Sometimes we just don't have a whole lot of time to bake. Life is busy, priorities pile up and baking can take the back seat. However, there is something lovely about bringing a fresh baked treat to a holiday gathering, to a friend's house or to the kids' school bake sale. That's exactly why I love these last minute lemon cupcakes.
All you need is a box of vanilla cake mix and a couple of lemons (okay, you have to make the icing...but still that's pretty easy). The fresh lemon elevates your average boxed cake mix into a baked good that everyone will love.
Last Minute Lemon Cupcakes
Box of vanilla cake mix
2 lemons
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups icing sugar
1 tablespoon milk
edible decoration/candy
Mix the cupcake batter according to the package instructions. Stir in zest of 1 lemon and 2 tablespoon of lemon juice.
Bake cupcakes according to the package instruction. Set aside to cool completely.
Combine butter, icing sugar, milk, zest of 1 lemon and 1 tablespoon lemon juice with a mixer. Beat until the icing sugar has completely dissolved and the icing is smooth. You may need to add more icing sugar, depending on the thickness of the icing.
Ice and decorate the cupcakes as you like.
The next time you run out of time to get your baking done, skip the bakery section of the grocery store...instead grab a box of cake mix and create something really special. Switch things up and use lime or coconut...why not? What flavours would you try? It is really easy to take something so simple and make it beautiful and delicious.
