• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Southern Kissed logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Privacy Policy
×

Home » Recipes » Small Batch Lemon Cupcakes Recipe

Small Batch Lemon Cupcakes Recipe

Published: Apr 14, 2021 · Modified: Jan 3, 2023 by Lynda · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe

Small-batch lemon cupcakes are just what you need to make when you don’t want a whole batcg of treats. This recipe is easy to follow and has the perfect amount of sweet citrus flavor that will please anyone who tries it! Serve these up with your favorite frosting or let them stand on their own.

Jump to:
  • 📝Ingredients
  • 👩🏻‍🍳How To Make Lemon Cupcakes
  • 📖 Recipe

There are days when you know you should NOT make a whole batch (2+ dozen) of cupcakes. The reasons may vary and you might be the only one who knows why, bless your heart. And then a little special someone wants a sweet treat. What’s a gal – or guy – to do? The answer is simple – make a small batch of lemon cupcakes.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

These sweet little treats aren’t made with lemonade, but they are light and delicious. The batter easily makes six cupcakes with enough leftover for you to lick the spatula. If you have lemons, you could add some fresh grated lemon zest to make them even better.

I love to top cakes and cupcakes with simple buttercream icing. (You can get my recipe by clicking here.)  My topping is not snow white because I prefer to use organic powdered sugar and real vanilla (which is BROWN). If you are really ambitious, you can make these babies with ALL organic ingredients.

📝Ingredients

For this easy cupcake recipe, you need the following ingredients:

  • ½ stick (4 tablespoon butter), softened
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoon milk
  • ¼ tsp lemon extract
  • ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
lemon cupcake ingredients

👩🏻‍🍳How To Make Lemon Cupcakes

The easiest way to make these is to use a stand mixer. However, you can definitely make them using a large mixing bowl. Start by whipping butter at medium-high speed in a mixer bowl. Add sugar and mix until creamy. Add egg, milk, and lemon extract.

In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture to wet ingredients at a slow speed until the batter is moist. Turn speed onto medium-high and beat until smooth.

lemon cake batter

Spoon into prepared muffin pan and bake for 20-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

cupcakes in a pan to be baked

Depending on the cupcake liners you use, the recipe will yield 4-6 cupcakes. A batch made four cupcakes using these stand-along cupcake liners.

baked lemon cupcakes

Allow the cupcakes to cool before decorating.

buttercream frosting in a mixer

Homemade buttercream is always a great option for topping these sweet treats.

📖 Recipe

Small Batch Lemon Cupcakes

Lemon Cupcakes are a classic favorite. These small batch treats are the perfect way to brighten up your day with the tart and tangy flavor of lemon. The cupcake recipe is great for those days that you know you do not need to whip up a whole box of treats.
4.59 from 31 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 4 cupcakes
Calories: 252kcal
Author: Lynda

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons milk
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon extract
  • ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Whip butter at medium-high speed in mixer bowl. Add sugar and mix until creamy. Add egg, milk, and lemon extract.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
  • Add flour mixture to wet ingredients at slow speed until the batter is moist.
  • Turn speed onto medium-high and beat until smooth.
  • Spoon into prepared muffin pan and bake for 20-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool before decorating.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information does not include any toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 165mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 439IU | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Share it Today!Mention @SouthernKissedBlog or tag #southernkissed!
lemon cupcake with buttercream frosting

These little treats are great at any time of the year, but especially so in Spring. You can top them with some shredded coconut that has been tossed with green food coloring and it will look like fresh new grass. For Easter, you could add a couple of jelly beans on top and serve them in small terra cotta pots.

Cupcake in flower pot

Hungry for more sweets? Check out these other dessert recipes on Southern Kissed:

  • Easy Peach Cobbler – Make this easy cobbler and top it with a scoop of ice cream for a sweet, semi-homemade dessert.
  • Ooey Gooey Butter Cake – Tastes just like Paula Deen’s famous cake that is served at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen in Pigeon Forge.
  • Mini S’mores Pies – These sweet little pies have the great flavors of campfire s’mores without the campfire hassle.
  • Lemon Cake Roll – A sweet, lemony cake is rolled with a layer of luscious cream and fresh blueberries. It’s like a springtime version of a Swiss Cake Roll.

More Get Cooking With Our Delicious Recipes!

  • Classic Arnold Palmer Drink
  • Southern Chocolate Gravy Recipe
  • Tequila Sunrise Recipe
  • Pommes Duchesse Recipe

Sharing is caring!

2423 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Yummly

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Talk To Us Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Beth says

    July 19, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    Hi Lynda! I made these wonderful lemon cupcakes a few days ago and they turned out absolutely wonderful 🙂
    I enjoyed them along with ermine frosting that I added lemon zest to. I didn’t have lemon extract so I subbed for zest and it turned out amazing!! This’ll now be my go to base recipe for all my small batch cupcakes.
    Thanks so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      July 20, 2020 at 10:47 am

      Thanks, Beth! I am so delighted that you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  2. Sana says

    April 18, 2020 at 6:14 am

    How many min if in microwave??

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      April 18, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      I don’t know. I have not tried it.

      Reply
  3. Zia says

    October 07, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    I’m so excited to try these!
    I don’t have lemon extract on hand, would I be able to use lemon juice in lieu of the extract? I am verrry new at making homemade cakes/cupcakes. Thank you for any advice.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      October 09, 2017 at 3:19 pm

      I don’t recommend it. Here’s an article from Chowhound that addresses it: https://www.chowhound.com/post/substitute-lemon-juice-lemon-extract-284486

      Reply
  4. Olesea says

    October 07, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    5 stars
    This is my to-go recipe. Easy, fast and not too many ingredients. Delishhh
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      October 07, 2017 at 8:43 pm

      Thank YOU! Your comment made my day.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Lynda and Johnny statue

My name is Lynda and I am a recovering sugar addict and travel junkie. I'm also a mom of two children & 2 dogs, wife of 1....and a messy cook taking life one bite at a time.

More about me →

Chicken 🐓 Recipes

  • Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Clone Recipe
  • Southern Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini
  • Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup
  • Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
  • Cajun Chicken Recipe

See All Chicken Recipes

Popular Recipes

  • Quick and Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
  • How To Make Alabama White Sauce
  • Paula Deen’s Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
  • The Best Brown Sugar Glazed Meatloaf Recipe

Footer

↑ back to top

ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

COPYRIGHT © 2021 SOUTHERN KISSED