Though it may still be winter why not get that summery feel we all crave and make a batch of these irresistibly delicious Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes? These cupcakes will have you imagining you are sitting on a tropical beach somewhere with the sun shinning on your face or on an afternoon picnic with the warm breeze on your face sipping a glass of vibrantly flavored pink lemonade.
I used the same method for this frosting as I did with my Strawberry Buttercream Frosting. I’ve found the best way to get that fresh berry flavor in frosting is to concentrate it by letting the berries simmer over the stovetop to reduce the excess water in them, because with frosting you really can’t add much puree or you’ll get soup instead of frosting. Another great way to get a bold flavor in a frosting is to use dehydrated fruit and real fruit extracts, I just prefer the flavor of the fresh versus the dried. The amazing thing about this frosting is that I didn’t use a drop of food coloring and it’s probably the most gorgeous color I’ve ever gotten in a frosting.
This recipe is one I will definitely be using again! My family loved these cupcakes! I mean how could we not, what is not to love here? A moist lemon cupcake topped with a fresh raspberry buttercream frosting and fresh raspberries, yes please!
Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes
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Yield: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup cake flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest (zest of 2 medium lemons)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp lemon extract (optional, for slightly stronger lemon flavor)
- 1/4 cup + 3 Tbsp buttermilk
- 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Simple Syrup
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp sugar
Raspberry Buttercream Frosting
- 1 (heaping) cup fresh raspberries
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , nearly at room temperature
- 1/4 cup salted butter , nearly at room temperature
- 2 3/4 - 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 24 fresh raspberries , for topping
- Lemon wedges , for topping
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift all-purpose flour and cake flour into a mixing bowl. Add baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk 20 seconds, set aside.
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In a food processor, pulse together 3/4 cup granulated sugar with lemon zest until finely ground, about 1 minute. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter with lemon sugar mixture until pale and fluffy (if you don't have the paddle attachment that constantly scrapes bowl, then occasionally throughout entire mixing process, stop mixer and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl). Mix in egg, then mix in egg whites one at a time, adding in vanilla (and lemon extract if using) with second egg white.
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In the liquid measuring cup used to measure buttermilk, whisk together buttermilk and lemon juice. Working in three separate batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture alternating with 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture and mixing just until combined after each addition. Divide batter among 12 paper lined muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean, about 18 - 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool several minutes in muffin tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Meanwhile prepare simple syrup.
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For the simple syrup:
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In a small bowl, whisk together 1 Tbsp lemon juice with 1 Tbsp granulated sugar until sugar has dissolved. Brush mixture over warm cupcakes (use all of it, about 2 light coats over each cupcake). Allow cupcakes to cool completely, meanwhile prepare raspberry puree and allow to cool.
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For the frosting:
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Puree raspberries in a food processor until well pureed then force through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl to remove seeds (you should have 6 - 7 Tbsp puree). Heat mixture in a saucepan set over medium-low heat until reduced by half (to 3 - 3 1/2 Tbsp). Cool completely (speed chill in freezer).
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In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter until very pale and fluffy. Mix in 1 cup powdered sugar then mix in reduced raspberry puree and vanilla. Add remaining powdered sugar and mix until light and fluffy (if an even stronger raspberry flavor is desired you can add in 1/4 tsp raspberry extract, or to taste).
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Add one raspberry to top of each cupcake then pipe frosting over raspberry and top with another raspberry and a small lemon wedge (and straws for decoration if desired, I cut mine into thirds. Mint leaves are also optional). Store in an airtight container.
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Recipe source: Cooking Classy
Renee @ Awesome on $20: I love the color you got on that frosting. I want to dive into it. February 4, 2015 at 11:24pm
Meriem @ Culinary Couture: You make the best cupcakes! January 27, 2015 at 11:31pm
Jaclyn: Thanks Meriem :)! January 28, 2015 at 9:11am
Laura (Tutti Dolci): These are the prettiest cupcakes, just gorgeous! January 26, 2015 at 10:27pm
Jaclyn: Thanks Laura :)! January 27, 2015 at 10:19am
Shari Kelley: These are so pretty, Jaclyn! You always come up with the best flavor combinations. January 26, 2015 at 5:51pm
Jaclyn: Thanks Shari :)! January 26, 2015 at 7:49pm
June Burns: Such cute little cupcakes! Love the fresh raspberries in the frosting :) January 25, 2015 at 3:36pm
Kathleen @ yummy crumble: These turned out incredibly beautiful. The fact that you didn’t use food coloring is amazing! Raspberries have always been my favorite fruit to bake with ;) January 25, 2015 at 2:15pm
Averie @ Averie Cooks: You make the most beautiful cupcakes and these are just fabulous! They’re so springy and cheerful and instantly put a smile on my face! January 25, 2015 at 1:26pm
Jaclyn: Thanks so much Averie! I’m slightly cupcake obsessed :). January 25, 2015 at 4:28pm
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet: I can’t wait for spring and these cupcakes definitely look spring-y! Love the buttercream! Gorgeous! January 25, 2015 at 1:07pm
Jaclyn: Thanks Anna! January 25, 2015 at 4:28pm
Claire: These were so good! I loved the flavor, it my frosting ended up tasting off. I have never liked to use unsalted butter in buttercream frosting, but I did anyway. Big mistake. May 15, 2017 at 3:25pm