These Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes have a soft cloud-like crumb with an ultra-plush texture. It is paired with a creamy, dreamy lemon buttercream and is like biting into a cloud!
If you’re a lemon dessert lover like I am, try my one-layer lemon cake or the lemon mug cake recipe next!
I wanted lemon drizzle cupcakes that pack a potent flavor, and produce a light and tender crumb, without being soggy from the drizzle.
I achieved this by strategically incorporating the zest and juice in various stages into the recipe, without any compromise in flavor or texture, like in my lemon mug cake.
These lemon cupcakes would be perfect as a spring dessert, bridal shower, or birthday party. They are packed with fresh lemon flavor in every bite!
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Why this recipe works?
👉 I use only the zest in the cupcake batter to capture the full lemon flavor from its oils, as the juice tends to lose its potency during baking.
👉 The warm lemon cupcakes are then drizzled with a mixture of lemon juice and sugar, adding a burst of brightness and tartness while keeping them moist.
👉 The lemon buttercream, made with both lemon juice and zest, delivers the light, airy texture and flavor of vanilla buttercream, without being too heavy.
Table of contents
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- All-purpose flour - I used all-purpose flour which gives enough structure with the drizzle and does not fall apart in your hands.
- Baking Powder - Helps lift things up.
- Butter: Makes it rich and tender. Make sure to have your butter at room temperature overnight, to help develop an airy texture in the lemon drizzle cupcakes.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar offers tenderness and more structure in the cupcake, whereas confectioners sugar makes the buttercream silky smooth.
- Egg: It helps to have the egg at room temperature, so the batter gets fluffy when combined like the pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
- Milk: Whole-fat milk adds richness and taste.
- Lemons: Use fresh lemons and not any bottled juice.
How to make lemon drizzle cupcakes?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
- Add flour, baking powder, and salt into a small bowl and whisk to combine.
2 & 3. Add butter and sugar into another medium bowl and beat with a handheld electric beater on high, for about 2 minutes or light and fluffy.
4. Add egg and lemon zest, and beat for about 30 seconds, until thoroughly combined.
5. Add half the flour mixture, and beat on low speed, until just combined. Don't overmix.
6 & 7. Beat in the milk, and then the remaining flour mixture, on low speed, until you no longer see any dry flour. Don't overmix.
8 & 9. Divide batter evenly into a paper lined 6-cup muffin pan, and bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes clean.
10. Make the lemon drizzle as soon as you pop the cake pan into the oven. Stir sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl, until sugar is almost dissolved. Set aside until the cupcakes are done baking.
Tip: This ensures that the sugar has enough time to dissolve completely.
11. Remove the pan from the oven, and place it on a wire rack. Using a pastry brush or a small spoon, slowly drizzle or brush, the lemon syrup evenly on top of the hot cupcakes. Use it all! Let the lemon drizzle cupcakes cool completely.
How to make lemon buttercream?
11 & 12. Add butter and 1 cup confectioners sugar into a medium bowl and beat with a handheld electric beater, on high, until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add remaining 1 cup confectioners sugar, lemon zest, juice, and salt and continue beating, until light and fluffy, another 1 to 2 minutes.
👩🍳 Add more confectioners' sugar to achieve a thicker, stiffer buttercream that's perfect for piping.
13 & 14. Transfer lemon buttercream into a large piping bag with a decorating tip (I used Wilton4B) and frost swirls on top of cooled cupcakes. Garnish with a lemon slice, if desired.
👉 Keep it simple and spread the lemon buttercream with a flat spatula!
How long will it last?
Store frosted lemon drizzle cupcakes, at room temperature for up to 2 days. If wishing to store them longer, then keep them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Let them come to room temperature before serving.
Tip: If you are serving these on a warm summer day, just keep them in the fridge until you set up for your party or picnic, like the strawberry and cream. Take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving.
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Make ahead instructions
Lemon buttercream can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to a week. Bring to room temperature and beat until light and fluffy again.
If you wish to freeze, store the unfrosted cooled lemon cupcakes (after the drizzle), in an airtight container, in the freezer, for up to 1 month. Defrost in the refrigerator before bringing it to room temperature.
Recipe tips
- Measure flour correctly - Adding too much flour is one of the most common baking mistakes.
- Use only fresh lemon juice - Never use bottled juice. Freshly squeezed gives so much better flavor than the bottled kind.
- Buttercream consistency - If the lemon buttercream is too soft to pipe, simply beat in more powdered sugar. This will thicken the frosting and help create beautiful, sturdy swirls.
- Use all of the lemon drizzle – don’t let any go to waste! It adds moisture and a zesty lemon punch. Simply spoon or brush the drizzle generously onto the cupcakes for maximum flavor.
- Serve them at room temperature for the best cloud like soft and fluffy texture.
Recipe FAQs
Nothing compares to the bright, fresh taste of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Plus, to get the perfect lemon zest, you’ll need whole lemons anyway.
I prefer lemon buttercream frosting to bring home the lemony goodness. However, vanilla or strawberry buttercream or whipped cream frosting also will pair well.
No! The smaller holes in the cupcake effectively capture the drizzle, preventing any sogginess. Furthermore, the syrup-to-cupcake ratio is perfectly balanced, resulting in an ideal combination of flavors.
More lemon recipes
Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes
Ingredients
Lemon Drizzle
- 3 tablespoons sugar white granulated
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Cupcakes
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick) room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar white granulated
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- zest of 2 lemons
- ½ cup milk
Lemon buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) room temperature
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Make Lemon Drizzle
- Stir sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl, until sugar is almost dissolved. Set aside until you make the cupcakes.
Make Cupcakes
- Line a standard muffin pan with 12 paper liners and set aside. Pre heat oven to 350° F or 177° C.
- Add flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add butter and sugar into another medium bowl and beat with a hand held electric beater on high, for about 2 minutes or light and fluffy. Add eggs and lemon zest, beat for about 30 seconds, until thoroughly combined.
- Add ⅓rd the flour mixture, beat on low speed, until just combined. Beat in the half the milk, and then half the remaining flour mixture, then beat in the remaining milk followed by the remaining flour. Don't overmix.
- Divide batter evenly into the prepared 12 muffin cups and bake for 20 to 23 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes clean.
- Remove pan from oven and place on a wire rack. Immediately, using a pastry brush, gently brush the lemon drizzle evenly on top of the hot cupcakes and let cool completely. Make sure to use all the drizzle.
Make Lemon buttercream
- Add butter and 2 cups confectioners sugar into a large bowl and beat with a hand held electric beater, on high, until light and fluffy (2 to 3 minutes).
- Add remaining confectioners sugar, lemon jest, juice and salt and continue beating, until light and fluffy (1 to 2 minutes). Tip: If you like a stiffer icing for piping, then use more confectioners sugar.
- Transfer buttercream into a large piping bag with a decorating tip (I used Wilton4B) and frost swirls on top of cooled cupcakes. Garnish with lemon slice, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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