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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Recipe

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
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!
Kelly Anthony says
These sunny lemon cupcakes with strawberry frosting having me craving sunshine and all things summer.
Katie says
I love the use of real fruit that give that bright flavor! Such a delicious treat!
Tara Pittman says
These cupcakes sound so delicious. I wish I had the ingredients to make them as today is my birthday
Chris Collins says
Lemon Cupcakes are my absolute favourite kinda cupcake and your version looks totally delish!!
Lisa Lotts says
How cool that you use jell-o in these beautiful cupcakes. That’s a new trick for me, I’ll have to try it out!