Name: Lemonade cupcakes recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves: 6–8
Cuisine: Baking, British
Ingredients: 40g softened butter or margarine; 60g caster sugar; 1 egg; 120g self-raising flour, sifted; 120ml sugar-free lemonade or sugar-free pink lemonade

By Jessica Ransom

last updated 31 August 2023

in Recipes

These easy lemonade cupcakes are under 200 calories and take only 20 minutes to bake

This is a wonderful cupcake recipe to make using leftover lemonade that has lost its fizz. The fizzy pop provides a lovely sweet, subtle citrus flavour which can easily be intensified with the addition of extra lemon zest for decoration.

Ingredients

40g softened butter or margarine
60g caster sugar
1 egg
120g self-raising flour, sifted
120ml sugar-free lemonade or sugar-free pink lemonade

For the glaze:

125g icing sugar
15ml sugar-free lemonade or sugar-free pink lemonade
Sprinkles or lemon zest to decorate (optional)

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Method

Heat the oven to 180C (160C fan, Gas 4). Line a muffin tray with cupcake cases.
Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg then fold through the flour and stir until combined.
Add the sugar-free lemonade and stir carefully
Fill each cupcake case three-quarters full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a cocktail stick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
When baked, remove the cupcakes from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
When the cakes are cooled, mix the icing sugar and sugar-free lemonade together for the glaze.
Dip the top of each cupcake into the glaze or use a teaspoon to drizzle over the top. Finish with sprinkles or grated lemon zest and set aside to firm up a little.

Top tips for making lemonade cupcakes

If you want to add even more lemon flavour to these lemonade cupcakes, add some grated lemon zest to the sponge mixture before baking.

Can I put fruit in lemonade cupcakes?

Raspberry and lemon pair really nicely together. To inject some more fruity flavour into these cupcakes, add a raspberry or two to the cupcake batter once portioned between the cases. This will give a fun injection of colour into the sponge too.

Can I freeze lemonade cupcakes?

It is fine to freeze the cupcakes once baked and cooled. Save the glazed topping for when you have defrosted fully and want to eat the cakes.

Why is British lemonade different?

In the UK, most people think of lemonade as a sweet, fizzy drink with a subtle lemon flavour. In the US, lemonade refers to a refreshing cold drink made from lemon juice, sugar and still cold water.

Creaming butter and sugar together can be a very tiresome task when done manually but with an electric hand mixer it will take no longer than 10 minutes.

If you'd prefer a more classic recipe, try these lemon cupcakes or our fool-proof lemon drizzle cake. This lemon sponge cake is also very easy and delicious to make.

Jessica is a freelance food writer, stylist and recipe tester. She previously worked as Senior Food Writer at Future. While at Future Jessica wrote food and drink-related news stories and features, curated product pages, reviewed equipment, and developed recipes that she then styled on food shoots. She is an enthusiastic, self-taught cook who adores eating out and sharing great food and drink with friends and family. She has completed the Level 1 Associate course at the Academy of Cheese and is continually building on her knowledge of beers, wines, and spirits.