These lemon poppy seed cupcakes have a light and fluffy lemon cupcake base filled with poppy seeds and citrus flavor then are topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting!
More springs treats we love include lemon raspberry cupcakes, lemon cake mix cookies and lemon poke cake.
Table of Contents
Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
I bake alot of cupcakes, but these lemon poppyseed cupcakes are definitely some of my favorite that I have ever made. They’re so light and fresh, every bite is perfection! Some of my other top picks are these apple pie cupcakes and carrot cake cupcakes.
I haven’t done a lot of baking with poppy seeds before, but they are so fun! These cupcakes have a light and fluffy texture, with amazing lemon flavor. They are topped with a delicious and light cream cheese frosting that is the perfect complement to the lemon flavor.
They taste so light and fresh, and are the perfect treat for lightening up those dark winter days! Every winter I find myself craving citrus recipes, and I think it’s because I need that little burst of fresh flavor on an otherwise gray day. I hope you’ll try these lemon poppyseed cupcakes and love them like I do!
How to Make Lemon Poppyseed Cupcakes
Make flour mixture. Combine the sugar and lemon zest using an electric mixer. Whisk in the flours, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix in the butter pieces until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Then beat in the eggs one at a time.
Add liquids. Stir together the milk, vanilla and lemon extract in a small bowl, then add half of the mixture to the bowl with the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in the other half of the liquid mixture until smooth, then fold in the poppy seeds.
Bake. Fill two lined cupcake tins with the batter about 2/3 of the way full. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan for a few minutes, then remove from tins and move to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.
Frost. Beat the softened butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Then beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Frost the cooled cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and enjoy!
Baking Tips
- You could easily make mini cupcakes with this recipe if you prefer. I usually cut the baking time in half when making the mini version, so I’d recommend baking them for about 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Feel free to add more lemon zest or extract if you like a strong punch of lemon flavor.
- You don’t have to include the poppy seeds, however I love the flavor and texture they add, just like in my lemon poppy seed bread recipe!
- Fill the cupcake tins 2/3 of the way full. The cupcakes will rise in the oven and bake into the perfect size.
- A classic buttercream, lemon cream cheese frosting or coconut frosting would also taste delicious as the frosting.
More Lemon Desserts Recipes
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Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- zest of two lemons
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups cake flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks) cold, cut into pieces
- 4 eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
For the frosting:
- 1 cup butter , softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two cupcake tins with paper liners.
- In a large bowl or a the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar and lemon zest. Whisk in the flours, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Combine the milk, vanilla and lemon extract in a measuring cup and add about half of the milk mixture to the flour mixture. Beat until well blended and smooth. Add the other half of the milk mixture and beat until smooth. Gently fold in the poppy seeds.
- Fill paper liners 2/3 full and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for a few minutes and then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until combined. Beat until light and fluffy.
- Once cupcakes have cooled, frost cupcakes as desired. I used a 1M frosting tip.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Cake + Cupcakes, Desserts, Fruit Desserts
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I’ve read various blogs which indicate not every cake or cupcake recipe will work in both forms. Have you ever made this jnto a layer cake with success?
I’m sorry, I have not made this into a layered cake. Let me know if you try it!
Made it for the family and it was a hit!
It was awesome and I loved that it wasn’t that sweet! The instructions were easy to follow and make. Thanks!
There were fantastic! And that cream cheese frosting was to die for!!
These are like a little taste of springtime early! So pretty too. :)
I made a half batch with my almost (8/12/19) 5 year old granddaughter today (Sunday) using leftover buttercream frosting in a lovely violet shade leftover from Tuesday when my older granddaughter, almost 11 (8/18/19), made a cake for my 90 year old mom’s birthday. We used half a yellow cake mix since her big party was on Saturday. I made a delicious lemon 3 layer cake with lemon cream cheese frosting so for her actual birthday with just us (all the family went home on Sunday) we used a cake mix, but I always make frosting from scratch. They turned out very nice for our Sunday family dinner with the granddaughters, and their parents, my youngest daughter and her husband along with their friend Matt, who also served in the Marine Corps like my son-in-law. Thanks so much for this recipe!
We love poppyseed everything! So excited to try this!
Hey Alicia,
this cupcakes look fenomenal my only problem is that I don’t have lemons where I live so I was wondering if this could be made with lime?
Also, if i was making mini cupcakes what would you think the time is?
Thank you for the recipe I have been looking for a lemon poppy for ages!
Hi Josie! Using lime will definitely change the flavor, but I think it would still turn out well. I usually half the time when I am doing mini cupcakes! Try 10 minutes and then cook until golden. :)
I’ve made these cupcakes twice now and both times they have turned out wonderfully. They have a nice lemon flavor and dome perfectly! The last batch I made was for my sister’s wedding (we filled them with a bit of lemon curd and topped them with blueberry cream cheese icing). This is my go to recipe for lemon poppyseed now!
After reviewing your recipe, I noticed the butter ingredient in both the cake and icing recipe indicate 1 cup of butter (16 ounces). 16 ounces equals 2 cups. 1 cup would be 8 ounces. So which is it, 1 or 2 cups?
Hi Cassie! It is 1 cup for the cupcakes and 1 cup for the frosting! Sorry for the confusion. :)
I make a delicious lemon poppy seed bread and I love that combination. I know these cupcakes have to be yummy :)
I tried this recipe with my children last night and they’re absolutely delicious. Eating one for breakfast because I couldn’t resist :)
I’m so glad you liked them Erin! Thanks for your comment. :)
I love love love poppyseed – kind of a new ingredient to me, but it’s sooo yummy, I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long!! This poppyseed creation looks SO awesome!! I’ll definitely be trying it soon. Pinned! :)
Wow…these cupcakes look absolutely divine! I LOVE lemon poppy seed muffins, and I can’t wait to try this fun recipe. Thank you so much! PINNED!
These looks so yummy. I need to make some very soon!
Lemon poppy seed muffins are my favorite, so I can’t wait to try this cupcake version!