Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe

If you are looking for a vibrant and fun way to spice up your dessert game, this Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe is exactly what you need. Bursting with tropical mango and luscious strawberry flavors, these cupcakes are a playful twist on the classic margarita cocktail—right down to the sugared rims and zesty lime garnish. Delighting the eyes with their bright swirls of pink and yellow, they are as much a feast for the senses as they are a crowd-pleaser for any occasion, from summer parties to casual get-togethers. I can’t wait to share how easy it is to whip up these colorful, moist cupcakes that carry just a hint of tequila-infused magic.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering simple yet vibrant ingredients is the first step to creating these irresistible cupcakes. Each element brings something unique: soft butter and oil keep the texture moist, while natural flavors and gels add fun colors and authentic fruit tastes that make this Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe stand out.

• Plain all-purpose flour (3 1/2 cups / 430 g): The sturdy base for your cupcake batter, providing structure and fluffiness.
• Caster superfine sugar (1 1/4 cups / 265 g): Ensures a smooth sweetness without graininess—key for delicate cupcakes.
• Baking powder (3 tsp): Helps your cupcakes rise beautifully with a light crumb.
• Fine salt (1/2 tsp): Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
• Unsalted butter, softened (1/2 cup / 125 g): Adds richness and tenderness to every bite.
• Large eggs (2): Bind the ingredients and contribute to the cupcakes’ fluffiness.
• Full-cream whole milk (1 1/2 cups / 375 ml): Keeps the cupcakes moist and tender.
• Vegetable oil (1/2 cup / 125 ml): Adds additional moisture for a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Greek yoghurt or sour cream (2 tbsp): Offers a slight tang and extra moistness while enhancing richness.
• Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (1 tsp): A subtle undertone that complements both strawberry and mango flavors.
• Pink and red food gels (4 drops pink, 3 drops red): To create that iconic strawberry-colored batter.
• Strawberry flavouring (1 tsp): Amplifies the sweet, fruity notes of strawberry in the batter and frosting.
• Yellow food gel (4 drops): Brings a sunny mango hue to your batter and frosting.
• Mango flavouring (1 tsp): Infuses the cupcakes with lively, tropical mango zest.
• Tequila (2 tsp, optional): Offers a true margarita flair for those who want a little boozy kick.
• Buttercream frosting (American or Swiss meringue): The creamy canvas for your colorful layer of strawberry and mango flavors.
• Granulated sugar (1 cup): For that classic margarita glass sugar rim effect on each cupcake.
• Limes (10, cut into 40 wedges): Adds fresh citrus zing and visual appeal when garnishing.
• Strawberries (10, washed and halved): Provide the perfect decorative touch and reinforce that strawberry theme.

How to Make Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare Tins

Start by preheating your oven: if you have a fan-forced oven, set it to 140°C (275°F), or 160°C (320°F) for a conventional oven. This ensures an even bake. Then, line two cupcake tins with liners to keep those beauties from sticking and make cleanup a breeze.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine your flour, caster sugar, baking powder, and salt. Use a hand mixer to blend them thoroughly—this mix will become the perfect foundation for your cupcakes, ensuring an even rise and balanced sweetness.

Step 3: Add Butter

Next, toss in the softened butter. Mix on a low speed until the texture resembles crumbs or sand. This step is crucial for integrating fat into the dry ingredients, contributing to the cupcakes’ moist crumb.

Step 4: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

Carefully add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, Greek yoghurt (or sour cream), vanilla, and the optional tequila. Mix on low speed just until everything comes together—overmixing can make your cupcakes dense, so keep it gentle. Scrape down the sides to grab any lingering flour pockets and then give it another brief mix.

Step 5: Color and Flavor Batter

Divide your batter equally into two bowls. Add the pink and red gels plus strawberry flavouring into one bowl, stirring until the color and aroma are vibrant. In the other, mix in yellow food gel and mango flavouring. This colorful combo is key to the playful Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe look and flavor profile.

Step 6: Fill Cupcake Liners

Transfer each flavored batter into separate piping bags. Pipe a layer of mango (yellow) batter into your liners, then swirl strawberry (pink/red) batter over the top. The contrast and swirl will create a cheerful two-tone effect once baked.

Step 7: Bake and Cool

Bake your cupcakes for 40 to 50 minutes. To check doneness, insert a toothpick into the center—when it comes out clean, your cupcakes are ready! Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack before moving on to frosting.

Step 8: Prepare Frosting

Divide your buttercream into two bowls. Color and flavor one bowl with pink/red gels and strawberry flavouring, and the other with yellow gel plus mango flavouring. Mix until each is silky smooth and the colors are bright. These frostings will bring that signature fruity punch and visual wow factor.

Step 9: Sugar Rim Decoration

Lightly brush the rim of each cooled cupcake with water to make the sugar stick, then gently roll each edge in granulated sugar. This mimics the salted rim of a margarita glass but adds a sweet crunch that’s utterly addictive.

Step 10: Frost & Decorate

Fit a piping bag with an open star tip and swirl together both frostings on each cupcake—letting the colors mingle perfectly. Finish with two lime wedges, half a strawberry, and a playful paper straw to truly capture the essence of a margarita in cupcake form.

How to Serve Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe

Garnishes

Adding fresh lime wedges and strawberry halves not only enhances the margarita vibe but also introduces a refreshing, natural tartness that balances the sweetness. The sugared rim is an unexpected yet delightful touch that makes serving feel extra special and festive.

Side Dishes

While these cupcakes shine on their own, pairing them with a light fruit salad or a tangy lime sorbet elevates the tropical experience. They also make a fabulous companion to chilled cocktails or mocktails for an elegant dessert spread at any party.

Creative Ways to Present

For a show-stopping presentation, arrange your cupcakes on a tiered stand adorned with mini cocktail umbrellas or edible glitter. Individual serving plates with a dab of lime zest and a sprinkle of colored sugar around the cupcake edges create an inviting, professional look that’s sure to wow guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled and frosted, keep your cupcakes stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If your home is warm, refrigeration is better, but bring them back to room temperature before serving to enjoy the best texture and flavor.

Freezing

You can freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to three months by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container. Frost after thawing to retain the fresh, creamy look and taste of this Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe.

Reheating

To revive frozen cupcakes, let them thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm gently in a low oven (around 150°C / 300°F) for 5-7 minutes to refresh their softness. Avoid reheating frosted cupcakes this way, as it can spoil the frosting’s texture.

FAQs

Can I make these cupcakes without alcohol?

Absolutely! The tequila is optional and can be omitted for a kid-friendly or alcohol-free version. The flavors of mango and strawberry still shine brightly, so no worries about losing that signature refreshing taste.

What kind of frosting works best for this recipe?

Both American buttercream and Swiss meringue buttercream are excellent choices. American buttercream is sweeter and denser, while Swiss meringue offers a lighter, silkier texture. Either works wonderfully to carry the fruity flavors and hold vibrant colors.

How do I get the swirl effect on the cupcakes?

Use two piping bags filled with the different colored batters, and pipe one batter first, then swirl the other on top inside the cupcake liners. This method creates the beautiful dual-tone look that makes the Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe so eye-catching.

Can I substitute fresh fruit for the flavorings?

You can try using fresh strawberry or mango puree, but be mindful it might alter the batter’s consistency and moisture content. The concentrated flavorings ensure the perfect balance of taste without compromising texture.

What is the best way to transport these cupcakes?

Use a cupcake carrier or a box with inserts that hold each cupcake securely to prevent them from tipping over. Adding plastic wrap over the top of the frosting can help protect delicate decorations during travel.

Final Thoughts

Making this Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe is an absolute joy, from mixing those vivid colors to savoring every zesty bite. It’s a fantastic way to bring fun and flavor to your dessert table, guaranteed to brighten up any gathering. I promise once you try these cupcakes, they’ll become a go-to favorite you’ll want to bake again and again!

Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

3.8 from 29 reviews

• Author: admin
• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 20 cupcakes 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes are a delightful, fruity twist on classic cupcakes, featuring vibrant swirls of strawberry and mango flavored batters dyed with colorful gels to mimic a margarita’s festive look. Topped with dual-flavored buttercream frosting and a sugared rim, these cupcakes incorporate tequila for an authentic margarita hint, garnished with lime wedges and fresh strawberries to create a fun, party-ready dessert.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cupcake Batter

• 3 1/2 cups (430 g) plain all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups (265 g) caster superfine sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp fine salt
• 1/2 cup (125 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) full-cream whole milk
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt or sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• 4 drops pink food gel
• 3 drops red food gel
• 1 tsp strawberry flavouring
• 4 drops yellow food gel
• 1 tsp mango flavouring
• 2 tsp tequila (optional)

Buttercream Frosting

• 1 batch American buttercream frosting or Swiss meringue buttercream frosting
• 5 drops pink food gel
• 3 drops red food gel
• 1 tsp strawberry flavouring
• 5 drops yellow food gel
• 1 tsp mango flavouring

Decorations

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 10 limes, cut into 40 wedges
• 10 strawberries, washed & halved

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat & Prepare Tins: Preheat a fan-forced oven to 140°C (275°F) or a conventional oven to 160°C (320°F). Line two cupcake tins with cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, caster sugar, baking powder, and fine salt. Use a hand mixer to blend these dry ingredients thoroughly.
3. Add Butter: Add softened unsalted butter to the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until the texture becomes crumbly and sandy, ensuring the butter is well incorporated.
4. Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Introduce eggs, milk, vegetable oil, Greek yoghurt (or sour cream), optional tequila, and vanilla extract to the crumbly mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined, scraping down bowl sides for even blending, then mix an additional 20 seconds.
5. Color and Flavor Batter: Divide the batter evenly into two bowls. In one, add pink and red food gels and strawberry flavoring, stirring until color and flavor are uniform. In the other, add yellow food gel and mango flavoring, mixing well.
6. Fill Cupcake Liners: Transfer each flavored batter into separate piping bags. Pipe the yellow mango batter into cupcake liners first, then swirl the strawberry batter on top to create a marbled effect.
7. Bake the Cupcakes: Bake for 40–50 minutes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
8. Prepare Frosting: Divide the prepared buttercream into two bowls. Color and flavor one portion with pink/red gel and strawberry flavor, the other with yellow gel and mango flavor. Mix each thoroughly until smooth.
9. Sugar Rim Decoration: Lightly brush the circumference of each cooled cupcake with water, then gently roll the rim in granulated sugar to mimic the margarita glass rim effect.
10. Frost & Decorate: Fit a piping bag with an open star tip and pipe alternating swirls of both colored frostings atop each cupcake. Complete the decoration with two lime wedges, a half strawberry on top, and optionally add a paper straw for a festive margarita appearance.

Notes

• Tequila is optional; omit for a non-alcoholic version suitable for all guests.
• Use fresh lime wedges and strawberries for the best garnish presentation and flavor.
• Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
• Adjust oven temperature if not using a fan-forced oven, as indicated.
• For vegan adaptation, substitute eggs and dairy products with suitable plant-based alternatives.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American