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Easy Lemon Filled Cupcakes, The Perfect Spring Cupcakes!

You know what I love about blogging? Well besides like everything of course. I love that it constantly pushes me to stretch my abilities, creativity, flavor palate…you get the point. Can you believe that I use to think I didn’t like lemon treats? I know, I know, who doesn’t like lemon? It’s like saying you don’t like sunshine and that’s simply just not normal. As I’ve told you guys many times before, I’m a major creature of habit and I often have to push myself out of a routine and quite frankly, I love it when desserts prove me wrong! It started with some lemon breakfast rolls I made which I thought wow for lemon I really liked those. Then some cookies, and then a batch of cupcakes and before you know it I was left with no choice but to admit, I love lemon! Eventually one of my favorite easy lemon cupcake recipes made it into my book, Cupcakery, which is full of 50 awesome cupcakes that start with a cake mix! Today I thought I would share my Lemon Pudding cupcakes with you from the book. Because 1. I love lemon (see above passage) and 2. lemon cupcakes are the perfect spring cupcakes! Especially when they are lemon filled cupcakes!

These lemon cupcakes are sure to put a smile on your face. They start with a doctored lemon cake mix then filled with yummy lemon pudding, and topped with lemon buttercream.  It’s like a little bit of sunshine in your tummy, what’s not to love? Sure I’ve said this 100 times but it’s worth saying again, pudding is the best filling for cupcakes! Call me crazy but every time we serve up pudding filled cupcakes people ask over and over again, what is on the inside? 

Lemon Filled Cupcakes - Easy Spring Cupcakes!

EASY LEMON FILLED CUPCAKES

Makes 24 cupcakes.

INGREDIENTS

LEMON CUPCAKES

  • 1 lemon cake mix
  • 4 tablespoons instant lemon pudding mix
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup melted butter (slightly cooled)

FILLING

  • 12 tbsp instant lemon pudding mix
  • 2 Cups Milk

LEMON BUTTERCREAM

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 2 tbsp lemon extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 8 cups powdered sugar
  • 6-8 tbsp milk
  • yellow gel food coloring

How To Make Lemon Filled Cupcakes

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two 12-cup cupcake pan with cupcake liners and set aside.

Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl, sift together cake mix and pudding and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large mixing bowl) using the paddle attachment, beat together eggs, sour cream, and milk at low speed. Add dry ingredients and beat just until combined. Beat in melted butter just until combined. Once all ingredients are incorporated, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and turn mixer up to medium and beat once more for 15- 20 seconds. Do not overbeat.

Step 3: Spoon 3 tablespoons of batter into each cupcake liner and bake on the middle oven rack, for 16-18 minutes, baking up to 24 cupcakes side by side at a time. (for best results bake cupcakes 1 pan at a time) Once a toothpick comes out clean, remove from oven and allow cupcakes to rest in pan for 2-4 minutes before removing and transferring to a cooling rack.  Prepare pan and repeat this step with any remaining batter.

Step 4: While cupcakes are cooling, prepare filling and buttercream.  To prepare the filling, whisk together instant pudding and milk in a small mixing bowl. Place in fridge to chill. To prepare buttercream in the bowl of a stand mixer (or large mixing bowl) using the paddle attachment, cream butter at medium speed until soft and smooth. Add shortening and extracts and beat until combined.  Slowly add in powdered sugar beating slightly between each addition.  Add 2 tablespoons of milk and small amounts of yellow gel coloring until the desired color is achieved. Add remaining milk 1 tablespoon at a time beating in between additions until desired consistency. Turn mixer up to medium-high and beat for 1-2 minutes.

Step 5: Once cupcakes have completely cooled, core and fill cupcakes with lemon pudding. Frost cupcakes with lemon buttercream. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate until served.

I can’t wait to see all your lemon filled cupcakes just in time for spring. Don’t forget to tag me @thesprinklefactory so I can enjoy too!

READY FOR MORE CUPCAKE RECIPES + INSPIRATION?!

Don’t forget you can get all 50 easy cake mix recipe in my book right here. You can also check out the cupcake section of the site or browse a few of my favorite posts featured below!

EASY LEMON FILLED CUPCAKES

Not only are these lemon filled cupcakes super easy, they are super yummy! They will have your guests wondering what your not-so-secret filling is. 

LEMON CUPCAKES

  • 1 lemon cake mix
  • 4 tablespoons instant lemon pudding mix
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup melted butter (slightly cooled)

FILLING

  • 12 tbsp instant lemon pudding mix
  • 2 Cups Milk

LEMON BUTTERCREAM

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 2 tbsp lemon extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 8 cups powdered sugar
  • 6-8 tbsp milk
  • yellow gel food coloring
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two 12-cup cupcake pan with cupcake liners and set aside.

  2. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together cake mix and pudding and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large mixing bowl) using the paddle attachment, beat together eggs, sour cream, and milk at low speed. Add dry ingredients and beat just until combined. Beat in melted butter just until combined. Once all ingredients are incorporated, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and turn mixer up to medium and beat once more for 15- 20 seconds. Do not overbeat.

  3. Spoon 3 tablespoons of batter into each cupcake liner and bake on the middle oven rack, for 16-18 minutes, baking up to 24 cupcakes side by side at a time. (for best results bake cupcakes 1 pan at a time) Once a toothpick comes out clean, remove from oven and allow cupcakes to rest in pan for 2-4 minutes before removing and transferring to a cooling rack. Prepare pan and repeat this step with any remaining batter.

  4. While cupcakes are cooling, prepare filling and buttercream. To prepare the filling, whisk together instant pudding and milk in a small mixing bowl. Place in fridge to chill. To prepare buttercream in the bowl of a stand mixer (or large mixing bowl) using the paddle attachment, cream butter at medium speed until soft and smooth. Add shortening and extracts and beat until combined. Slowly add in powdered sugar beating slightly between each addition. Add 2 tablespoons of milk and small amounts of yellow gel coloring until the desired color is achieved. Add remaining milk 1 tablespoon at a time beating in between additions until desired consistency. Turn mixer up to medium-high and beat for 1-2 minutes.

  5. Once cupcakes have completely cooled, core and fill cupcakes with lemon pudding. Frost cupcakes with lemon buttercream. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate until served.

 

 

 

Image of Toni Miller in front of a sprinkle shelf.

COOKIE DESIGNER

 I’m Toni, the baker, the blogger,  and cookie cutter maker  behind The Sprinkle Factory and I hope you find a sprinkle of inspiration here at The Factory.

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