Imagine the perfect little burst of strawberry sweetness nestled into a charming shape, embodying spring’s freshest flavors; that’s exactly what this Mini Strawberry Bundt Cakes Recipe delivers. These delightful treats are wonderfully moist and beautifully pink, combining the luscious taste of strawberry extract and jello with just the right hint of vanilla. Perfect for sharing at gatherings or brightening up a weekday afternoon, these cakes invite you to savor strawberry lovers’ happiness in every tender bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Mini Strawberry Bundt Cakes Recipe plays a vital role in creating the ideal balance of flavor, texture, and color. From the richness of butter to the fruity pop from strawberry jello, the components are simple yet essential for crafting these charming cakes.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps achieve a tender crumb texture.
- Unsalted butter (at room temperature): Adds richness and moisture, giving the cakes their soft body.
- Eggs: Provide structure and help bind all ingredients smoothly.
- Milk: Contributes to moistness and helps combine the batter evenly.
- Sour cream: Adds a subtle tang and ensures a tender, delicate crumb.
- Strawberry extract: Elevates the strawberry flavor to vibrant new levels.
- Vanilla extract: Balances and deepens the overall flavor profile.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the cake’s body and gives it structure.
- Baking powder: Leavens the batter for a light and airy texture.
- Salt: Enhances sweetness and rounds out flavor notes.
- Strawberry jello (3-ounce box): Infuses color and a concentrated strawberry punch.
- Food coloring (red or pink): Intensifies the cake’s charming rosy hue.
- Icing sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze for finishing.
- Milk (for glaze): Thins the icing to a perfect drizzle consistency.
- Strawberry extract (for glaze): Brings a fresh strawberry aroma to the glaze.
- Fresh strawberries: For garnish, adding natural beauty and fruity freshness on top.
How to Make Mini Strawberry Bundt Cakes Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Pans
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease your bundt pans—whether you’re using a standard size or the adorable mini bundt cake pans—and dust them lightly with flour to prevent sticking. This simple prep step ensures your cakes maintain their lovely shape when popped out.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the sugar and room temperature butter on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes. This creaming process is crucial—it incorporates air to give your cakes a light texture and melts evenly during baking for that perfect crumb.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Flavorings
Next, add the eggs one at a time while continuing to beat the batter, allowing each to fully incorporate. Then pour in the milk, sour cream, strawberry extract, and vanilla extract. These ingredients blend moisture and intense flavor, setting the stage for a moist and aromatic cake.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. This blend ensures even distribution of leavening agents and seasoning, which helps your cakes rise evenly and taste perfectly balanced.
Step 5: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients with Jello and Color
Gently fold the flour mixture and the strawberry jello powder into the wet batter just until combined—overmixing can lead to a dense cake, so keep it light. Add a few drops of red or pink food coloring to deepen that inviting strawberry color, stirring just enough to evenly tint your batter.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Spread your luscious batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake mini bundt cakes for approximately 30 minutes, or a full-sized bundt for around 55 minutes. Use a toothpick inserted in the center to check doneness—it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs clinging on. This step is the moment where all your hard work turns into a kitchen filled with an irresistible strawberry scent.
Step 7: Cool Completely
Allow your cakes to rest on a wire rack until completely cool. Cooling prevents the glaze from melting prematurely and allows the flavors to settle into each tender crumb.
Step 8: Whisk a Simple Strawberry Glaze
While the cakes cool, whisk together icing sugar, milk, and strawberry extract in a small bowl until smooth and pourable. This sweet crown on your mini cakes adds a glossy, lightly flavored finish that compliments the strawberry base beautifully.
Step 9: Glaze and Garnish
Carefully remove your cooled cakes from the pans and place them on your serving plate. Drizzle the glaze generously over the top, letting it drip down the sides naturally. Finally, crown each mini bundt with a fresh strawberry for a delightful finishing touch.
How to Serve Mini Strawberry Bundt Cakes Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh strawberries on top add a burst of vibrant color and natural sweetness that contrasts perfectly with the smooth glaze. Consider also a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant, snow-kissed look or some edible flowers to impress your guests with an extra pop of beauty.
Side Dishes
These mini strawberry delights pair amazingly well with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a luscious dessert experience. For a brunch gathering, serve alongside fresh fruit salad or a refreshing mint-infused lemonade to complement the strawberry notes.
Creative Ways to Present
Present these little beauties staggered on a tiered cake stand for a stunning centerpiece. You can also wrap individual cakes in parchment with a ribbon for charming party favors or place them in cute cupcake boxes for gifting. Their size and vibrant color make them fantastic for festive occasions.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover mini strawberry bundt cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to keep their delicate texture and fresh flavor. If your kitchen is warm, refrigeration is fine but allow them to come to room temperature before serving.
Freezing
To freeze, wrap cakes tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil or an airtight container. These can be frozen for up to three months without losing their lovely taste or texture. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a couple of hours before glazing and decorating.
Reheating
If serving warm is preferred, gently warm the cakes in a microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds or in a low-temperature oven (around 300 degrees Fahrenheit) for 5 to 10 minutes. Be careful not to overheat or dry them out—soft, moist bites are what you want!
FAQs
Can I use fresh strawberries in the batter?
While this recipe relies on strawberry jello and extract for intense flavor and color, fresh strawberries could be chopped finely and folded into the batter for added texture, but keep in mind it may affect the cake’s softness and color slightly.
What if I don’t have strawberry extract?
You can substitute strawberry extract with a small amount of strawberry jam or puree for flavor, but this may change the baking time and moisture level. Try vanilla or almond extract as alternative flavor enhancers if you want a different twist.
Can this recipe be made gluten-free?
Absolutely! Replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend designed for baking. You might need to adjust the amount slightly and ensure your baking powder is gluten-free for the best results.
How do I know when my mini bundt cakes are done?
Use a toothpick inserted into the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Avoid opening the oven door too frequently to keep the cakes rising evenly and avoid collapse.
Can I make the glaze ahead of time?
Yes, you can whisk the glaze a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Stir it gently before drizzling, and if it thickens too much, add a teaspoon of milk to restore its pourable consistency.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly magical about mini cakes, and this Mini Strawberry Bundt Cakes Recipe is a wonderful example of how simple ingredients come together to create delightful moments. Whether for an afternoon treat or a festive celebration, these cakes will bring joy and smiles with their charming shape and delicious strawberry flavor. Trust me, once you try them, they’ll become one of your go-to favorites!
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Mini Strawberry Bundt Cakes Recipe
- Total Time: 45-70 minutes
- Yield: 12 mini bundt cakes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Mini Strawberry Bundt Cakes are delightfully moist and bursting with strawberry flavor, enhanced by a strawberry-infused glaze and topped with fresh strawberries. Perfectly portioned for 12 servings, these charming cakes combine the softness of sour cream with the sweetness of strawberry jello and extracts, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 1 ¾ Cups granulated sugar
- 1 Cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 4 eggs
- ½ Cup milk
- ⅓ Cup sour cream
- 1 Teaspoon strawberry extract
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ Cups all-purpose flour
- 2 Teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ Teaspoon salt
- 1 Box jello (3-Ounce, strawberry)
- Food coloring (red or pink), a few drops
Glaze
- 1 Cup icing sugar
- 2 Teaspoon milk
- 1 Teaspoon strawberry extract
Garnish
- 12 strawberries (fresh, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a regular bundt pan or a 6-cup mini bundt cake pan, then set aside to prevent sticking.
- Beat sugar and butter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the granulated sugar and unsalted butter on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and wet ingredients: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then incorporate the milk, sour cream, strawberry extract, and vanilla extract until just combined.
- Prepare dry ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
- Combine dry and wet mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture and the entire box of strawberry jello into the wet batter, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Add food coloring: Drop in a few drops of red or pink food coloring and mix until the batter is evenly colored with a vibrant strawberry hue.
- Fill pans and bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared bundt pans. For a full-size bundt pan, bake in the preheated oven for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. For mini bundt cakes, bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick test shows moist crumbs or clean results.
- Cool cakes: Remove the cakes from the oven and transfer them onto a wire cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely for easier removal and glazing.
- Make the glaze: While the cakes cool, whisk together the icing sugar, milk, and strawberry extract in a small bowl until smooth and pourable.
- Remove cakes from pans: Gently remove the cooled cakes from the bundt pans and place them on a serving plate or cake stand.
- Glaze and garnish: Pour the strawberry glaze evenly over the cooled cakes, letting it set for about 5 minutes. Top each cake with fresh strawberries for a beautiful, fruity finish before serving.
Notes
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for better batter consistency.
- Do not overmix the batter once dry ingredients are added to keep cakes tender.
- If using a regular bundt pan, the cake will take longer to bake than mini pans.
- Allow cakes to cool completely before glazing to prevent melting the glaze.
- Fresh strawberries add both color and a fresh taste; pick ripe, firm berries for best garnish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes (mini) to 55 minutes (regular)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
