Lemon Buttercream Cupcakes

These are wonderful, light and lemony! A perfect dessert after homemade gluten-free, dairy-free chicken potpie. I didn’t take photos of the potpie because I ran out of daylight…however, I do plan to make individual potpies in the future to pop in the freezer. Stay tuned and I promise I’ll try to make them and get them posted in the next couple of weeks.

Lemon Buttercream Cupcakes

1 15oz. Box Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix

1/2 Cup Dairy Free Butter

2/3 Cup Water

3 Eggs

1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1 teaspoon Pure Lemon Extract

Rind of 1 Lemon

3/4 Cup Dairy Free Butter

3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt

2 teaspoons Pure Lemon Extract

1 teaspoon Pure Almond Extract

Rind of 1 Lemon, Plus More For Tops of Cupcakes

2 Tablespoons Non-Dairy Creamer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees for conventional 325 degrees for convection (I use convection)

For The Cake Batter:

Cream butter in a mixer on medium, scraping down once, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on medium, add the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Add the cake mix, both extracts, lemon rind, and water. Mix on low for 30 seconds, scrape down bowl. Mix on medium for 2 minutes, scraping bowl at the 1 minute mark.

Line 12 (I only got 11 cupcakes out of the mix) muffin tins with paper and fill each muffin cup 3/4 of the way.

Bake in pre-heated oven for 19 minutes (convection)  or until the middles are just done. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting on wire rack.

For The Buttercream:

Cream butter in a mixer on medium, scraping down sides once, until light and fluffy. Turn off mixer and add the powdered sugar, sea salt, lemon rind, and both extracts. Mix until it comes together, it will be lumpy.

Slowly add the creamer 1 teaspoon at a time while the mixer is on medium. Once all of the creamer has been added, mix for 1 minute

*I like to do a crumb coat (even on cupcakes), then pipe mine or spread more frosting over the top.

Sprinkle with lemon rind to finish.