Lemon Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I love lemon. I love lemon bars, lemon pound cake, lemon poppy seed muffins, and I REALLY love lemon cupcakes. Here’s a great recipe for lemon cupcakes with the best (in my opinion) cream cheese frosting!

Lemon Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

(Makes 24-30 cupcakes)

Ingredients:
3 cups self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Cream cheese frosting (recipe below)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat sugar and softened butter together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, vanilla extract and lemon zest.

Add the salt to the flour and add flour/salt to the wet ingredients (butter, eggs, sugar, ect), slowly. Then add half the milk, then lemon juice and then the other half of the milk, beating the mixture in between. Do not over-mix.

Line your muffin pan with cupcake liners. Fill each muffin tin 3/4 full. Place in oven.

Bake cupcakes for 18-21 minutes until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing from muffin pan.

Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, the next step is adding the frosting……….

Cream Cheese Frosting

(24 cupcakes)

Ingredients:

1/2 bar cream cheese, softened

4 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Beat cream cheese and butter together in a medium-sized mixing bowl, then add vanilla extract. Incorporate powdered sugar, slowly. Beat until you’ve reached a nice, creamy consistency (see above).

You can also add lemon juice or lemon zest to this frosting if you would prefer more lemon taste.

Finally, frost your cupcakes…….

And enjoy!

Cottage Mama’s Note: This frosting is SO delicious. If you like lots of frosting, I would suggest doubling the recipe. It’s not too sweet and has a really great cream cheese flavor. I also like to add extra coarse sugar on top for added crunch and sparkle.

11 Comments

Amy @ Positively Splendid says

January 17, 2011 at 8:37 AM

I adore anything lemon-flavored! These look fabulous!
Sharon says

January 17, 2011 at 8:55 AM

sounds so yummy! A taste of spring. 🙂
Admitted Fabricaholic says

January 17, 2011 at 9:33 AM

I have been in the mood for cupcakes – and these may look too good to pass up!!! YUMMMMMMM. Cupcakes – here I come!
Julie says

January 17, 2011 at 11:36 AM

mmmmmm…I’m drooling!
the girlfriend gap says

January 17, 2011 at 10:49 PM

those look so delicious. I love the extra sugar sprinkle touch. Did you use fresh lemon zest or dried? Janita
Gloria (The Little Red House with the White Porch) says

January 17, 2011 at 11:30 PM

Great recipe and great photos. They look absolutely delicous. I will bet the girls loved them! I am keeping this recipe — thanks for sharing.
Best,
Gloria
Gloria (The Little Red House with the White Porch) says

January 17, 2011 at 11:31 PM

spelling! delicious 🙂
Diane Krause says

January 18, 2011 at 2:27 PM

Thanx Lindsay!! I love anything lemon & even though I don’t have children at home anymore I still love you blog!!!
Kristen Andrews says

January 21, 2011 at 6:53 PM

looks delicious I love cream cheese frosting on anything or by itself 🙂
Lisa says

January 23, 2011 at 2:25 AM

I love cream cheese frosting and I love lemon cupcakes. Combining the two sounds like a delicious decision and they look super. I have a new linky on my blog called “Sweets for a Saturday” and I’d like to invite you to stop by and link this up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/01/sweets-for-saturday-1_21.html
Rebecca says

September 19, 2014 at 11:56 AM

Such inspiring photos. A real treat to the eyes. It felt like a professional photos with Great recipe

Thanks!