Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes are a family favorite. I guess you know by now that my family is crazy for cupcakes! These babies are right up there next to Citrus Cupcakes with Citrus Buttercream Frosting and REESE’S Cream Cheese Swirled Brownie Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting. Those are the top 3 reigning cupcakes at my house.
Sometimes I make the strawberry lemonade cupcakes from scratch. Actually, once upon a time, I snubbed cake mixes like the plague. Now, I add a teaspoon or two of homemade pure vanilla extract and no one ever guesses I started with a mix.
For my Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes, I added a teaspoon of vanilla and 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice. I always use applesauce in place of the oil or butter that cake recipes call for. Just use the same amount of apple sauce as oil and you’re good to go. It will be our little secret.
For the frosting, I use my go-to cream cheese frosting. I add in 2/3 cups finely diced strawberries and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. You can also add a couple drops red food coloring if you want your frosting to be pink.
- 1 strawberry cake mix
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup apple sauce
- 3 eggs (I have accidentally left out the eggs before and the cupcakes turned out perfectly)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Frosting:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 3-4 cups confectioners' sugar
- ⅔ cup finely diced strawberries
- Mix cake according to package directions, replacing oil with applesauce and adding lemon juice and vanilla extract.
- Pour batter into cupcake liners and bake according to directions on the cake mix packaging.
- Frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until well blended. Add powdered sugar, a cup at a time, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Add diced strawberries and mix on slow until blended.
- Frost cupcakes.
I don’t use a pastry tip to pipe the frosting on because bits of the strawberries clog up the tip. Don’t ask me how I know. I used a pastry bag without the tip and swirled away. You can spoon it on as well. It’s all good.
What’s your favorite cupcake?
Mmmm, what an awesome flavor for cupcakes. I can’t wait to make these. The kids are going to LOVE them.
We are big fans of all things strawberry in our house! These would vanish so fast! I like your applesauce tip. Good to know.
Shirley Wood recently posted…20 Clever Uses for Your Vacuum Attachments  Plus Enter to Win a Bissell PowerForce Helix
Sounds so easy and looks delish as always!! I don’t know that I have a favorite cupcake, but we have tried many. My kids love them whenever I make them. If I had strawberries and a box cake on hand, I would surprise them by trying this one. I like the idea of adding applesauce and leaving out the eggs (optionally). I also love your tip about adding vanilla. Last time, I made a cake I did this but had no vanilla so I used lemon extract for a lemon flavor.
Zan recently posted…Homemade Fruit & Nut Granola (and a simple kids version)
These are just so pretty, especially with the pretty papers! I love any berries in baking and I bet these are so tasty.
Bella B (xoxoBella) recently posted…Rowena’s Inn on the River…with Mom
Oh wow how cute do they look and be they taste absolutely delicious as well. x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Win a ClaireaBella with ToxicFox
These sound amazing and I love that you cheated by using a cake mix. This is my type of cooking!!!
Tori Gabriel recently posted…Bus Babys, Biddies and Buses – Oh My
I need some of these in my life! I really like that flavor combo. It’s perfect for springtime!
These look just delicious. Anything with lemonade I’m all for! Cupcakes? Yes please what a unique flavour!
Not only do these look wonderful and tasty but beautiful as well! I will have to give these a try 🙂
Brittany recently posted…DIY Wood Slice Art
Those sound and look amazing! I love those cupcake cups you used, too!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication recently posted…New Product Review – Minerva Dairy Butter
Well there goes my diet! LOL! You always post the best recipes, I can’t wait to try this one!
Erin recently posted…Branding + Branding Identity {and why you need both}
I was sold on this recipe after reading the title! This sounds like a great Spring cupcake flavour.
These are beautiful! I love those cupcake liners. What a fantastic flavor idea for spring and summer. I can;t wait to spring these on my family and friends. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai recently posted…Peanut Butter Raspberry Smoothie Recipe
I’ve never tried this kind of cupcake before, sounds delicious! I’ll have to make this soon, thanks for sharing : )
Eloise recently posted…Home Decluttering Guide (Guest Writer)
Red Velvet is hands down my favorite cupcake! These are so pretty and sound delicious! I think I need to check out that Reeses recipe as well!
These look absolutely too pretty to eat!!! I can just imagine how delicious these are…I make macerated strawberries in the summer and always add some fresh lemon or lime juice and the flavour is amazing!
Bites for Babies recently posted…Grain-Free Sweet Potato Brownies
These look beautiful Alli. I’ve made strawberry lemonade cupcakes before using Countrytime Lemonade. So good!
I’ve been eating loads of strawberries this Spring and this is a recipe I just might have to add to my must have sweet list. I like that it’s so easy.
Thanks for sharing.
Celeste |The Whole Serving recently posted…Roasted Tomato Avocado Toast
This is the perfect combo for Spring! They look absolutely delicious!
Hey, Alli! Just wanted to let you know that we loved your Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes so much when you shared it at the #HomeMattersParty last week, we’ve FEATURED it THIS WEEK! Hope you can check it out when you get a sec! Happy weekend!!! http://lifewithlorelai.com/2016/05/05/home-matters-linky-party-85/
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai / Home Matters Linky Party
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai recently posted…Home Matters Linky Party #85