Lemon Cupcakes brighten ANY day with tangy, sweet, sunny lemon flavor. This recipe is a box mix hack you’ll love. Topped with real Strawberry Frosting for a taste of summer.
Lemon cupcakes bring cheer into any day.
The bright, sunny color and flavor make everyone happy!
Add some easy homemade strawberry frosting on top and you’ve got summer in a cupcake.
This box mix hack is fun to make with regular or gluten-free cake mix!
Lemon Cupcakes
Calling all lemon lovers! Moist, tangy, sweet lemon cupcakes are always a winner.
AND you don’t need lemon cake mix to make them.
In fact this cake box mix hack is even better than lemon cake mix.
Transform easy-to-find yellow cake mix into a delicious dessert treat with a few little ingredients:
Fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and lemon gelatin (yes, Jell-O, not pudding) make these cupcakes taste baked from scratch.
No one will ever guess how easy they are to make.
This is a perfect solution when lemon cake mix is not easy to find.
Strawberry Frosting
Strawberry Frosting is my favorite frosting of all time. It’s made with real strawberries!
Using strawberries, versus strawberry flavoring, gives the frosting an authentic flavor that’s fresh and delicious.
Ingredients
- Yellow Cake mix (regular or gluten-free)
- Lemon Gelatin Dessert mix (Jell-O brand or equivalent)
- Lemon Juice
- Lemon Zest from 2 Lemons
- Eggs as called for in the cake mix
- Oil as called for in the cake mix
- 1 batch Real Strawberry Frosting
Lemon Zest
Always zest the lemon before juicing it.
I love this zester for fast zesting of any citrus fruit.
Lemon Juice
If possible use fresh lemon juice for this cupcake recipe.
PRO TIP: place the lemon in the microwave for 10 seconds to yield more juice.
I prefer juicing lemons with a hand held juicer.
Halve the lemon and squeeze then flip the lemon half to the other side and juice again for more juice!
If fresh juice is not possible, use a bottled juice NOT from concentrate for the best flavor results.
Making Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcakes
I’m not sure if gluten-free lemon cake mix is even available. I used this yellow gluten-free cake mix for my lemon cupcakes.
How to Make Lemon Cupcakes – Step-by-Step
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to the time listed on the cake mix. Line a muffin pan with baking liners.
STEP 2: Pour the cake mix and any ingredients called for on the mix into a mixing bowl (photos 1-2).
STEP 3: Add the lemon juice, lemon jello mix and lemon zest (photos 4-6); stir to combine.
STEP 4: Fill the molds as directed on the cake mix. Bake and cool as directed on the cake mix.
STEP 5: Once the lemon cupcakes have cooled completely, frost them with Strawberry Frosting.
How to Store
Frosted Cupcakes – In the Refrigerator
If frosted, these cupcakes will need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Place in a firm container (vs a bag) with a lid. Store for 4-5 days.
Allow to warm at room temperature before eating for best flavor.
Storing Unfrosted Cupcakes
At Room Temperature
The unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.
NOTE: in hot or humid climate, store them in the refrigerator.
In the Refrigerator
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
In the Freezer
After fully cooled, the unfrosted cupcakes can be placed in an airtight container and stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More Lemon Recipes You’ll Love
- Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
- Lemon Cheesecake with Lemon Oreos Crust
- Lemon Pound Cake with Blueberry Swirl
- Luscious Lemon Pie (no bake)
- Nana’s Lemon Bars
Try these Cupcake Recipes too!
- Banana Cupcakes & Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
- 4th of July Cupcakes
- Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes for Easter
- Shortcut Margarita Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Lime Frosting
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Sunny Lemon Cupcakes with real Strawberry Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 Yellow Cake mix (I used Pillsbury’s Gluten-Free Yellow Cake mix)
- 1 3- ounce box Lemon Gelatin Dessert mix (Jell-O brand or equivalent)
- ¼ cup Lemon Juice
- Zest from 2 Lemons
- Eggs as called for in the cake mix
- Oil as called for in the cake mix
- 1 batch Real Strawberry Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to the temperature called out in the cake mix. Line cupcake pan with wrappers (tip: I use double wrapper so any oil from the cupcakes are absorbed by the inner wrapper leaving the outer wrapper spotless).
- Follow the cake mix directions to prepare adding the lemon juice, jello mix and lemon zest into the mix. Fill the cupcake molds as directed on the cake mix box and bake according to the mix directions. Allow to cool completely.
- Frost with the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting.
Notes
Nutrition
Lemon Cupcakes are moist, tangy and sweet!
Originally published: September 4, 2016
Lyanna Soria says
That lemon cupcakes look absolutely delicious! As well as the interesting combination of lemon and strawberry flavors. I’d love to make these with my kids.
wilhelmina says
Strawberry and lemon are such a classic comb and it works perfectly in these cupcakes! They are like taking a bite sunshine, so yummy!
Sandra says
These are really fun and delicious dessert! My kids loved them!
Claudia Krusch says
They look so delicious! Such a great Spring treat! I can hardly wait to make it!
Cathy says
This is the perfect flavor combination, and I love that the frosting is made with real strawberries!
Suzy says
Such a great idea doctoring up cake mix! Makes it super easy to make super tasty cupcakes!
Gust si Aroma says
I can’t resist to these lemon cupcakes. They are amazing!
Catalina says
These lemon cupcakes look amazing! I only can imagine how tasty they are!
Eileen M Loya says
One thing I have been doing differently during this quarantine period is that I do a lot of baking now. I like your cupcake recipe. I will make a big batch to give to my sister for her birthday this coming Tuesday. I am not confident yet in making cakes, but I can make nice cupcakes now. I am sure my sister will be happy to receive the tasty treats!
Toni Dash says
I think many of us are baking more right now Eileen. This is definitely a great place to start u til you are feeling confident about cakes!
Susan says
I’m all about tangy lemon desserts… it’s my fav flavor. And I love the idea of stopping with strawberry icing. I must make these.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
These Lemon Cupcakes are mouth watering!
Vikki says
Wonderful easy recipes for delicious cupcakes! I love this frosting
Kita Bryant says
These cupcakes look so pretty! Using real fruit for the icing is a great touch too!
Fatima Torres says
I love the combination of flavors in these cupcakes. Never thought to mix the two. Great idea!
Kimberly says
Lemon-strawberry is one of my all-time favorite combos and that real strawberry frosting really takes these over the top!
Kathy says
These look so amazing. I need to make these soon. I think my daughters would really enjoy these. They love helping make cupcakes.
Sherry says
I love lemon desserts, especially in the warmer months. I can’t wait to try your frosting.
Myrah Duque says
Looks so good! I love both lemons and strawberries, so this is definitely a fantastic combination for me!
Amy says
I love all things lemon. Adding a flavor like strawberry is delicious! They pair so well.
Celebrate Woman Today says
LEMON is my favorite flavor. I can have a lemon dessert any time. Yours is so colorful!
Heather says
If you asked my 10 year old to come up with her dream cupcake, this would be it. Her two favorite flavors in one delicious bite.
Lisa Joy Thompson says
Lemon is such a perfect spring flavor! And the combination of the tart lemon cupcake and the sweet strawberry frosting looks amazing!
Trang says
Oh gosh! This cake mix hack is wonderful. I seriously did not know you could make lemon cupcakes from yellow cake mix until now and no one would ever know it was from a box. Frosting is a winner!
Alisha says
Love the tangy with the sweet. Such a great mix of flavors!