Who can resist the delightful combination of strawberries and lemonade? Imagine that delightful flavor in the form of a cupcake! Strawberry lemonade cupcakes with cake mix are the perfect treat for any occasion, combining the sweetness of strawberries with the tangy zest of lemons for a refreshing and indulgent dessert. And the best part? You can easily make these delectable cupcakes using lemon cake mix, making the baking process a breeze. We topped each lemon cupcake with a strawberry buttercream with a hint of lemon for the perfect Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes recipe.

Whether you’re hosting a summer bbq, a birthday party, or simply craving a sweet treat, these strawberry lemonade cupcakes are sure to be a hit. With the convenience of a cake mix, you can whip up a batch of these cupcakes in no time, and the delectable flavor combination will have everyone coming back for seconds. So, if you’re looking to impress your friends and family with a delightful and easy dessert, look no further than these strawberry lemonade cupcakes with cake mix.

How to Make Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes with Cake Mix

Ingredients:

Lemon Cake Mix + the water, oil, and eggs from the back of the box instructions
Freeze Dried Strawberries- these will give our frosting the strawberry flavor!
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
Powdered Sugar
Heavy Cream
Vanilla
Lemon Zest
Fresh lemon wheels or strawberries for topping

Directions:

Step 1 : Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, prepare lemon cake mix according to box directions.

Step 3: Pour cake batter evenly into cupcake liners, and bake according to the time given on the box, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, make your frosting.

Step 4: Start by adding the freeze dried strawberries to your food processor and grind into a fine powder. Set aside.

Step 5: In a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed with your hand mixer until smooth.

Step 6: Add the powdered sugar and strawberry powder to the bowl and mix until combined.

Step 7: Add vanilla, lemon zest, and 3 tbsp. of heavy whipping cream and mix until frosting begins to form.

Step 8: Keep adding heavy cream, 1 tbsp. at a time until the desired texture is reached. The frosting should be spreadable but firm enough to stand up on a cupcake.If the frosting isn’t firm enough, you can add powdered sugar 2-3 tbsp. at a time.

Step 9: Once the cupcakes are done, frost the cooled cupcakes and top with ¼ lemon wedge and a slice of strawberry.

Enjoy!

Make sure leftover cupcakes are stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Lemon Strawberry Cupcakes Tips & FAQs

When making lemon strawberry cupcakes, there are a few tips to ensure the best results.

First, make sure to use a good quality cake mix to enhance the taste of the cupcakes.
Adding a thin lemon slice on top of each cupcake not only adds a decorative touch but also infuses a burst of citrus flavor. You could also top with a fresh strawberry, or a sprinkle of lemon zest.
To achieve a light and fluffy texture, be sure to properly mix the batter and avoid over-mixing.
After baking, allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Can I use fresh strawberries in the frosting instead of freeze dried?

The moisture content of fresh strawberries is going to be way too high for this recipe. The easiest way to make a delicious strawberry frosting is with freeze dried strawberries.

How long do cupcakes have to cool before frosting?

They should be completely cooled, otherwise you risk your strawberry buttercream frosting melting right on the cupcakes.

Do these cupcakes need to be refrigerated?

Yes! There is dairy in the frosting, so once frosted, any leftovers should be refrigerated.

Can I make strawberry cupcakes using strawberry cake mix?

Yes! You can do this same recipe with strawberry cake mix for more of a strawberry flavored cupcake.

Could I use white cake mix?

Yes! Absolutely, you can truly use any cake mix flavor you prefer. If you’d like a light lemon flavor you could add a bit of lemon juice in place of water to the white cake mix instructions.

We hope you love these Strawberry Lemon cupcakes. We love the simplicity of using cake mix for our cakes, and then getting creative like we did with the homemade strawberry buttercream frosting with a hint of lemon. If you try these sweet treats, let us know how it goes in the comments!

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You’ll also like these bright and festive Rainbow Cupcakes.

Yield: 24 cupcakes