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Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

The warmer weather calls for light and seasonal desserts. These Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting check all the boxes for a flavorful Spring and Summer treat everyone will love. And it won’t have you spending hours in the kitchen preparing them either!

Prep Time
25 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes

Meet the Chef: Kimberlee Ho

Kim is the blogger behind Kickass Baker. She is a home baker, wife, mom of two beautiful girls, and an active seeker of a life in balance. Kim shares approachable baking recipes and tips for busy families like her own. Follow along at kickassbaker.com!

Servings

For Strawberry Puree

  • 1 cup (150 grams) Whole strawberries (fresh or frozen), washed and hulled 1 cup (150 grams) Whole strawberries (fresh or frozen), washed and hulled

For the cupcakes

  • Domino® Golden Sugar 1 cup (200 grams) 1 cup (200 grams) Domino® Golden Sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (12 grams) Lemon zest, from about 2 large lemons 2 tablespoons (12 grams) Lemon zest, from about 2 large lemons
  • ½ cup (113 grams) Unsalted butter, room temperature ½ cup (113 grams) Unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 large Eggs, room temperature 2 large Eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) Pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoons (10 ml) Pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ⅔ cups (200 grams) All-purpose flour 1 ⅔ cups (200 grams) All-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons (8 grams) Baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons (8 grams) Baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon (1 gram) Baking soda ¼ teaspoon (1 gram) Baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) Kosher salt 1 teaspoon (5 grams) Kosher salt
  • ½ cup (113 grams) Full-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt ½ cup (113 grams) Full-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup (59 ml) Whole milk ¼ cup (59 ml) Whole milk
  • ¼ cup (59 ml) Fresh lemon juice ¼ cup (59 ml) Fresh lemon juice

For the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup (227 grams) Unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup (227 grams) Unsalted butter, room temperature
  • Domino® Powdered Sugar 4 cups (480 grams) 4 cups (480 grams) Domino® Powdered Sugar
  • pinch Kosher salt pinch Kosher salt
  • 6 Tablespoons Strawberry Puree (prepared in step 1) 6 Tablespoons Strawberry Puree (prepared in step 1)
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare the strawberry puree for the frosting

Step 1

Place strawberries in a blender and puree until smooth; you should have about 1 cup of puree. Transfer strawberry puree to a small saucepan and place over medium heat; bring to a boil, stirring frequently so strawberries don’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook until puree is reduced by at least half, yielding about ½ cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely while you make the cupcakes 

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line 2 cupcakes pans with 14 cupcake liners. Set aside

Make the Lemon Cupcakes

Step 3

In a medium bowl, add Domino® Golden Sugar and lemon zest. Work the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingers to release the oils.

Step 4

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and lemon sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, then add the eggs and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until evenly incorporated

Step 5

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Turn the mixer on low and slowly add in sour cream and milk until there are no longer dry spots of flour. Stir in lemon juice just until evenly incorporated.

Step 6

Fill the cupcake liners ¾ of the way full. Bake for 5 min in the preheated oven then reduce temperature to 350ºF and bake another 10-12 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool in pans for 15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely while you prepare the frosting

Make the strawberry frosting

Step 7

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until light and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. With the mixer off, add in Domino® Powdered Sugar and salt. Mix on low, gradually increasing speed until just blended. Mixture will look dry. Add 6 tablespoons of the strawberry puree and vanilla extract into the butter sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until well blended and fluffy

Step 8

When cupcakes are completely cool, frost and serve

Additional Tip

Fresh or frozen strawberries can be used for the strawberry puree

Store frosted cupcakes in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If preparing the cupcakes ahead of time, store cupcakes at room temperature for up to 4 days and frosting separately in the fridge. Stir the frosting well before frosting the cupcakes