Cupcakes for Summer!

These are the perfect cupcakes to bake all Spring & Summer long! Fill them with easy lemon curd or top them with lemon buttercream frosting. See all our Summer dessert recipes or lemon dessert recipes for more inspiration.

interior texture of lemon cupcake with lemon buttercream.Lemon CupcakesPeach Crisp Cupcakes filled with peach compote and topped with Swiss meringue buttercreamPeach Crisp Cupcakes with Vanilla Swiss Meringue ButtercreamThese are the moistest, most delicious Carrot Cake Cupcakes | A recipe I learned in culinary school that my husband said were the best ever!Carrot Cake CupcakesIn these Lemon Coconut Cupcakes a moist coconut cupcake that is made with both dried coconut and coconut milk is filled with lemon curd and then topped with a coconut Italian Meringue Buttercream. And then topped off with some more toasted coconut.Lemon Coconut CupcakesCoconut Cupcakes Fluffy White Frosting CrumbCoconut Cupcakes Fluffy FrostingRed Velvet White Chocolate Cupcake unwrapped closeupBest Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

Professional Tips for Perfect Cupcakes

  • Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full. Unlike muffins, which you want tall and rounded, you want flat cupcake tops or just a slight mound in the center. The only way to acheive this and eliminate overflow, is by not overfilling the liners.
  • Start with a perfectly baked cupcake. Bake until a cake tester or wooden skewer comes out with a few clinging crumbs. You can also test them by touch: gently touch the center, which should spring back and you should feel some resistance.
  • Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack. Remove the cooked cupcake immediately from the cupcake tins and cool on a wire rack. This will stop the cooking process and also keep them from getting soggy. It also helps keep them from sticking to the liners!
  • Add a filling to create visual, textural and flavorful interest. You can add a compote, thick caramel sauce, jam or jelly or a chocolate ganache for the perfect surprise inside!
  • The key to that beautiful, professional cupcake frosting is using a large piping tip. Use the largest tip you own. I love Ateco 888, Ateco 849 (closed star), and the Ateco 869 (French star), or use the Ateco 809 for a plain round tip.

Choose the Perfect Frosting

The perfect buttercream will make a great cake or cupcake exceptional! Choose an the best chocolate buttercream, try your hand at a caramel swiss meringue buttercream, lemon buttercream frosting, or peruse all our buttercream & frosting recipes!

easy chocolate buttercream frosting on cake swirled.Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipeairy ermine frosting on cupcake split in half.Ermine Frosting Recipecream cheese frosting in bowl.Cream Cheese Buttercream Frostingtoasted swooshes of meringue.Marshmallow FrostingItalian meringue buttercream cleanly piped into a clear glass with a little sticking out of the top.Italian Meringue Buttercream Recipedetailed view of rosettes piped with american buttercream.American Buttercream Recipe
interior texture of lemon cupcake with lemon buttercream.
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Add a Filling for a Stuffed Cupcake!

Adding a filling is an easy way to mix up your cupcakes and add something special! Choose a complimentary flavor for your cupcake base. Choose from one of the fillings below or peruse all our jams, jellies & preserves recipes.

The Best Salted Caramel Sauce detail dripping from spoonSalted Caramel SauceCherry preserves in mason jarEasy Cherry PreservesMixed Berry Jam closeup in jar.Mixed Berry Jamlemon curd dripping down the side of mason jar.Easy Lemon Curd

All Cupcake Recipes