Lemon Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
There is something about these Lemon Cupcakes that I cannot resist. I don’t know if it’s the light and airy cream cheese frosting, the soft moist cupcake, or the slightly sweet lemony deliciousness, but I could eat one after every meal.
This recipe is easy, so don’t go buy when you can DIY. Head to the kitchen and whip up these lemon cupcakes for your next gathering or to celebrate a special day (like Friday!) Any occasion will do!
What You Need to Make Lemon Cupcakes
Gather your Ingredients from the list below. You don’t want to find out you’re mising something part way through the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for quantities.
- Sugar
- Salted butter
- Lemon juice and zest
- Vanilla
- Cake flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Buttermilk
- Oil
- Egg whites
- Yellow food coloring
- Cream cheese
- Heavy whipping cream
- Powdered sugar
How to Make the Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350° and line cupcake trays with liners.
Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl for about three minutes until it’s light and fluffy.
Add in lemon juice, zest, and vanilla extract, and beat for one more minute until combined.
In a separate medium bowl, sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
In another small bowl, use a whisk to mix together the egg whites, oil and buttermilk.
Slowly add a little of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, add a little of the buttermilk mixture. Switch off between adding the flour and buttermilk mixture, ending with the buttermilk mixture. Beat for 2 minutes to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
Fill the liners 3/4 of the way and bake for 20 minutes.
Lemon Frosting
Your next step to making these lemon cupcakes is to combine the frosting ingredients. Simply add all of the ingredients into a stand up mixing bowl and mix until combined. I’ve bought a couple of mixers and I’m convinced that there’s a reason why KitchenAid is the best. There is always something I don’t like about other mixers!
If the frosting is too thick add in 1 tbsp of heavy whipping cream. If the frosting is too thin add in powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time. Once you have the right consistency, pipe onto cupcakes. This simple frosting kit makes it easy.
Lemon Cupcakes
Ingredients
For Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 C sugar
- 1/2 C softened unsalted sweet cream butter
- 2 tsp lemon juice 1 tblsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 C cake flour
- 1 Tbs baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 C buttermilk
- 1/2 C oil
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 tsp Yellow food coloring
For Frosting
- 1 C unsalted sweet cream butter softened
- 1 C softened cream cheese
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1-3 tbs heavy whipping cream
- 3 C powdered sugar + 1/2 cup extra
Instructions
To Make Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350
- Line cupcake trays with liners.
- Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add in lemon juice, zest, and vanilla extract, beat for one more minute until combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, sift cake flour, baking powder and salt.
- In another small bowl, use a whisk to mix together the egg whites, oil and buttermilk.
- Slowly add a little of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, add a little of the buttermilk mixture. Switch off between adding the flour and buttermilk mixture, ending with the buttermilk mixture.
- Beat for 2 minutes to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
- Fill the liners 3/4 of the way and bake for 20 minutes.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
To Make Frosting
- Add all of the ingredients into a stand up mixing bowl and mix until combined.
- If the frosting is too thick add in 1 tbsp of heavy whipping cream.
- If the frosting is too thin add in powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time.
- Pipe onto cupcakes.
Notes
Nutrition
More Lemon Recipes
This is amazing! I reduced sugar by 1/4c and still tastes amazing! Sharing this recipe with friends and family! Added blueberries to half the batter and it made for a delicious touch. Waiting for cupcakes to cool before I make the frosting tomorrow but can’t wait to see how all the flavors comes together. For sharing this recipe!
I’m so glad you like the recipe! Good to know they are just as good with less sugar. I will try that next time. And I love blueberries with lemon, so I’ll be trying that, too. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know! Enjoy!
DELICIOUS cupcakes! I followed exactly except added a little more zest in the frosting. Not only did these cupcakes fill our home with beautiful and scrumptious aroma, they turned out AMAZING! I’ve been looking for a recipe for Lemon Chiffon in a cupcake and this is a true keeper! Moist, tender, and delicious icing. Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad, and sorry I missed this!
what is sweet cream butter?