Strawberry Buttercream Candies Recipe

If you’ve been craving something sweet, creamy, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, you’re in the right place. Today, I’m sharing my absolute favorite Strawberry Buttercream Candies Recipe that’s surprisingly simple but so insanely tasty. These little gems blend rich buttercream with that perfect tang of strawberries, all wrapped in a silky dark chocolate shell. Trust me, once you try making these, you’ll want to share — but probably won’t want to!

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Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient here plays a special role to make these Strawberry Buttercream Candies a delightful treat. Freshness matters, especially for the strawberries, and the mix of butter with cream cheese gives the filling the perfect creaminess and tang. Here’s a quick rundown on what you’ll want to know before you start.

• Fresh Strawberries: Use ripe, fragrant berries for the best flavor; this is what gives the buttercream its vibrant strawberry essence.
• Sugar: A little sugar helps the strawberries cook down and sweeten naturally during reduction.
• Salted Butter: Brings richness and smoothness; using salted is great here since it balances the sweet strawberry notes.
• Cream Cheese: Adds a subtle tang and luscious texture that blends perfectly into the buttercream.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances and rounds out all the other flavors with warmth and depth.
• Powdered Sugar: Essential for sweetness and gives the right texture to the buttercream to hold shape.
• Cornstarch: Helps firm the mixture up without adding grit—critical for smooth rolling.
• Pink/Red Food Coloring (Optional): Just a drop amps the strawberry color to make your candies look as good as they taste.
• Dark Chocolate Melts: Ideal for coating—melts smoothly and hardens with a nice snap.
• Coarse Sugar (Optional): Adds a pretty sparkle and a touch of texture on top if you want to dress them up.

Make It Your Way

I love playing around with this Strawberry Buttercream Candies Recipe depending on the season or mood, and I encourage you to do the same. Whether you want to dial up the strawberry punch, play with different coatings, or tweak the sweetness, it’s totally flexible and fun to personalize.

• Vegan Variation: I’ve had success swapping the butter and cream cheese for vegan butters and cream cheese alternatives—just expect a slight change in texture that’s still delicious.
• White Chocolate Coating: I sometimes replace the dark chocolate with white chocolate for a sweeter, lighter finish that really makes the pink filling pop.
• Add-In Extras: A sprinkle of finely chopped freeze-dried strawberries or a pinch of cinnamon can add interesting layers; I like these for gifts or special occasions.
• Color Boost: If you’re making these for a party, adding food coloring helps make the candies stand out beautifully on a dessert tray.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Buttercream Candies Recipe

Step 1: Puree and Reduce the Strawberries

Start by grabbing your freshest strawberries and removing those green tops. Pop them into a food processor or blender and pulse until you’re left with a smooth puree—no big chunks here, we want that silky texture. Transfer this puree to a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in the sugar, and bring it to a gentle boil. Don’t rush this part — you’ll need to keep stirring and reduce it until it thickens into a paste, which usually takes about 10 minutes. This step is crucial because it drives off excess water, so your buttercream filling won’t be runny. If the mixture starts sticking or browning too fast, lower the heat. Once it’s thick and glossy, let it cool completely before moving on.

Step 2: Prepare the Buttercream Base

While your strawberry reduction is cooling, grab your butter and cream cheese (both softened to room temperature). In a mixer or with a hand whisk, beat them together until they’re creamy and fully combined. This creates the silky base of your candies. Next, stir in the vanilla extract and a cup of powdered sugar to start building sweetness and structure. The mixture will still be soft at this point, but that’s where the strawberry paste and the remaining powdered sugar come in.

Step 3: Combine Everything and Chill

Now, add your cooled strawberry paste and mix until the color and flavor are evenly distributed. Sprinkle in the cornstarch, then gradually add the rest of your powdered sugar, about half a cup at a time. This helps the mixture thicken without becoming gritty. If you want that candy-pink pop, add a drop of pink or red food coloring. Once everything’s beautifully blended, spread the mixture into a shallow dish, cover it, and pop it into the fridge to chill for at least two hours or overnight. This firm chill makes rolling the candies a breeze.

Step 4: Roll Your Candies and Freeze Briefly

Take the chilled buttercream mixture and dust your hands with powdered sugar. Scoop out roughly a tablespoon size and roll it into balls. The mix will be sticky, so keep dusting your hands as you work. If you find the balls sticking too much or getting messy, just pop the whole batch into the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up. This little trick saved me multiple times when things got too gooey!

Step 5: Coat in Chocolate and Add a Sparkle (Optional)

While your candies are chilling in the freezer, melt your dark chocolate melts according to the package instructions — usually gently in a microwave or double boiler. Using a butterknife or small fork, pick up each buttercream ball and pour or dip the chocolate over it until fully covered. Lay them onto a wax-paper-lined tray and, if you want, immediately sprinkle with coarse sugar for a pretty, subtle crunch. Once coated, let these candies set at room temperature or in the fridge until the chocolate hardens.

How to Serve Strawberry Buttercream Candies Recipe

Garnishes

I love to sprinkle these candies with coarse sugar right after dipping—it gives a little sparkle and a subtle crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy center. Sometimes, I also dust a little freeze-dried strawberry powder on top for an extra fruity pop and gorgeous presentation when hosting friends.

Side Dishes

These candies pair wonderfully with a cup of black tea or a fruity white wine like a Riesling. If you’re putting together a dessert platter, serve alongside fresh strawberries, shortbread cookies, or a light panna cotta to keep the flavors complementary and fresh.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or Valentine’s Day, I like arranging the candies in cupcake liners with heart-shaped picks. Another fun idea: create a “candy bouquet” by skewering a few candies on sticks and wrapping them in cellophane like a bouquet of flowers—guaranteed to impress! They also make elegant party favors when wrapped individually in wax paper tied with a pretty ribbon.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep these candies in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they stay fresh and firm for up to a week. Pro tip: let them sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving — it really brings out the buttery softness and enhances the strawberry flavor.

Freezing

Freezing works surprisingly well for these candies! I place them on a tray to freeze individually for an hour, then transfer to a sealed bag or container. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge. The texture remains smooth and delicious, making it perfect for prepping ahead of time.

Reheating

Since these are best served cool to room temperature, I recommend avoiding actual reheating. Instead, just let refrigerated or frozen candies come to room temp naturally. This keeps the chocolate shell crisp and the buttercream perfectly creamy without getting melty or soft.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Strawberry Buttercream Candies Recipe is hands-down one of my go-to treats whenever I want something a little fancy but still homemade and heartfelt. I love how the fresh strawberry flavor shines through with every bite, wrapped lovingly in creamy richness and that satisfying chocolate shell. Give this recipe a try—you won’t regret it. And don’t be surprised if everyone starts asking you for the secret!

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