Wild Strawberry Foraging and Cupcakes
If there’s one thing that tastes like summer in the wild, it’s wild strawberries. These tiny, flavour-packed fruits are an absolute delight to forage, and they bring a little burst of nature’s sweetness to your cooking. From nibbling them straight off the plant to whipping up a batch of irresistible cupcakes, there’s so much to love about this humble berry.
Search hedgerows or woodland edges for small, fragrant red berries with seeds on the outside—harvest them gently. Enjoy them fresh or turn them into vinegars and bakes. They really are proof that good things come in small packages!
How long will it take?
How hard is it?
How many people can do it together?
Under 1 hour
Beginner-friendly
Suitable for solo foragers, families, or anyone with a sweet tooth
Summer
a wildish story
RECIPE 1: WILD STRAWBERRY VINEGAR
Smash fresh wild strawberries in a clean jar. Cover with red wine vinegar. Let sit in the sun 3–4 days, strain, and enjoy on salads or in marinades.
RECIPE 2: WILD STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES
Makes 12 cupcakes.
YOU WILL NEED:
For the Cupcakes:
115g softened butter
115g golden caster sugar
2 large eggs
½ tsp vanilla extract
115g self-raising flour with a pinch of salt
For the Buttercream:
150g softened butter
300g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp milk
Handful of freshly picked wild strawberries
TOR’S TOP BAKING TIPS:
- Let ingredients reach room temperature
- Cream butter & sugar well
- Add eggs slowly
- Fold flour gently
- Slightly underbake for moist cupcakes
What do you need?
Basket or container (for foraging)
Ingredients for the cupcakes (butter, sugar, eggs, etc.)
An oven
Cupcake tin and cases
How to do it.
1. Preheat the Oven 180°C (160°C fan), gas mark 4. Line a 12-cup muffin tin.
2. Make the Batter Beat butter & sugar until pale. Add eggs gradually with vanilla. Fold in flour & salt.
3. Bake Fill cases evenly. Bake ~15 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
4. Cool & Decorate Beat butter, icing sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth. Spread on cooled cupcakes. Slice wild strawberries on top.
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA Try pressing a single wild strawberry leaf on the buttercream for a natural garnish. Or freeze strawberries in ice cubes for summer drinks!