Skip to main content

Lemon-Lime Cupcakes

What are the very best spring cupcakes?

These lemon-lime cupcakes are one of my favorite cupcake treats.  I love them any time of year, but the lemon-lime flavor is especially perfect for spring.

Lemon-Lime Cupcakes with Lemon-Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

(This post contains affiliate links that compensate me when you buy.) 
Lemon-Lime Cupcakes

The cupcakes have a subtle lemon-lime flavor from both lemon zest and lime zest and a little added juice from the lemon and lime.  You can add a little more juice if you prefer, but I like the hint of citrus flavor.
These cupcakes were created after I sampled a lemon-lime whoopie pie on a trip to Portland, Maine. I loved the flavors so much I decided to recreate them in a cupcake.

The Reasons You Will Love These Lemon-Lime Cupcakes

The lemon and lime flavors in this cupcake are fresh and bright.  They are delightful for spring parties, Easter, and birthdays.

You'll get lemon and lime flavors in both the cake and the frosting. The cream cheese frosting is speckled with both lemon and lime zest then flavored with a little more juice from the lemon and lime. Taste the frosting as you go to achieve the level of citrus flavor you want. One teaspoon of each juice is a good place to start.
Lemon-Lime Cupcakes

These cupcakes are perfect as both traditional-sized cupcakes and as minis.  Both sizes work well. 

You'll find the cake to be moist and dense.  This is a cupcake with some substance.  

These cupcakes freeze very well. That makes them perfect treats for bridal and baby showers where you might want to make them in advance.

After making a batch of the cupcakes, decorate them with the frosting and then freeze them on a sheet pan. Once frozen, wrap them individually with plastic wrap and package them in a zip closure freezer bag. They will keep beautifully.

Tips for Lemon-Lime Cupcake Success

Lemon-lime Cupcake Ingredients
Lemon-Lime Cupcake Ingredients
Use vegetable oil as indicated in the ingredients,  The vegetable oil contributes to the texture of the cupcakes.
You'll notice this recipe uses both all-purpose flour and cake flour. This mixture of flours also contributes to the texture of the cupcakes.
Use a scoop to measure the batter into your cupcake tins.  This will ensure your cupcakes will be consistent in size and will bake uniformly.
These cupcakes don't brown when baking. Use a toothpick inserted in the center to determine doneness.


The Essential Baking Tools for This Recipe:
Cupcake Tin
Cupcake Liners
A Mixer
A Scoop
Decorating Bags and Tips


How to Make Lemon-Lime Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Line the muffin pan with cupcake liners. You might want to use some fun spring cupcake papers or these for a bridal shower.

In the bowl of your mixer add the vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and lemon and lime zest.  Mix for about two minutes at medium-high speed.  Beat in the lemon and lime juices, and the eggs, one at a time. 

Beat for about two more minutes making sure the batter is well-combined.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flours and the baking powder.  Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture alternating the flour and milk, ending with the flour.  Mix until blended, about thirty seconds.

Using a scoop to keep your cupcakes consistent in size, scoop the batter into the prepared pan.  The batter will be thin. You'll fill each cup about 2/3 full.

Use and Ice Cream Scoop

Use a Scoop for Consistency

Bake for 16-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake, comes out clean.  This took 16 minutes in my oven. 

These cupcakes will not brown, so don't use sight as a measure of doneness.

The Baked Lemon-Lime Cupcakes
The Baked Lemon-Lime Cupcakes

These cupcakes dome nicely.  Cool completely and top with lemon-lime cream cheese frosting.

How to Make the Lemon-Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

Lemon-Lime Frosting Ingredients
Frosting Ingredients
Blend the butter and cream cheese together until well blended.  Add the lemon and lime zest. 

Add the confectioner's sugar and the lemon and lime juice.  Mix together until smooth and well blended.

Fill a pastry bag with a large decorative tip 2/3 full with frosting.  I use a large glass to stabilize the pastry bag as I fill it.

Using a Pastry Bag Makes Frosting Easy
Using a Pastry Bag Makes Frosting Easy

Pipe the frosting on the cupcakes.  If you find the frosting to be a little soft, pop the cupcakes into the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes.

Lemon-Lime Cupcakes for a Party
Lemon-Lime Cupcakes Ready for a Party

Other Lemon Recipes You Will Love



Lemon Yogurt Cake
Lemon Meringue Tarts recipe makes individual mini pies.
Lemon Pudding Cakes are single-serving cakes, too
Lemon Frosted Sugar Cookies
spring cupcakes, lemon cupcakes, lime cupcakes cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
dessert
American
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Author: Donna Urso
Lemon Lime Cupcakes

Lemon Lime Cupcakes

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 40 Min
The fresh, bright flavors of lemon and lime make a delightful spring cupcake.

Ingredients

Lemon-Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the muffin pan with cupcake liners.
  2. In the bowl of your mixer add the vegetable oil, sugar, salt, lemon, and lime zest. Mix for about two minutes at medium-high speed. Beat in the lemon and lime juices, and the eggs, one at a time.
  3. Beat for about two more minutes.
  4. In a separate bowl whisk together the flours and the baking powder. Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture alternating the flour and milk, ending with the flour. Mix until blended, about thirty seconds.
  5. Using a scoop to keep your cupcakes consistent in size, scoop the batter into the prepared pan. The batter will be thin. You'll fill each cup about 2/3 full.
  6. Bake for 16-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake, comes out clean.
  7. These cupcakes will not brown, so don't use sight as a measure of doneness.
  1. Blend the butter and cream cheese together until well blended. Add the lemon and lime zest.
  2. Add the confectioner's sugar and the lemon and lime juice. Mix together until smooth and well blended.
  3. Fill a pastry bag with a large decorative tip 2/3 full with frosting. I use a large glass to stabilize the pastry bag as I fill it.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

393.08

Fat (grams)

18.06

Sat. Fat (grams)

7.11

Carbs (grams)

56.38

Fiber (grams)

0.96

Net carbs

55.42

Sugar (grams)

41.51

Protein (grams)

3.62

Sodium (milligrams)

170.49

Cholesterol (grams)

59.21

Nutrional information is approximate.









Thanks for sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Yum!

Enjoy!

Comments

More Popular Posts

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect.

How to Kill Ants in Your Home

Simple Homemade Ant Bait That Works If you’ve ever had ants show up in your kitchen, you know how quickly a small problem turns into a big one. This simple homemade ant bait uses just three ingredients and works by eliminating the colony, not just the ants you see. No sprays. No guesswork. Just a method that actually works.

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

These old-fashioned whoopie pies are soft, chocolatey, and filled with a rich, creamy filling, just like the ones many of us remember. This is a true New England-style recipe. If you’re looking for a true whoopie pie recipe—the kind made in New England with a cooked filling—this is it. Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling – no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe (Soft cakes & Creamy Filling) This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a luscious, creamy filling.  While their ...

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

An Old-Fashioned Cookie That Always Turns Out There’s something about a good gingersnap cookie that just feels right. Not fancy. Not complicated. Just dependable… and really, really good. These crunchy, spicy gingersnaps are the kind of cookie you make when you want something you know will turn out—and something everyone will recognize and enjoy. They’ve got that classic crackled top, a warm blend of spices, and just enough sweetness to balance it all out. And the best part? They’re easy. No mixer required. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links.  I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner.  It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation.

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

Calla Lily Tea Sandwiches

These calla lily tea sandwiches are an easy way to create something truly special for a bridal shower, tea party, or small gathering, without making things complicated. One look at these calla lily tea sandwiches and you might think they are far too fussy for you to make for your special gathering.   Fear not! These calla lily tea sandwiches are adorable, tasty, and not too fussy once you get your assembly technique down. Best of all, these calla lily finger sandwiches make a beautiful presentation on your buffet table. Calla Lily Finger Sandwiches (This post includes affiliate links.) Calla Lily Tea Sandwiches If you are looking for finger sandwiches that are a little different, you have found them here. These calla lily sandwiches are a perfect little bite to add to your party menu.  They are especially perfect for bridal show...

How to Deal with Carpenter Bees

One of the things I like least about this time of year is the pests.  I'm talking about the insects and critters that wreak havoc with my home and garden. The pest of the month is the carpenter bee.  Last month the battle was with ants and in April, we were fighting the annual infestation of winter moth caterpillars that are trying to kill my beautiful weeping cherry tree.  Those battles seem to be behind me and for now, the focus is on the pesky carpenter bees. You might be wondering what the heck a carpenter bee is.  I never even knew they existed until a couple of years ago.  You can see the backside of one in the picture below.  They might be mistaken for a big bumblebee, but their abdomen is shiny black in comparison to the fuzzy abdomen of the bumblebee.  You'll often see them hovering in the air around the roofline of your home.  If you see them, you'll want to pay attention.  They may take up residence in your home. Th...

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can surely bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookie Recipe What are old-fashioned date-filled cookies?   Old-fashioned date-filled cookies are a nostalgic, soft sandwich cookie featuring two rounds of tender sugar cookie dough with a sweet, homemade date jam filling in the center.  This vintage 1930s recipe is a traditional holiday favorite, prized for its soft texture and the perfect balance of buttery dough and naturally sweet dates. This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932, so this...

How to Doctor Up Store-Bought Potato Salad

Here's a potato salad time-saver for you just in time for summer cookouts. You'll love how you can transform grocery store potato salad so easily no matter whether you are hosting a BBQ or bringing a side dish for a summer barbecue. There's no judgment here. We don't always have the time to make a potato salad from scratch. Sometimes it is just easier to stop by your local grocery store to pick up a container of store-made potato salad. It's good. It's predictable.  It will do.  All it needs is a little doctoring. How to Make Store-Bought Potato Salad Better When you need a quick potato salad and have no time to make one from scratch, that ordinary store-bought potato salad you have in your refrigerator can go from blah to amazing in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. Yes, you can improve store-bought potato salad.

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

If you have fruit flies buzzing around your kitchen, you want them gone—fast. This simple homemade fruit fly trap uses just two ingredients you probably already have, and it works within hours. No chemicals. No special equipment. Just a quick fix that actually works. The Best Homemade Fruit Fly Trap (Works in Hours) Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance. This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years, and it works every time.