Filled with delicious strawberry flavor throughout.
• The BEST low calorie strawberry cupcakes ever!

Ingredients

Exact ingredient quantities can be found at the bottom of this page.

To make these low calorie strawberry cupcakes you will need:

Egg – This recipe calls for one large egg. Make sure it is at room temperature and not cold. To quickly get your refrigerated egg to room temperature, set it on the kitchen counter for 30 minutes.

Stevia – I always recommend stevia for any low calorie baked goods. Stevia is a natural, 0 calorie alternative to sugar and works perfectly for these low calorie strawberry cupcakes. You can use any sweetener of your choice here but keep the calorie count in mind as it will affect the recipe. It is also important to note the sweetness level of the sweetener you use, the one I use is a 1:2 ratio of stevia to sugar making it twice as sweet as regular sugar.

0% fat yogurt – 0% fat greek yogurt works perfectly to balance the flavors in these cupcakes whilst keeping the calories low and the cupcakes moist. For a vegan or dairy-free alternative, use a vegan/dairy-free yogurt here. You can opt for low-fat or even full-fat yogurt here too for just a few extra calories.

Fresh strawberries – This recipe calls for fresh strawberries as apposed to frozen strawberries or strawberry extract. If you don’t have fresh strawberries, you can defrost frozen strawberries the night before you plan on making these cupcakes.

Vanilla extract – No cupcake recipe is complete without vanilla! If you have access to it, I would 1000% recommend using vanilla bean paste here – it elevates the taste of baked goods ten fold!

Plain / all-purpose flour – This recipe calls for good ol’ plain/all-purpose flour. To make this recipe gluten-free, use an equal amount of gluten-free flour here.

Baking powder – To help the cupcakes rise.

Philadelphia lightest – To get a super smooth and creamy low calorie frosting, Philadelphia lightest is your best bet. It is very low in calories but has the perfect creamy texture for frosting. If you can’t get your hands on some Philadelphia lightest, you can use low-fat cream cheese here with only a small increase to the overall calories.

0 calorie powdered sugar – The final touch to keep this recipe completely free of any added sugars. If you can’t get 0 calorie powdered sugar, you can make your own by blitzing some 0 calorie granulated sweetener in a food processor. You can also use regular powdered sugar here but the calories will be slightly higher per cupcake.

How to make low calorie strawberry cupcakes

1. Pre-heat oven to 180ºC (356ºF). Prepare a 6-count muffin tray with 6 cupcake liners and set aside.
2. Make the strawberry puree by mashing the strawberries until it has been pureed. You can speed up the process by blending them until smooth and pureed. Set aside.
3. Beat the eggs and stevia until light and fluffy. Add the yogurt, 70g of the strawberry puree, and vanilla and mix until well combined. Whisk in the flour and baking powder until smooth and lump-free.
4. Divide the batter equally between the 6 cupcake liners filling them about 3/4 of the way and bake for 14-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Make the frosting by whisking together the cream cheese, 0 calorie powdered sugar, the remaining 30g of strawberry puree and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a nozzle.
6. Frost the cooled cupcakes and garnish with dried strawberries before tucking in and enjoying!

More low calorie cupcakes…