With spring upon us (at least for some of us), I thought it was the perfect time to share one of my all-time favorite cupcake recipes. If you read my Chocolate Covered Key Lime Pie post, you’ll know that my husband and I love the flavor of limes. Of course, that would mean that we also love lime cupcakes! Having had my own home-based cake business for several years has made me a bit of a cake snob. I can’t stand don’t like the artificial flavoring you find in some cakes and cupcakes. I once paid three dollars for a “margarita” cupcake that had zero margarita and all artificial lime flavoring. It tasted like a green Life Saver and it took hours for me to get that taste out of my mouth. I’m totally okay with green life savers. Just not in a cupcake.
These cupcakes are baked with lime juice, lime zest and then are brushed with a lime simple syrup. I made them for a BBQ this past weekend and one of my cousins admitted that he doesn’t really like cupcakes, but he loved these. You don’t normally think of a cupcake as being refreshing, but these totally are! They’re perfect for a spring party, Easter, Mother’s Day, etc. Sometimes I even like to make them with coconut buttercream frosting for a tropical twist:) All cupcake recipes say to fill the liners at 2/3 full. The easiest way that I’ve found to do this is with an ice cream scoop {affiliate link}
. Not only does it save you from accidentally over or under filling your cupcake liners, but it makes the whole process go super fast!
- For the cake:
- 4 oz (1 cup) cake flour
- 4 oz (1 cup) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/8 tsp baking powder
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter (softened)
- 10 1/2 oz (1 1/2 cups) granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup egg whites (about 4 eggs)
- 6 oz (3/4 cup) whole milk
- 1 tbsp lime zest
- 1/2 tbsp lime juice
- Simple Syrup:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 sticks unsalted butter
- 4 oz (1/2 of a bar) cream cheese
- 1 lb powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.
- Add the vanilla extract, lime juice, and lime zest and mix until combined.
- Pour in the egg whites and mix until thoroughly combined, scraping the bowl afterward.
- Alternately add the flour mixture and milk, scraping between additions. Do not overmix.
- Line muffin tins with cupcake liners and fill 2/3 full with the batter.
- Bake for 16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely.
- While the cupcakes are baking, make the simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then immediately remove from heat to let it cool. Once cooled, pour in the 1/4 cup lime juice. Poke the cupcakes a few times with a toothpick and then brush with the simple syrup. I usually brush them two times.
- For the frosting, combine the butter and cream cheese in a mixer and slowly add the powdered sugar. Alternately add the milk 1 tbsp at a time until desired consistency. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes. If desired, top with more lime zest. Enjoy!
You can find me linking up over at these parties:
Tatertots and Jello, Put A Bird On It, Play. Party. Pin., The NY Melrose Family, Just a Girl and Her Blog, The Happy Housie
Those look sooo good!
Amanda Michelle recently posted…Thursday S.T.Y.L.E. Link Party #11
Thanks Amanda! They are definitely habit forming;)
Oh these look so dangerous! Yum! Pinned 🙂
AngelA @ life in velvet recently posted…Lightning Crafts – Teacher Appreciation
Thanks Angela!
Yum! Limes are my favorite – probably because of Margarita’s 🙂 And I second your recommendation to use that ice cream scoop for the cupcakes. I have two sizes and use them for everything! Cookies, cupcakes, even putting waffle batter in the waffle iron.
Melissa @ aprudentlife recently posted…Thursday S.T.Y.L.E. Link Party #12
I never thought of the waffle iron! That’s brilliant! I use it for chocolate chip cookies too. Then they are perfectly round:) I agree, limes and margaritas are some of my favorite things!
YUMMMMMMMMMMM!! This look great!
Sonnet @ SohoSonnet Creative Living recently posted…SohoSonnet Partnership with Mint Bridal!
Thank you Sonnet! They’re super yummy! I’m making some more this weekend;)