Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Servings

Yields 24-30 cupcakes, depending on size

Ingredients

CUPCAKES

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 4 teaspoons grated lemon zest*, or zest from 2 lemons
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup lemon juice (juice from 2 large lemons)
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups plain yogurt

FROSTING:

• 2 Sticks butter
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 Tablespoons Sour Cream
• 3 1/2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice (Approximately juice from 1 large lemon)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 7 cups of powdered sugar

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add lemon zest, vanilla, and lemon juice; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with yogurt (batter will be thick!). Mix just until combined, do not overmix. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes (in my convection oven) or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. I didn’t write down my mini cupcake cooking time, but if my memory serves me right, I think it was around 15-16 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
2. For frosting, cream butter in a small mixing bowl, until the consistency of whipped cream. Add softened cream cheese, and beat until smooth. Add sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla. Beat on high until smooth. Add additional powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, if frosting is too runny.
3. Frost cupcakes. I use either a piping bag, or a ziplock freezer bag. Sometimes I bother with a decorative tip, but usually I don’t. I personally find that it is easier to pipe the frosting on cupcakes, than to use a knife. I also prefer the way the piped frosting makes them look. If you aren’t sure what I am talking about with “piping” frosting, take a look at this very brief video.
4. Optional: grate additional lemon zest on top of cupcakes, for garnish.

*If you are not familiar with lemon zest, it is the outer, yellow, part of the peel. I use a small grater, and just grate off the outside. The white portion of the peel is bitter, so you are just wanting the yellow.

I am frequently asked, “How far in advance can I make cupcakes?” For this recipe, I was pleasantly surprised how moist these stayed, even 2 days later, likely due to the yogurt. If you are going to do these a day ahead, make sure they are in an airtight container. If I were serving these to others, I probably would do them no more than the day before. Another option for making them in advance is to freeze them. I have done this a week ahead of time, without any compromise of quality. You want them sealed in an airtight container, or a freezer bag. To keep the frosting from getting messed up, freeze them for at least 1 hour, uncovered, before putting them in the container/bag.

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Changing tunes a bit to a more personal note, we had absolutely fun-filled weekend and a few pictures to share. The weather last week started off amazing, but it was apparently only a tease. We enjoyed a few 70 degree, sunny days. The gorgeous weather reminded me of old California home. The wind was howling, and the girls entertained themselves in our backyard trying to fly their Barbie kite. It is so refreshing to be able to send the kids outside to run off some energy. Sadly, by the end of the week we had snow on the ground again. Crazy Kentucky weather!

Caroline was ecstatic about having Mimi and Gramps visit for the weekend, and attending her school Spring Carnival. The weather was not very springlike, but it didn’t keep them from having a great time. The highlight of the carnival was face-painting, and Carter had us all laughing. He looked at himself in the mirror over and over, each time cracking himself up as if it were the first time he saw himself as a “puppy”.

This picture was taken earlier in the week, as I was working in the kitchen. I heard great laughter, and turned the corner to find this. Carter and Lucy usually play really well together, but I especially loved it when they used their imaginations, finding great joy in a simple cardboard box that was set out for the trash. These days, bubble wrap and cardboard boxes seem to bring more excitement to my kids than any toy I could buy them. If only that would last!