Lemon Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Icing Recipes

LEMON-CREAM CHEESE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Beat first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer on low speed 1 min. or until dry ingredients are moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 min. Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Bake 21 to 24 min. or until toothpick inserted in centres comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese, butter and lemon juice in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition. Spread onto cupcakes.

LEMON CUPCAKES WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Line twenty-four 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Add flour mixture and buttermilk or sour milk alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in lemon peel and lemon juice (batter may appear slightly curdled). Divide evenly among prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in a 350° oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 5 minutes; remove from pans and cool thoroughly on wire racks.**.
• When completely cooled, pipe or spread with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Decorate as desired with additional piped frosting, edible flowers (pesticide-free), shaved white chocolate, and lemon zest. Store frosted cupcakes in a covered container and keep refrigerated. Makes 24 cupcakes.
• Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting: Finely shred 1 teaspoon lemon peel; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl combine two 3-ounce packages cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup butter, softened; and 1 teaspoon lemon juice; beat with electric mixer on low to medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, beating well. Gradually beat in 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cups additional powdered sugar to make frosting that is easy to spread. Stir in the lemon peel. If desired, tint some of the frosting with pink gel icing color for decorating.
• *NOTE: To make sour milk, place 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup, then add enough milk to make 1 cup. Let stand 5 minutes before using.
• **MAKE AHEAD: Freeze unfrosted cupcakes in a freezer container for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before frosting. The frosting can be made up to 3 days ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Set out at room temperature to soften enough to spread.

LEMON CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat cake mix with water, egg whites and oil. Add dry pudding mix and beat in a large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Spoon batter evenly into 24 paper-lined muffin tins.
• Bake 21-24 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, beat sugar, cream cheese, butter and lemon juice with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Frost cupcakes.

BLUEBERRY CUPCAKES WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place 24 paper baking cups in two (12-cup) muffin pans. Set aside.
• Beat butter and cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment at medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Beat in vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with sour cream on low speed, beating just until blended after each addition, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Gently fold in blueberries. Spoon or scoop batter into prepared baking cups, filling each about 2/3 full (about 1/4 cup batter for each).
• Bake in the preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in the centers comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the frosting beat cream cheese and butter with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and gradually add powdered sugar and beat well. Beat in zest and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, adding 1 teaspoon lemon juice if needed to reach desired consistency. Pipe or spread frosting onto cupcakes.

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES WITH LEMON ZEST CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 14 cupcake cups with paper liners.
• To make strawberry puree, pulse frozen strawberries in blender or food processor until evenly chopped. Add 2 tablespoons water, honey, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, and sugar. Blend until smooth.
• Beat cake mix, 1 cup water, eggs, and vegetable oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened; increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Beat lemon zest into batter. Fill prepared cupcake cups 2/3 full. Drop a spoonful of strawberry puree into the center of each portion of cupcake batter.
• Bake cupcakes in preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 18 to 22 minutes. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out clean. Let cupcakes cool for at least 30 minutes.
• To make icing, place cream cheese and butter in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in confectioners' sugar; blend in vanilla extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Refrigerate icing until cupcakes are cool enough to frost. Frost cooled cupcakes with icing.