Pink Lemonade Cupcakes Recipe - Super sweet and pretty in pink these amazing cupcakes are moist and tender. Everyone's favorite they are bursting with fresh lemon flavor!
If you're a big fan of lemons, be sure to try this heavenly no bake lemon icebox pie recipe next, it's so easy to make and just delicious!
Jump to:
What makes this recipe irresistible
These super moist cupcakes have the perfect balance of sweetness and tangy lemon flavor. Pretty in pink, they are the perfect cupcakes for your summer parties, birthday-gathering, brunch, or baby shower!
This ain't no cake-mix recipe! They are made from scratch and will certainly satisfy everyone's sweet tooth!
Ingredients you'll need
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla
- salt
- soda
- strawberry yogurt
- lemons
- powdered sugar
- pink or red food dye and sprinkles (optional). If you don't have the dye, use grenadine to color the frosting instead!
- cupcake liners
Creative variations to try
- Fill the center of cupcake with lemon curd - it will be the most fluffy, moist lemon cupcake!
- Add tart raspberries or strawberries puree in the frosting! Just adjust the amount of powdered sugar accordingly.
- Candy lemon slices make a pretty garnish!
Step-by-step instructions
This is an overview of the instructions for the pink lemon cupcakes recipe. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom!
- Preheat the oven.
- Mix together the dry ingredients, set aside.
- Add cupcake liners to the muffin tin.
- Using a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.
- Add the eggs, vanilla
and yogurt mixing well. - Next add the dry ingredients in two batches, mixing well between each addition.
- Finish by adding the lemon juice.
- Spoon batter into cupcakes liners and bake 18-22 minutes.
- For the frosting
- Cream the butter for two minutes.
- Add one pound of powdered sugar, salt and the juice of one lemon.
- Add heavy cream a tablespoon at a time until the frosting is the correct consistency.
- Place the buttercream frosting in a piping bag and frost the cooled cupcakes.
- Add sprinkles - tuck a lemon slice for garnish, enjoy!
Essential tools for this recipe
- hand mixer or electric mixer
- muffin tin
- pretty pink cupcake liners
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
Several ingredients help keep cupcakes moist - eggs, yogurt, sour cream, butter and pudding mix all help keep cupcakes tender and moist.
Don't overmix the batter! Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Pink frosting is often strawberry, but in this case we're going to add a little lemonade and use pink food coloring or grenadine. That will also give it a pink hue.
Top Tip
Here's a trick I've learned from all of my volunteer baking. Freeze the cupcakes after baking when they are still slightly warm. Surprisingly enough, freezing the cupcakes before they are completely cooled will seal in the moisture and help keep them more tender!
- Use fresh lemons - Meyer lemons are preferred, and regular lemons work too.
- Plan ahead and allow the eggs and butter to come to room temperature.
- Using an ice cream scoop to fill the muffin tins liners halfway. This will ensure all the liners are evenly filled and they will bake uniformly!
- Don't overmix the batter.
- Preheat the oven well.
- Zest the lemons for even more flavor. Add the lemon zest to the frosting and batter.
- Cool cupcakes completely before frosting!
How to store leftovers
Refrigerate - store cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freezer - cupcakes can be stored and frozen up to three months. If they are already decorated, freeze them individually first. Then, when the cupcake(s) are frozen, wrap them well and return to the freezer.
More recipes you'll love
If you love sweets, you've came to the right place! Here are more delicious desserts you and your family will love!!
- Better Than Sex Cake - you'll definitely want to give this a try, it's unbelievably moist and delicious. Perfect for a party or potluck.
- Strawberry Shortcake - learn my shortcut for the easiest strawberry shortcake - so sweet and good!
- Banana Pudding Cupcakes - topped with chantilly cream, these will satisfy your sweet tooth!
- Chocolate Bundt Cake - another favorite for the chocolate lovers!
Still looking to satisfy your sweet tooth? Check out 43+ Pink Party Food Ideas! Thanks for reading! If you try this AMAZING recipe, I'd love it if you left a comment below!
Pink Lemonade Cupcakes
Equipment
- 1 muffin pan
Ingredients
- For the Cupcakes
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3 cups sugar
- 5 eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup strawberry yogurt
- 1 lemon juiced
- For the Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 pounds powdered sugar
- 1 lemon juiced
- pinch salt
- 2-3 tablespoon cream or whole milk
- optional garnishes - lemon slices, yellow straws, sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- Mix together the dry ingredients flour, salt, and baking soda - set aside.
- Add liners to the muffin pan - set aside.
- Using the paddle attachment on your mixer, cream the yogurt, butter, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until combined.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Next, add the flour mixture and lemon juice, a little bit at a time, alternating and in a couple of batches. Scrape the bowl of your stand mixer with each addition. Mix until completely combined.
- Using an ice cream scoop, fill the liners with cupcake batter ¾ of the way full.
- Bake 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
For the pink lemonade buttercream
- Add the butter to the blender, cream well for two minutes, scraping down the sides once.
- Next add the powdered sugar, salt and lemon juice and begin mixing slowly. If you're using food dye, add it now along with the cream a tablespoon at a time until the frosting is the correct consistency.
- Add the pink lemonade frosting to a piping bag and frost the cupcakes.
- To decorate, slice a lemon and quarter it. I used a toothpick to secure to the side of the cupcake. A straw cut into thirds finishes the decorations
Notes
Love this recipe? Join the free membership group!
Nutrition
Recipe backstory
Did you know June 13 is Cupcake Lovers Day? Yup! It's true!
That means I'm doing some baking and Dan's a happy guy - you know how he loves his sweets! Whether it's Minnie Mouse Cupcakes or Meyer Lemon Curd the man is always looking for a sweet ending to a meal. 😋
Man knows what he likes!
I've been working on these cupcakes for a while and so he's been doing some sampling.
When he came home tonight I had just finished photographing these amazing treats. He said, those are really pretty honey, are they for a foster family? (Because I do so much baking for Cake4Kids).
I said no, sweetie these are all for you! His smile said it all.
Amy B says
This was truly the best thing I have ever baked in my life. I followed your recipe. The only change I had to make was adding a few more tablespoons of cream to the frosting. I added edible glitter at the end!
Bowl Me Over says
How wonderful Amy, that makes my day! 😊 I'm so glad you enjoy these delicious cupcakes and the edible glitter? I bet they are gorgeous! I'd love to see a picture!!
Amber says
How much vanilla do I use for what?
Bowl Me Over says
I'm sorry Amber, I just corrected the recipe card, It's one teaspoon vanilla. Thank you!
Carrie Ann Provenzale says
When do you add yogurt?
Teri@The Freshman Cook says
Yum, yum, yummy! These sound perfect and are beautiful! I love the tip about keeping the cupcakes moist after baking! I can't wait to try these!
Bowl Me Over says
Enjoy Teri! They are fantastic!! Thank you for stopping by!
Nat says
Oh Wow! These cupcakes look so perfect!
Bowl Me Over says
Yum, yum, yum, thanks Nat!!
Samantha says
These are so summery! How perfect for this season!
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you Samantha!!
Nichi - The Mandatory Mooch says
My family would love these! Super cute for summer!
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Nichi, I hope you give them a try!!
Cindy says
Pink lemonade sounds like a grat idea for cupcakes! I'm loving those little straws!
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Cindy, they just dress up these cupcakes!
Tania says
This is like summer in a cupcake! I love this flavor and the idea! I should make these for my next pool party 🙂
Bowl Me Over says
Most definitely Tania, they will be a huge hit!
Carlee says
What beautiful cupcakes and I love pink lemonade. I need to make these asap!
Bowl Me Over says
One recipe of cupcakes.... stat! 🙂 Seriously though, I hope you love them as much as we do Carlee!!
Heather @ Join Us, Pull up a Chair says
These cupcakes are almost too pretty to eat!
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you Heather!!
Angela Paris says
YUM! These look SO tasty, and pretty, too 🙂
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you Angela!!!
Hezzi-D says
I like that you use yogurt in the cupcakes. It always keeps them moist.
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Hezzi! You're so right, the yogurt makes them so moist, they really don't even need frosting!
Hannah Lewis says
These look amazing! Seriously so perfect for any summertime gathering. I can't wait to make them!
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Hannah - I hope you really enjoy them!!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
These are so fun and pretty, and perfect for summer! Thanks for the tip on freezing cupcakes to lock in the moisture. I freeze cupcakes sometimes when I'm making them in advance for an event, but never thought that would have the added benefit of keeping the cupcakes from drying out! Brilliant!
Bowl Me Over says
You're welcome Leanne, thank you so much for visiting the blog!!
Karen says
Such beautiful cupcakes! Love the color of the frosting and the straws!
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Karen!
Valentina | The Baking Fairy says
These cupcakes are SO super cute! I love the pink lemonade flavor profile! And great tip about freezing cupcakes... I usually do that for my layer cakes, but have never thought to do the same for cupcakes. I will have to give it a try! Thank you so much for participating! 🙂
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you so much! This has been so much fun, thank you for putting together such an AMAZING event!!!
Camilla at Culinary Adventures says
What beautiful - and delicious, I'm sure - cupcakes! Thanks for sharing them today. I can't wait to try them.
Bowl Me Over says
You are so welcome Camilla, I hope you really enjoy these cupcakes!!!
Wendy Klik says
Simply gorgeous and I love the flavor profile.
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you so much Wendy!!!
Simply Inspired Meals says
These are really beautiful, such bright colors. And pink lemonade is a fun summer flavor for cupcakes.
Bowl Me Over says
Most definitely, thank you so much for stopping by!!