Lemon Scented Blueberry Cupcakes

35 min
12 servings

My work is hosting a bake sale this week, so I am using it as the perfect opportunity to try out these cupcakes from Cooking Light that caught my eye a while back. How fantastic do Lemon Scented Blueberry Cupcakes sound?

Ingredients

  • plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

    divided, about 6 3/4 ounces

    1 ½ c
  • granulated sugar
    10 tbsp
  • baking powder
    1 ½ tsp
  • salt
    ¼ tsp
  • baking soda
    ⅛ tsp
  • butter

    melted

    ¼ c
  • egg
    1 large
  • low-fat buttermilk
    ½ c
  • 2% reduced-fat milk
    ½ c
  • grated lemon rind
    1 tsp
  • fresh or frozen blueberries

    thawed

    ¾ c
  • 1/3-less-fat cream cheese

    softened

    ¼ c
  • butter

    softened

    2 tbsp
  • grated lemon rind plus more for garnish
    1 tsp
  • vanilla extract
    1 tsp
  • salt
    ⅛ tsp
  • powdered sugar

    sifted

    1 ½ c
  • fresh lemon juice
    2 tsp
  • fresh blueberries

    optional

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place paper cupcake liners into the muffin cups. Melt 1/4 cup butter over medium low heat. Zest the lemon.

  2. 2

    Add 1 1/2 cups flour plus 1 tablespoon to a medium sized bowl. (I suggest springing for cake flour if you can find it, if not all purpose flour works just fine). Add the granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Stir to combine.

  3. 3

    Add melted butter and egg to a large bowl. Stir with a whisk to combine.

  4. 4

    Add buttermilk, milk, and 1 teaspoon lemon rind to butter mixture (I used zest from 1 lemon), stirring with a whisk to combine.

  5. 5

    Add the flour mixture to the buttermilk mixture, stirring until just combined.

  6. 6

    In a small bowl, toss the blueberries with 1 tablespoon flour.

  7. 7

    Add the blueberries to the batter, stirring until just combined.

  8. 8

    Spoon batter into the muffin cups. I use an ice cream scoop to get evenly portioned cupcakes.

  9. 9

    Bake for 25 minutes or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove and allow to finish cooling on a wire rack.

  10. 10

    Prepare the frosting while the cupcakes are cooling. Add cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon lemon rind, vanilla, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to a bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until just blended.

  11. 11

    Gradually add powdered sugar mixing until just combined. Stir in lemon juice.

  12. 12

    Add the frosting to a ziplock bag. Cut off one of the bottom corners.

  13. 13

    Squeeze the icing on top of the cooled cupcakes. Top with blueberries and lemon zest if desired.

  14. 14

    Remember to refrigerate the cupcakes, the icing is part cream cheese.