Lemon Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

Did someone say spring is coming? I think that means we need something citrusy. Enter: my Lemon Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing.

Whenever we get back to sunny weather and longer days here in Sask, I can't help myself from baking anything fruity/citrusy. Also, I love any excuse to bake something.

These fluffy, sweet treats are the perfect amount of refreshing to transport you to a warmer, more sunny season!

Lemon Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 18-20 minutes

Cupcake Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 2 tsp vanilla

• 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp lemon zest

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• 1/2 cup whole milk

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

• 4 oz cream cheese

• 2-3 cups icing sugar

• 1 tbsp lemon zest

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 2 tbsp whipping cream

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Put cupcake liners in a 12-cupcake tin.

2. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer and medium bowl, add the butter and sugar to the bowl and combine. Add the eggs and vanilla and combine.

3. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the liquid ingredients and combine.

4. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and milk and mix until just combined.

5. Scoop the batter evenly into the cupcake liners.

6. Bake the cupcakes for 18-20 minutes, when the cupcakes are slightly golden on the edges and a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Cool the cupcakes completely, leaving them in the tin for the first 10 minutes and then place on a cooling rack.

8. To make the icing, whip the butter and cream cheese until completely combined on medium speed. Then, add a cup of the icing sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and cream at medium-high speed with the whisk attachment. Keep adding the remaining icing sugar until the icing reaches your desired thickness.

9. Once cupcakes have cooled, dip the tops of the cupcakes in the icing and place on a flat surface to allow the icing to set.

These cupcakes don't have you're regular consistency or amount of icing but I think they have the perfect sweetness to them.

Let me know if you try this out and be sure to send me a picture! Let me know down in the comments what your favourite spring recipe is?