Not only does this recipe for Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes look stunning but they taste amazing too. They are bright and sunny while being so easy to make.
The recipe starts with a cake mix so it is really simple. You can make this cupcake recipe with very little effort, but no one will guess.
They look so pretty that everyone will think you spent hours. I also love to make Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes, Margarita Cupcakes and Red Velvet Cupcakes.
Table of contents
Why we Love this Cupcake Recipe
- Fun to Make – The colors of this cupcake is perfect for any summer BBQ’s. The yellow and red makes for a crowd pleasing cupcake.
- Simple Ingredients – This cupcake recipe starts with a cake mix, which makes it easy to prepare this recipe.
- Flavorful – The combination of strawberry and lemonade mix makes for a delicious cupcake.
Ingredients
- White Cake Mix. I don’t recommend substituting this for yellow or a different flavor. The white cake mix results in the perfect color once blended with the other ingredients.
- Frozen Strawberries in Sugar. Make sure to use the type in sugar.
- Butter. Use real butter!
- Powdered Sugar. Sift to remove any lumps.
- Sweetened Lemonade mix. The recipe uses the sweetened variety.
- Chewy Lemonheads candy. This is for topping and makes the cupcakes look adorable.
Find the complete ingredients for this recipe at the bottom of the page.
Substitutions and Additions
- Frosting – We used a buttercream frosting, but you can also frost the cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting.
- Lemon – Add lemon zest or lemon juice to the cake mix or frosting for extra lemon flavor.
- Change the Cake – Feel free to use a different cake or make homemade cake. A strawberry cake mix or a lemon cake mix would be a delicious change. We like using a cake mix as there is no need for granulated sugar or baking powder.
- Topping – You can easily change the topping on this cupcake. Add a lemon slice to the side of the frosting for a refreshing treat.
How to Make Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
- Step 1 – Heat Oven – Go ahead and preheat your oven while you get ready to start mixing the cupcakes.
Step 2. Mix the dry ingredients together. First, stir the cake mix, dry jello and lemonade mix together.
Step 3. Next, puree the strawberries. Once, I know I am going to make these cupcakes, I go ahead and let the frozen strawberries thaw. You can then easily put them in a food processor to puree.
Step 4. Next, add the strawberry puree, eggs and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients.
Step 5. Make sure the wet ingredients and dry ingredients are mixed together until really smooth.
Step 6. Fill the cupcake liners with batter. Then bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 7. While the cupcakes cool, make the frosting. First, cream the butter in a medium bowl using medium speed. You can use a stand mixer if you prefer. Add in Powdered Sugar and Lemonade mix. You want to do this slowly, so the powdered sugar doesn’t go all over.
Step 8. Keep mixing and adding water until everything is combined together and the icing is the consistency you want.
Step 9. Next, put the icing into a piping bag. I love these Wilton throw-away bags because cleanup is so easy.
Step 10. Pipe the icing on to each cupcake.
Step 11. After you finish the icing, I love to dust each cupcake with white sanding sugar. Then top with a lemon head candy. You can also cut a fun paper straw and add that to the cupcake too. This is all optional but really makes the cupcakes look adorable.
How to Decorate Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
After preparing the strawberry buttercream icing, place it in a piping bag or a Ziploc bag. Use a piping tip, to swirl the icing on the cupcake. We like to stick a colorful straw in the cupcake and top it with a lemonhead candy.
You can easily use strawberry frosting or other types of frosting to top the cupcakes. A lemon slice or fresh strawberries would also be perfect topped on the cupcake as well.
Pro Tips
- Strawberries – To prepare the strawberries for this recipe, I like to go ahead and let them thaw in the fridge overnight. This makes it easier to puree in the food processor.
- Cookie Scoop – We recommend using a cookie scoop to scoop the cake mix into the muffin pan.
- Combining Ingredients – Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Make sure the ingredients are combined thoroughly until smooth.
- Cool Cupcakes – We recommend cooling the cupcakes on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. The cupcakes can be prepared ahead of time and then frosted.
Storage
Strawberry Lemonade is best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and not left at room temperature. These cupcakes will last about 5 days if stored properly.
These cupcakes are perfect to prepare ahead of time. You can easily prepare and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
How to Freeze Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes can be placed in the freezer. We recommend freezing the cupcakes and then frosting when you are ready to serve. Store in a freezer safe container and they will last about 3 months.
More Easy Cupcakes
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Lemon Cupcakes
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Cupcake in a Jar Recipe
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Pink Champagne Cupcakes
Easy Cupcake
Unicorn Cupcakes Recipe
Go ahead and make this adorable cupcake recipe today. Please leave a star rating and comment!
Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 box White Cake Mix
- 1 box Strawberry Jell-O
- 2 tbsp Sweetened Lemonade mix
- 16 oz thawed package Frozen Strawberries in Sugar
- 3 Eggs
- 1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
For the Frosting and Serving:
- ½ cup Butter
- 6 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1/4 cup Sweetened Lemonade mix
- 2 tbsp Water
- Chewy Lemonheads candy for topping
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Stir together Cake mix, dry Jello and 2 tbsp lemonade mix.
- Puree strawberries.
- Add strawberries, eggs and vegetable oil to dry ingredients.
- Mix until smooth and blended.
- Place liners in cupcake pan and fill 2/3 to ¾ full.
- Bake about 20 minutes.
- Allow to cook completely.
For the Frosting and Serving:
- Cream butter in a medium bowl.
- Slowly add in the powdered sugar and ¼ cup lemonade mix. Add water as needed, until everything is incorporated and frosting is right consistency.
- Transfer icing to piping bag or zippered bag and clip corner to pipe.
- Ice tops of each cupcake and top each cupcake with a Lemonhead candy.
