Fresh and Fluffy Lemon Lavender Cupcakes (Print View)

Bright, aromatic cupcakes with tender crumb infused with zesty lemon and subtle floral lavender notes. Perfect for spring gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cupcakes

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
05 - 1/2 cup whole milk
06 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
08 - 1 teaspoon culinary lavender buds, finely chopped
09 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
10 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Lemon Lavender Frosting

13 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
16 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
17 - 1/4 teaspoon culinary lavender buds, finely ground
18 - 1-2 tablespoons whole milk, as needed
19 - Pinch of salt

# Method:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Combine milk and lavender buds in a small bowl. Let steep for 10 minutes, then strain to remove buds.
03 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
04 - Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
05 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
06 - Alternately add dry ingredients and lavender-infused milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
07 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
08 - Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, ground lavender, pinch of salt, and 1 tablespoon milk. Beat until smooth and fluffy, adding more milk as needed for desired consistency.
10 - Frost cooled cupcakes and garnish with a sprinkle of extra lavender buds or lemon zest, if desired.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • The way the house smells while these bake is better than any candle you could buy
  • That perfect tender crumb that makes people think you spent hours on something incredibly complicated
02 -
  • Culinary lavender is absolutely non negotiable here, since regular lavender from a craft store will ruin your batch with bitter notes
  • Over-baking even by two minutes will dry these out completely, so set that timer and trust it
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent curdling and ensure that velvety texture we all want
  • Zest your lemons before juicing them, it's much easier to handle when the fruit is still whole