Happy Spring, cupcake lovers! Glory of Glorious Treats here with an easy and delicious recipe perfect for welcoming spring! Lemon is such a bright and fresh flavor and these cupcakes can be adjusted to your tastes to include a little or a lot of lemony goodness. The perfect yellow polka-dot cups are available from The TomKat Studio Shop.

Vanilla- Lemon Cupcakes

For the cake– Bake up a batch of Vanilla cupcakes using your favorite box mix or recipe.  If desired, add 1-2 teaspoons of freshly grated lemon zest to the batter.

Filling (optional)-  If you love lemon (like I do!) cut out cone shaped hole in the top of the baked cupcakes and fill with 1-2 teaspoons of lemon curd.  Lemon curd can be bought next to jams and jellies at most any grocery store.  I used (this) delicious homemade lemon curd.

Frosting– (recipe below)

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe by Glorious Treats)

This is  a variation of my favorite Cream Cheese Frosting.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 (8 oz.) package (block) cream cheese

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:  In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter (while still cool) until smooth.  Add (cold) cream cheese and continue to beat until fully incorporated and smooth.  Add powder sugar, one cup at a time, while the mixer is running.  Continue mixing and add lemon zest, vanilla and lemon juice.  Mix an additional 30 seconds, until smooth, light and fluffy.  Frost cooled cupcakes.

If you’re not confident piping frosting on cupcakes, I have shared a post here on The Tomkat Studio and also a post (and video) on my blog, Glorious Treats on how to frost cupcakes. Also, be sure to check out the TomKat Cupcake Decorating Kit, which includes the tip I used for frosting these cupcakes!

Have a SWEET week, friends!