Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes (Printable)
Moist cupcakes bursting with fresh lemon flavor and poppy seed crunch, crowned with tangy cream cheese frosting.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tbsp poppy seeds
03 - 1 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
05 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
10 - 2 tbsp lemon zest
11 - 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
12 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
13 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
15 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
16 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
17 - 1 tsp lemon zest
18 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
05 - Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined—do not overmix.
06 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
07 - Bake for 16–18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cupcakes in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well. Mix in lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt.
10 - Frost cooled cupcakes generously with lemon cream cheese frosting. Garnish with extra lemon zest or poppy seeds if desired.
# Tips from dashanddishes:
01 -
- The cream cheese frosting adds this tangy richness that balances the sweet cupcake perfectly
- These cupcakes stay moist for days unlike other recipes that dry out
- The poppy seeds add this delightful little crunch that makes every bite interesting
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are not optional here, cold butter and eggs will not incorporate properly
- Letting the cupcakes cool completely before frosting is frustrating but absolutely necessary
03 -
- Zest your lemons before cutting them, it is so much easier to hold onto whole lemons
- Brush the warm cupcakes with a little lemon simple syrup for extra moisture and lemon intensity