These simple lemon cupcakes with lemon buttercream frosting are a sweet zesty snack and great if you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. They're easy to make and perfect with afternoon tea too!

A few years ago one of my most exciting Christmas presents was a set of icing nozzles and piping bag. It wasn't exciting because I'd requested it but because it was so unexpected while at the same time the perfect present. At the time I wasn't much of a baker and it opened up a whole new realm of baking and cake decorating.
Do you get put off baking because you're not neat and tidy in the kitchen?
I'm not one of the tidiest or neatest people in terms of food presentation. Trust me, this is not an area I naturally excel in. I cook much more savoury food and unless I want to write the recipe up afterwards, I very rarely weigh or measure anything. I just throw in however much of something feels right.
When I first started baking I did follow recipes though. I was too scared to be inventive as I thought baking was too exact a science. Times have changed though and now I feel much more confident to drastically adapt recipes and really make them my own.
This lemon buttercream was perfect for testing out my new piping bag!
However, when I first received my piping nozzles I was firmly in a follow the recipe mode. These simple lemon cupcakes with lemon buttercream frosting were actually the first thing I made to test out my piping bag.
That was a few years ago and I still don't do a lot of piping but I do do much more baking. My two Little Spices love lemon flavoured cakes and I've made a few lemon recipes over the last couple of years such as this olive oil lemon drizzle cake and these dairy free lemon muffins.
My favourite baking book for beginners like me!
Neither of those lemony bakes are topped with lemon buttercream although they do both have a drizzle! You see, I normally try to make healthier bakes for my family but every so often I want to experiment. And that is what this recipe is. Well, an experiment in technique rather than in the recipe.
The recipe is from Step-by-Step Baking by Caroline Bretherton. This book used to be my go-to recipe book when I first started baking. I've made so many delicious things from it. If you're a beginner and want a baking book with easy-to-follow instructions then it's definitely a book I'd recommend.
How to make sure you get smooth buttercream
The two most important things to do are to use a food processor or kitchen aid and to sift the icing sugar. I've tried to beat the butter and icing sugar by hand but it is difficult to get it really smooth. Also, if you are making the lemon buttercream by hand, sifting the icing sugar first really makes this step easier.
Do you need to have perfect piping skills?
Not at all! Just look at my piping skills. They definitely still need improvement. As you can see, the lemon buttercream is not perfectly piped. It is however, totally delicious! The lemon cupcakes are deliciously moist and the lemon buttercream is smooth and zesty.
Tips to make the piping easier
If the buttercream frosting is at room temperature it will pipe more easily so if you make it in advance, make sure it is not too cold when you begin piping.
Hold the piping bag vertical pointing directly down onto the cupcakes.
Try to be confident and move the bag smoothly. Trust me, it does help - the first cupcakes I iced were much messier than these!
What are these lemon cupcakes like?
Well, I have written so much about piping the buttercream I've almost forgotten to tell you just how good these lemon cupcakes are! They are deliciously lemony from the lemon juice and the zest in the cupcake batter. Because they are in cupcake form they are just the right size for an individual sweet snack too!
Can you adapt this lemon cupcake recipe?
If you want to switch things up a bit why not make these with orange or lime instead? They'd be just as good.
If you're not a huge fan of buttercream then just top them with a simple lemon drizzle instead.

Recipe

Simple Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream
Ingredients
Ingredients for the lemon cupcakes
- 200 g plain flour
- 100 g unsalted butter softened and cut into cubes
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 200 g caster sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 150 ml milk
- 1 lemon zest and juice
Ingredients for the lemon buttercream
- 200 g icing sugar
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 1 lemon zest and juice
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180C
- Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl and then add the butter, the sugar and the salt. Mix together. I used my fingers, a bit like making pastry, until it was like fine breadcrumbs.
- In another bowl add the milk to the eggs and whisk together. Then add this mixture to the first bowl, along with the lemon juice and zest. Whisk everything together.
- Put the cupcake paper cases into cupcake trays and fill each one halfway with the mixture.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes at about 180C.
- Ideally use a kitchen aid to beat the sugar and icing sugar together. If you don't have one you can cream them together instead. Add a third of the icing sugar to the butter at a time. Add the lemon zest and juice and mix in well.
- When the cupcakes have cooled, either spread the icing on top or use a piping bag.
Notes
Nutrition
If you like these cupcakes how about one of these recipes?



Pin these simple lemon cupcakes for later!

Places I'm sharing these simple lemon cupcakes
Cook Once Eat Twice here at Searching for Spice
Alyssa
Hi Corina, thank you for sharing this easy and tasty recipe with us. It is easy to make and time saver cupcake recipe. Please keep posting this type of delicious recipes with us.
Corina Blum
Thanks Alyssa! I'm so pleased you like them - I love an easy recipe.
Lesley Garden
These look delicious, I love all baked goods that contain lemon.
Corina Blum
Thanks Lesley! Lemon is such a delicious fresh taste, isn't it? I'm sure I'll be making some more lemony bakes once spring arrives .
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
I adore lemon cake and these look like pure perfection!
Corina Blum
Thanks Kirsty! My children and I love lemon cakes too - anything citrusy really x
Sheila
This is a classic. It is so simple but very delicious. Lemon cupcakes are my go-to snack if I don't feel like having chocolates. Thank you for inspiring me to bake today because of this post.
Corina Blum
I think lemon flavoured bakes always feel lighter somehow. I'm so pleased I've inspired you to do some baking - there's no better compliment than that!
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
I love lemony bakes and your cupcakes look delicious! I have a confession to make, I have never ever used the piping bag (despite owning one) and when push comes to shove and the icing is required I plop it on and spread it over with a knife lol. The other thing is that my kids are not fans of any type of icing so we mostly have plain cupcakes. I must say though, they look so much nicer piped! I'll get that piping bag out one of these days 🙂 x
Corina Blum
Thanks Jo! I have to say I prefer cupcakes without icing and my daughter does too. She eats some but not all the icing. My son is the complete opposite. If there's icing on the cupcake, that's all he wants to eat! So it's probably best I don't ice them all the time x
[email protected]
I’m not the neatest at food presentation either! But you nailed these!
Corina Blum
Thanks Patrick!
Pam Greer
It looks good to me!! I don't even attempt piping!
Corina Blum
Aww thanks! I rarely attempt it although I do think if I tried it more I might get better at it!
Beth
I'm like you, mot too much a baker/ decorator. But I do love lemon flavored sweets and these cupcakes look perfectly moist and delicious!
Corina Blum
Thanks Beth! They are really tasty and it is nice to experiment every once in a while.
Sara / Don't Feed After Midnight
Yum! I'm a huge fan of lemon cake and these look amazing. I must admit that the piping scares me a little, cake decorating really isn't my forte but I'm keen to give these a try.
Corina Blum
Thanks Sara! I really enjoy cake decorating when I do it but no, it's not my strong suit either.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
These look perfect as lemon is my favourite cake flavour. Will definitely try these soon!
Corina Blum
I hope you like them! I think citrus flavours are delicious in all types of recipes.
Jacqui
I love lemon cakes in all their forms. These look so Pretty Corina. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare
Corina Blum
Thanks Jacqui and thanks for hosting!
jenny paulin
I need too improve my piping skills. I do the same swirl effect every time, and to be honest the it is a chocolate frosting, it can look a like a poo emoji LOL . I need to invest in some decent pipping sets I think!
anyway, your lemon cupcakes look lovely and I like Lemon in a cake, it is tangy and refreshing and always moist.
thank you for linking to #Bakeoftheweek xx
Corina Blum
Thanks Jenny! Yes it's lucky they're not chocolate flavour as a poo emoji might not be quite so appetising! LOL. Luckily no none at home minds if the piping isn't perfect x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
I'm a massive fan of lemon desserts and bakes Corina - that zesty hit is just so refreshing! And perfect that you've finished them with a swirl of lemon buttercream too - utter yum! Thankyou so much for linking up with #BakingeCrumbs
Angela x
Corina Blum
Thanks for hosting Angela! Lemon is such a great flavour for bakes and brilliant in buttercream too. x
JB
these look lovely and simple, I am cursed with a partner who can't have any kind of citrus zest but maybe I could sneak away a batch for myself!
Corina Blum
That's such a shame! My husband says he hates it if I put the zest in but as long as he doesn't see me do it he doesn't complain. I used to miss it out of recipes to make him happy but now I just don't tell him!
Sonia @ Arugula & Rocket
Wow these sound absolutely divine! Lemon drizzle cake has to be one of my ultimate faves, but I reckon these cupcake are going to give it a run for its money. Thanks for the great recipe !
Corina Blum
Thanks Sonia! I'm so pleased you like them - lemon drizzle cake is definitely one of my favourites too.
Caroline from Caroline Makes
I had some real disasters when I started piping icing, as it was always too runny! Yours have turned out really well. Thanks for entering Alphabakes - the round-up is now on Ros's site. Hope to see you in March!
Angeliqueca Roux
Yum! Will have to try this!! have the perfect idea already floating round my head, great inspiration.
Corina
Looking forward to seeing what you make.
Phil in the Kitchen
Looks delicious to me. I really enjoy piping things although I'm not claiming to be any good at it. I think it's a bit like making sand castles as a kid. Happily my wife puts up with my poor quality piping - fortunately she doesn't mind zest in cakes either.
Tandy
well done! I love using my piping bag even if I am not that good at it 🙂 Thanks for linking up 🙂
Couscous & Consciousness
I'm a somewhat tentative baker too. I'm also a "throw in however much of anything looks right" kind of cook - an approach that doesn't really produce good cake!! I love anything lemony so I know I'd love these little cupcakes - I think I would make the whole batch and freeze some - and I'm very impressed by your first attempts at piping. I'm sure you will have a lot fine practising.
Thanks so much for sharing these at Cookbook Sundays 🙂
Sue
bakingaddict
Fabulous entry to AlphaBakes! Thank you so much. I think the piping is really good for a first attempt... you should have seen mine! It does get addictive and you will be a pro in no time! Lemon cupcakes are one of my favourites 🙂
Brenda
Corina, I'm fairly new at that sort of thing too. I used to just slap frosting on my cupcakes any which way but then last spring I bought myself a few tips and bags and had a go at it. Cupcakes just seem to taste better when the frosting is piped on like that, lol! You did a great job and I'm warning you, it becomes addictive. I look for excuses to make cupcakes just to try my hand at decorating them. :o)