These zesty lemon drizzle cupcakes are absolutely divine – soft, tender sponge with a jam filling and a crunchy, sugary topping!
My lemon drizzle cake has without a doubt been the most popular recipe on my site for the past 12 months – you guys love it!
A few people have asked me if they can convert the recipe into cupcakes. I gave it a try and it doesn’t turn out quite as well as cupcakes, but after a few trial and errors I came up with this recipe. It is a total winner!
I’ve given the cupcakes a little extra something to make them even more special – a jam or lemon curd filling!
It adds an extra fruity tang and makes the cupcakes even more delicious, but if you don’t want to add jam, the cupcakes will still work just fine without it.
Fruity bakes are my absolute favourite – and I can never say no to a cupcake! My most popular cupcake recipes are these amazing raspberry and lemon cupcakes, Eton Mess cupcakes, strawberries and cream cupcakes and white chocolate and strawberry cupcakes.
If you like jam, I strongly recommend you give it a go just once! I think raspberry jam goes particularly well with the lemon cakes, but if you love lemon as much as I do, you might prefer the lemon curd.
Equipment needed to make lemon Drizzle cupcakes
- A 12 hole muffin tin
- Muffin cases.
Why am I using muffin cases and not cupcake ones? Because I prefer the muffin cases!
The cupcake cases you tend to find in the UK supermarkets are a little bit small, so I always use the muffin cases for cupcakes. I have seen larger American style cupcake cases for sale now and again in places like TK Maxx, but not very often.
baking Tips and advice
- This recipe uses the all in one method, so it’s very easy, quick and straightforward to make.
- Try not to over beat the cupcake mixture or you’ll develop the gluten in the flour and your cupcakes will be tough instead of soft and fluffy.
- Make sure the butter is soft before you start baking. It shouldn’t be so soft it is collapsing in an oily puddle though – it just needs to be soft enough to combine with the rest of the ingredients. You could also use baking margarine like Stork.
- When the cupcakes are baked, poke little holes all over the surface using a cake tester (I use a piece of spaghetti!) Pour the lemony sugar topping over the cupcakes just as soon as they come out of the oven.
- Sometimes the jam will end up at the bottom of the cake. If this happens, don’t worry – it doesn’t taste any less good!
how long will the cupcakes keep for?
They will keep well in an airtight tin for about 4-5 days – but they never usually last that long!
more lemon bakes for you to try
Lemon and blueberry muffins with poppy seeds
did you make this recipe?
I hope you loved these zesty lemon drizzle cupcakes! Let me know what you thought by leaving a comment below and please rate the recipe out of five by clicking on the stars in the recipe card.
Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes
These zesty lemon drizzle cupcakes are absolutely divine - soft, tender sponge with a jam filling and a crunchy, sugary topping!
Ingredients
- 225g soft butter
- Finely grated zest of two lemons and juice of one
- 225g caster sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 225g self raising flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 12 heaped tsp of raspberry jam or lemon curd
FOR THE DRIZZLE
- 100g granulated sugar
- Juice of two lemons
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/160fan/350fan/Gas mark 4. Line a 12 hole muffin tin with liners.
- In a large bowl using an electric whisk or stand mixer, mix together the soft butter, caster sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and lemon juice until you have a smooth batter that drops easily from a spoon.
- Spoon a spoonful of the mixture into the cases, just under half way, then add a teaspoon of raspberry jam or lemon curd. Top with another spoonful of the cake batter, making sure the jam or curd is concealed.
- Bake the cupcakes for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden, risen and spring back when lightly pressed.
- To make the drizzle, mix the granulated sugar and lemon together in a small bowl.
- A couple of minutes after you remove the cakes from the oven, make little holes all over the surface using a piece of spaghetti or a cake tester. Slowly pour the drizzle all over the cakes. Transfer the cakes to a wire rack and let them cool completely.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 441Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 513mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 1gSugar: 44gProtein: 5g
why does my jam sank to the bottom
Why does my jam sink to the bottom
It sometimes sinks with me too! You could try spooning a little more cake mixture into the case before adding the jam. Last batch I made half had the jam in the middle and the other half the jam was at the bottom. It doesn’t affect the taste though!
I have made this beautiful lemon drizzle cup cakes twice. Second time I left the jam out, as it sank to the bottom in the first batch.
they are absolutely delicious.
I took them for morning tea at art this morning, and all were devoured. Second helpings. Thank you for sharing. Thoroughly recommend.
I’m so glad you liked them! Thanks for letting me know 🙂