These cupcakes are bright, fresh, and perfect to serve as your Easter dessert. If you're a lemon fan, this is bound to become your new favorite cupcake recipe!
1/2tspapple cider vinegar(lemon juice may also be used)
Cupcake Batter
1cupall-purpose flour
1/4tspbaking soda
1/4tspsalt
1 1/2tspbaking powder
1/2cupunsalted vegan butter, softened
1/2cupgranulated sugar
1/4cupJust Egg
2tspvanilla(I used imitation)
1/4cupfresh lemon juice
1tbspfresh lemon zest
Lemon Buttercream Icing
1/2cupunsalted vegan butter, softened
4cupspowdered sugar(3 1/2-4 cups, to desired consistency)
1tspvanilla(I used imitation)
3tbspfresh lemon juice
1tbspfresh lemon zest
additional lemon slices/zest, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
First, prep the buttermilk. In a small bowl, stir together the soy milk and the apple cider vinegar. Set aside for now.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Set aside for now.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the vegan butter and sugar for 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides. With mixer on low, add in the Just Egg, vanilla, lemon juice and zest. Mix again for 1-2 minutes, scraping sides again.
Alternating with 3 small additions of each, add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the mixer, ending with an addition of buttermilk. Mix to combine well, scraping down the sides at least once. Batter won't be totally smooth, this is fine.
Equally distribute the batter between the 12 cupcake liners, filling about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up. Bake the cupcakes for 15-17 minutes, checking with a cake tester to ensure doneness. Cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring the cupcakes to a cooling rack.
To prepare the icing: Add the vegan butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, juice and zest to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix slowly to incorporate, then whip on medium-high speed for 2 minutes, scraping the sides down once.
Ice the cupcakes with the buttercream, and garnish with additional lemon slices and/or zest if desired. Enjoy!