Lemon Cookie Cupcakes
It's been awhile since I made cupcakes!!!!
It was high time.
So I did us all a favor and not only made moist lemon cupcakes, I also smothered them in my favorite vanilla buttercream and then stuffed a lemony sprinkled cookie on top.
Yessss.
I mentioned it briefly on Monday, but we celebrated my mom's birthday last week. My mom who has made me a birthday cake every year for my whole entire life. Even when I wasn't here to eat cake with her.
When I was little I distinctly remember my mom totally slaving over a Cookie Monster cake. I don't know what inspired that -- my mom is not really a cake baker. Don't get me wrong; she can pull a cake off just fine. But she's not like me-- baking is not her happy place. So her effort was just that much more special. Some super mommy need to give me a fancy cake must have struck that year. And I appreciated every inch of that blue frosting.
We have a long standing tradition in our family. A tradition that starts with a box cake mix. Our family birthdays are all basically the same; we all get together, laugh at each other, eat a little, open presents, make the birthday boy or girl pose awkwardly for photos with each new item they open, stick candles in the baked from-a-box cake, sing very loudly, and then we congratulate the box-cake-baker on how amazing the cake is.
Birthdays are awesome.
I wouldn't have them any other way.
So obviously when I do the birthday cakes they are usually from scratch. Because I can. Because it's actually easier for me since I always have more flour, oil, and eggs than any normal person needs. But THIS CAKE, an ode to all our fun family birthdays with a box of funfetti and a can of rainbow chip frosting (ya'll don't even act like you don't love some funfetti with rainbow chip), is a box cake mix all dressed up. It's extra moist and delicious and I love it. And my mom loves lemon so now you understand.
- 1 recipe Lemon Funfetti Sugar Cookies (see note)
- For the Cake:
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 ( 3 ounce) package instant lemon pudding
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice + the zest of 2 lemons
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup sour cream OR plain Greek yogurt
- 4 egg whites
- For the Vanilla Buttercream:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- a pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (as needed)
- Pre-heat the oven to 350. Line a standard sized muffin pan with paper liners.
- In a large bowl whisk together the white cake mix, lemon pudding mix, and salt.
- Add the water, lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, vanilla, sour cream and egg whites.
- Beat on low for about 30 seconds. Then beat on medium speed, making sure to scrape down the sides, for about 2 minutes.
- Divide the batter into the prepared muffin pan-- fill each cup about ¾ of the way full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes. A pick inserted into the center will come out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
- To make the buttercream beat the softened butter with 2 cups of the sifted powdered sugar until smooth. Add the remaining 2 cups of sugar and beat for another minute. Add the salt, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of cream and beat until smooth. Add more cream if necessary to reach your desired consistency.
- Frost each cupcake generously and stick a cookie in the top of each.
How do you celebrate birthdays?
Happy belated Bday to your mama! And these look so good! The abundance of frosting ( a must!!) and the lemon with the funfetti with the soft cupcakes, mmmm, so good!
Hey Averie! Oh man. This frosting. You really can't go wrong with vanilla buttercream. I had lots of fun dressing up this cake mix!
Aww your Mom that's adorable!!! I love that baking is your happy place too! These cupcakes look awesome but when I got to the bottom and saw that cupcake cut it half I think drool fell from my lip lol I LOVE frosting and that is like the perfect amount of it...I want one Heather!!! DAMN YOU!!! haha jk
Hahahhaa. I love frosting, too!! Buttercream. YES. Also-- baking is your happy place too! I know it is! You are talented girl!!!!
Mmmmm...cookies and cupcakes!
These were so refreshing, lemony good. I loved them. That Cookie Monster Cake was a bear... much like all the cross stitch and crewel I did in year's past. I am not sure what was going on with me then, because I am not crafty. Cookie Monster was a moment I will remember, in all of its glory. These cupcakes rival those chocolate guiness ones....mmmm!
I loved my Cookie Monster cake!!! Wish I had that cake pan. Glad you liked the lemon cupcakes-- rivaling the Guinness cupcakes-- you must have thought these were good!
My mom always bought me the grocery store cakes, which was fine at the time because I was all about the frosting roses. I love homemade cakes, but I think doctored up cake mixes make some pretty awesome, moist cupcakes! These lemon cupcakes must taste amazing. The lemon cookie is just "icing on the cake" if you will.
I remember once my oldest asked me for a store bought Thomas the Tank Engine cake. I was CRUSHED. Doctored up cake mixes are awesome. By the Way-- I made your amazing Lemon Cupcakes (a doctored cake mix recipe) and they were a MAJOR hit. Everyone loved them like crazy. Mine did not get the cute little slivers of lemon on top though-- those were awesome. Thanks, Tanya!!!
This looks so yummy, I wish I had access to a working oven.island
Thanks Vivi!! https://www.sugardishme.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#
Oh my god, that cupcake is the epitome of moist. And delicious. Did I ever tell you that lemon cupcakes are my favorite? And that YOU'RE my favorite? Well, you are.
Also, cookies on top of cupcakes = WIN.
Coincidence!! You're my favorite, too!!!
These lemon cupcakes need to be in my kitchen again very soon! They were so moist and delicious... I think these are my new favorite 🙂
I will make you lemon cupcakes anytime!!!! Glad you liked them 😉
What are you doing to me!!! These look UH-mazing!
Thanks Marie!!!