When a baby shower gives you lemons, you make lemonade…and lots of other tasty treats too!
This past weekend I hosted a yellow and white baby shower for my best friend April and used lemons as part of the decor (if you missed it, you can find the details here. It turned out beautifully!) I found that it was much cheaper to buy a bunch of bags of real lemons than to buy fake ones (I’m talking a bag of 8 fake lemons at Michael’s was $12.99!)
What was I to do with all these extra lemons? I wasn’t going to throw them in the trash! So I decided to bake up a bunch of yummy desserts and make a big ol’ pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade! I will be posting the recipes one at a time, so be sure to check back in the next week or so for more!
Today I’m sharing these beautiful and delicious strawberry lemonade cupcakes. The lemon cupcakes are oh so easy to make and the strawberry buttercream frosting is whippy (is that a word?) and the perfect amount of sweet. The cupcakes are adapted from a box of white cake mix, but the other ingredients are different from what’s on the back of the box (don’t bake as directed on the box! Follow the instructions below.)
- 1 box white cake mix
- ⅓ cup oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- zest from 3 small lemons
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 small lemons)
- 2 cups chopped strawberries
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1.5 tbsp milk
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Sift cake mix into large bowl
- Add oil, sour cream and milk to cake mix and mix until smooth in a stand mixer with whisk attachment or with hand mixer
- Add lemon zest and lemon juice and mix until just combined (be sure to strain the seeds and lemon chunks out of the freshly squeezed juice before adding to cake mix.)
- Add eggs one at a time and mix well between each
- Fill cupcake liners ¾ full (about ¼ cup - these cupcakes do not rise much)
- Bake 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted
- Remove from oven and let sit for 2 minutes, then remove cupcakes from pan and let them cool completely before frosting
- Puree strawberries in blender or food processor
- Heat pureed strawberries in saucepan on low-medium heat until boiling. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and let sit until completely cooled
- Once strawberry sauce is cooled, strain into a separate bowl to remove chunks and seeds.
- In stand mixer beat butter until smooth and fluffy
- Add 1 cup powdered sugar to butter and mix well
- Mix in half of pureed strawberries
- Add another cup powdered sugar, then remaining strawberries, then final cup of powdered sugar, mixing well between each addition
- Add milk and continue to mix until frosting is the consistency that you want (the frosting will be whippy)
- Add frosting to piping bag with desired piping tip and pipe in circular motion onto completely cooled cupcakes (I used a 16 inch piping bag and a Wilton 1M Open Star piping tip)
You may also like:
Strawberry Icebox Cake
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
M&M Cookies Recipe
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yum! I am definitely putting these on my list to make this summer!
They are so so good! Let me know how they turn out!
Mine fell. they rose a little, but fell. anyone else experience this?
These were easy to make but took a little extra time. We’ll worth it! Delicious and a big hit!
I made them for Mother’s Day and a graduation celebration, they were scrumptious and much appreciated!
So glad you enjoyed them!!
Sounds delish! Probably a silly question but do you sift the powdered sugar and then measure or measure and then sift? Thanks!
I measure then sift!
These strawberry lemonade cupcakes look so fresh and summery! The tangy lemon with sweet strawberry frosting is irresistible. Would be a perfect treat alongside some KFC chicken menu PH for a fun snack combo.
These cupcakes look so fresh and perfect for summer, I love how the lemon flavor is kept light and balanced with that sweet strawberry frosting, it sounds like something everyone would enjoy and the instructions are really easy to follow too, definitely adding this to my list and I think it would taste even better with a good drink, I recently checked a helpful guide on the starbucks menu which has some nice options to pair with desserts like this
These look seriously tempting, the mix of soft lemon cupcakes with that fresh strawberry frosting feels just right for a light summer treat, and I like that the flavor isn’t too overpowering so it stays enjoyable with every bite, honestly something like this would be perfect for a small get together or even a chill evening snack, and if you’re pairing it with something savory as well, I came across the wendy’s menu which has some good options to go along with desserts like these
These cupcakes look really soft and refreshing, the combination of mild lemon with sweet strawberry frosting sounds super balanced and not too heavy, which I personally like in desserts, and the recipe feels simple enough to try at home without any confusion, definitely something I would make for a small gathering or weekend treat, and if anyone is planning to enjoy it with some savory food as well, I found the applebee’s menu quite helpful for checking out meal options to pair alongside desserts like this
These cupcakes look so light and flavorful, the soft lemon base with that sweet strawberry frosting sounds like a really nice combo that isn’t too overwhelming, which makes it perfect for any occasion, and I like how easy the steps are to follow so anyone can try it at home, definitely something I’d enjoy with friends or family, and if you’re thinking of adding something savory on the side, I recently checked the taco bell menu which has plenty of options to pair with treats like these
These strawberry lemonade cupcakes sound like such a bright and refreshing summer dessert idea. I really like how recipes like this balance sweet and tangy flavors—it always feels a bit nostalgic and homemade.
While reading through, it also made me think how people often switch between baking at home and quick food options on busy days. For those moments, I usually check Burger King discount codes
to save a bit on orders when I’m not cooking.
Really nice recipe inspiration overall.
These strawberry lemonade cupcakes look amazing! The combination of fresh lemon and strawberry frosting sounds perfect for summer gatherings. Thanks for sharing such an easy and delicious recipe. For anyone interested in food industry opportunities, I also found this helpful careers guide: https://daveshotchickenmenuu.com/careers/
The Applebee’s Skillets Menu provide an enticing array of hot, full meals as well as sweet treats from the dessert skillet line, all of which are served right from the skillet. Whether it is the Bourbon Street Steak Skillet or the Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp Skillet in the dinner line or the dessert options like the Sizzlin’ Butter Pecan Blondie Skillet, the key to these meals is ensuring that the customer’s taste buds as well as his or her belly are filled to satisfaction.
CAVA Kids is a kid-friendly version of their classic pita, which is slightly smaller than their classic pita to specifically fit small appetites. It’s filled with nutrients such as mild proteins, pita bread, which is soft, and veggies, which are also healthy and good to eat. Kids’ Pita is healthy yet tasty, which makes it a great meal for kids.
These Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes look like the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. The combination of fresh strawberry and zesty lemon makes them a refreshing dessert, especially for warm weather or special gatherings. I enjoy discovering creative baking recipes like this while also exploring food inspiration from the Qdoba Breakfast Menu and Jersey Mikes. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
I enjoy discovering creative baking recipes like this while also exploring food inspiration from the Jersey Mikes Breakfast Menu and Jersey Mikes. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
These Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes look like the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. The combination of fresh strawberry and zesty lemon makes them a refreshing dessert, especially for warm weather or special gatherings.