Description
These delightful cupcakes combine the classic Neapolitan trio of flavors—rich chocolate, sweet vanilla, and fruity strawberry—into one heavenly treat. Each bite delivers a perfect blend of creamy textures and layered tastes, topped with a swirl of Neapolitan frosting that looks as beautiful as it tastes. Perfect for parties, celebrations, or just because!
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcake Batter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup strawberry puree or strawberry jam
- Pink food coloring (optional)
Neapolitan Frosting
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons strawberry puree
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners to ensure easy removal and cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which should take about 2–3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Alternate adding the flour mixture and whole milk to the wet ingredients, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Divide Batter and Flavor: Evenly divide the batter into three separate bowls. Stir the unsweetened cocoa powder into one bowl for chocolate flavor, the strawberry puree and optional pink food coloring into another for strawberry flavor, and leave the third bowl plain for vanilla.
- Layer Batters: Spoon a small amount of each flavored batter into the cupcake liners, layering them carefully to create a Neapolitan effect with distinct chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry layers.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Cool Cupcakes: Remove cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting to ensure the frosting doesn’t melt.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat the unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar while beating, then mix in vanilla extract. Divide the frosting into three bowls and add cocoa powder to one, strawberry puree to another, leaving the third as vanilla.
- Decorate: Using a tri-color piping bag or spoon, pipe each frosting flavor side-by-side or swirl them together on top of each cupcake to create the signature Neapolitan look.
Notes
- You can use strawberry extract instead of puree for a more intense strawberry flavor.
- For a time-saving shortcut, use a boxed vanilla cake mix and divide it to flavor each third as described.
