Lemon Frost Cupcakes
lemon cake + lemon-vanilla buttercream, crowned with a Lemonhead 🍋
Once upon a time I owned a little bakeshop called Frosting, and every single morning we made the Lemon Frost. I used to turn out 500 a day. Now? A batch of a dozen in my own kitchen — and it still tastes like a very good memory.
This is Episode 2 of my Lemon Series — baking my way back to Italy, one Sorrento-scented throwback at a time.
A few tips before you bake
Massage the zest into the sugar. Rub fresh lemon zest into the granulated sugar with your fingers until it's damp and fragrant — that releases the oils and is the whole flavor secret. Add lemon zest, obviously. 🍋
Use a real lemon extract. I swear by Nielsen-Massey Pure Lemon Extract — the best on the planet, and it's what gives these that bakeshop punch.
Low and slow. 300°F keeps them pale, tender, and moist — no domed, over-browned tops.
One heaping scoop per liner for that perfect bakery shape.
Room-temp butter and eggs blend smoother and fluffier.
Crown each one with a single Lemonhead — the finishing touch that makes it a Lemon Frost.
What I used
Nielsen-Massey Pure Lemon Extract → https://thekitchentable.surlatable.com/s/blondiebrownieboys/_/sku/546218
All my baking favorites → my Sur la Table storefront: https://thekitchentable.surlatable.com/s/blondiebrownieboys
Lemon Frost Cupcakes – lemon cake with lemon buttercream frosting
Preheat oven: 300 degrees
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Bake: 20 minutes
All-purpose flour | 7.5 | ounces |
Baking powder | 1.5 | teaspoons |
Salt | 0.5 | teaspoon |
Lemon zest | 1 | lemon |
Sugar | 5.25 | ounces |
Butter | 4 | ounces |
Eggs | 2 | large |
Vanilla extract | 1 | teaspoon |
Lemon extract | 1 | teaspoon |
Milk | 0.5 | cup |
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Zest one lemon into a bowl. Add granulated sugar to zest and massage with fingers until combined. Add butter and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla extract and lemon extract. Add to dry ingredients and slowly mix in milk.
*Note – use 1 heaping scoop of batter
Frosting
Butter | 4 | ounces |
Confectioners sugar | 16 | ounces |
Milk | 3 | Tablespoons |
Vanilla extract | 1 | teaspoon |
Lemon extract | 1 | teaspoon |
Accoutrement - 1 lemonhead candy
smiles + SONshine,
-SeaChelleB
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