Sweet, citrusy, and perfect for spring celebrations! Ingredients:
For the cupcakes: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon lemon zest ½ cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons pink lemonade concentrate (thawed if frozen) For the frosting: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 3 ½ cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons pink lemonade concentrate 1–2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk Pinch of salt Pink food coloring (optional, for added vibrancy) For decoration: Pastel sprinkle balls or nonpareils in yellow, pink, and blue
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with pink or festive paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix in the pink lemonade concentrate. Add the flour mixture in two additions, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined. Divide the batter evenly into the cupcake liners, filling each about ¾ full. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting. For the frosting, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in pink lemonade concentrate, cream, and salt until the frosting is light and fluffy. Add pink food coloring if desired. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes using a star tip for a tall swirl. Decorate immediately with colorful sprinkle balls so they stick to the frosting.
Decoration Tips:
Use a Wilton 1M piping tip to get the perfect tall swirl on top of each cupcake. Chill the frosting slightly before piping for firmer peaks that hold their shape. Add a few drops of pink food coloring to intensify the lemonade color and match pastel themes. Stick to pastel sprinkle balls for a cohesive spring or Easter look, and sprinkle them right after frosting. For a fun touch, place a thin lemon wedge or candy lemon slice beside or on top of the frosting. Store cupcakes in a cool spot and frost the same day for the freshest appearance and flavor. Happy Baking. #pinklemonade #cupcakes #cake #lemoncake #cakerecipe #easterrecipes #dessert
