These just might be the sunniest cupcakes ever. Lemon cake holds the sweet surprise of lemon curd filling, and it’s all topped with a cute grassy knoll of lemon buttercream. A piped buttercream daisy makes the display even more cheery. They’re easy to make — you’ll just need a couple of inexpensive decorator piping tips and some disposable piping bags to get started. These items can easily be found at craft stores and cake decorating supply shops.
Ready-made lemon curd is used in this recipe and is a great shortcut. Use the best quality you can find.
You Will Need:
Wilton piping tip #103 (for petals)
Wilton piping tip #233 (for grass)
3 disposable piping bags (cloth bags may be used if you have them)
Scissors
Parchment paper
Offset spatula

Bake
Lemon Cake
Yield 18 cupcakes
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 tsp lemon extract
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons lemon curd
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cupcake tin with paper liners. Note: Presentation counts! I used white picket fence cupcake wrappers for these, but you could also use red-checked paper liners for a picnic theme.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup sour cream. Mix well, and add the lemon extract. Add flour and sour cream mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Batter will be thick.
Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup level measures of batter. Bake for 17-22 minutes. Let cupcakes cool completely before filling with lemon curd.
Cut a divot into the top of each cupcake with a serrated knife and fill with lemon curd.

Decorate
Lemon Frosting
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tsp lemon extract
2-3 Tbsp milk or cream
Yellow food coloring
Green food coloring
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream softened butter and powdered sugar together. Add lemon extract.
Add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture comes to piping consistency. Cover bowl of frosting with a damp tea towel so it doesn’t dry out.
Drop the petal piping tip into a disposable piping bag and press it firmly into the pointed end of the bag. Lightly score the plastic bag around the piping tip using a pair of scissors.
Pull the pointed end of the bag away and off of the piping tip.

Remove 1/3 cup icing from the covered bowl and transfer it to the piping bag fitted with the petal tip. Tint the remaining frosting with the yellow food coloring. Transfer 1/4 cup of the yellow frosting to a disposable piping bag and snip a small opening at the end. No piping tip is required for this bag.

Add green food coloring to the remaining yellow icing a little at a time until a grassy green color is achieved. Transfer the green icing to a disposable piping bag fitted with the grass piping tip.

Draw eighteen 1 1/2-2-inch circles onto a sheet of parchment paper. I used a large decorator piping tip for this, but you could use a bottle cap or small round fondant cutter. Flip the parchment paper over onto a cookie sheet to avoid piping over the pencil lead.

Begin piping petals with the white icing. Place the petal tip about 1/4-inch above one of the drawn circles. The larger opening on the piping tip should be facing away from you.

Pipe a line moving towards the center of the circle, gently decreasing pressure as you move to the center. This is the first petal.
Pipe consecutive petals radiating around the circle until it is completely filled.

Use the bag of yellow icing to pipe the center of the daisy. Repeat process with remaining drawn circles.

Transfer cookie sheet to the freezer and allow buttercream daisies to harden, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, pipe mounds of “grass” onto the lemon curd-filled cupcakes. Place piping bag 1/4-inch above cupcake and apply pressure, letting the frosting pile onto the cupcake; pull the bag straight up to achieve a “standing grass” appearance. Repeat this process over the entire cupcake surface, and repeat with remaining cupcakes.

When icing flowers are frozen, use an off-set spatula to lift them from the parchment and onto the cupcake.

Serve cupcakes at room temperature. Refrigerate leftovers.
All photographs by Heather Baird.
173 comments
Stephanie from Phylogeny said 6 years ago
Love those icing daisies, and the picket fence wrappers. Super cute for a party! Thanks for the recipe!
Stephanie Bense from AveryGrayDesigns said 6 years ago
These cupcakes are so cute I want to plan a garden party just to have a reason to serve them up!
Samantha Tannoch said 6 years ago
An apple corer is perfect for creating a hole to fill with curd; twist as you press to avoid flattening your cake.
ClassicMemories from ClassicMemories said 6 years ago
Just so sweet to look at and even better to eat! Perfect for spring or any time.
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 6 years ago
These are adorable! I love the picket fence wrapper!
Pam and Vanessa from Justwogirlsewing said 6 years ago
Yum, I can't wait to try this!
LivingVintage from LivingVintage said 6 years ago
Yum, yum!
Valerie from valeriestitchery said 6 years ago
This is a great how-to, but what about the picket fence wrappers? How do you make those? Is there a template, or were they ready-made?
Patrick from EdelweissPost said 6 years ago
'Of all the floures in the mede, Than love I most these floures white and rede, Soch that men callen daisies in our toun.' ~ Geoffrey Chaucer
Caitlin Edge from knitsbycaitlin said 6 years ago
Adorable. These look delicious!
Charlene Blackwell from TheYearningRobot said 6 years ago
So cute!
Leah Moses from Yumyo said 6 years ago
these are so unbelievably adorable!!
Christine Pane from flowerbasketladybug said 6 years ago
I just had to pin this. I LOVE lemon cake!
Elizabeth from ABreathOfFrenchAir said 6 years ago
Very sweet, and perfect for Spring
Margaret Kelly from MayAvenue said 6 years ago
These are so pretty! Thanks for the detailed photos- I can't wait to try these!
Elizabeth from PolkaDotSkies said 6 years ago
So cute! Thanks for sharing your sunny idea!
Marta DQ from tribomo said 6 years ago
Those are so creative, love them!
Elizabeth from PolkaDotSkies said 6 years ago
So cute! Thanks for sharing your sunny idea!
Lynda Black from polkadottydolls said 6 years ago
LOvE it !!! SOoo ADoRABLe !!! =)))
Janette from AmericanDollClothes said 6 years ago
These are so cute, thank you for sharing them with us.
Marsi from TheCottageCheese said 6 years ago
Cutest cupcake ever! I've been craving lemon cake, so the timing for posting this recipe is just perfect!
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage said 6 years ago
Awesome!
Ann Cosgrove from acbcDesign said 6 years ago
So cute. Love those picket fence cupcake sleeves!
Maria Stevenson from thefoxandthespoon said 6 years ago
such a fantastic tutorial! and the lemon curd....that looks SO good! These cupcakes are truly adorable! thank you : )
Gina from ArigigiPixel said 6 years ago
Real art cup cake! So cute:)
Elvira from omydesigns said 6 years ago
Those cupcakes are SO adorable! Thanks for the fantastic tutorial :)
natureguild from natureguild said 6 years ago
it's 7am in Australia, breakfast time..however as an owner of an incredible sweet tooth, i now believe i need cake ASAP
Terry from Parachute425 said 6 years ago
So cute but you lost me at "a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment". So much easier to call Sprinkles and have them delivered. One Madagascar Bourbon vanilla cupcake topped with lemon coconut cream cheese frosting to go, please. ;)
Sally from SallysVintageKitchen said 6 years ago
These cupcake look adorable and delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Lisa from NirvanaRoad said 6 years ago
They look fabulous and sound delicious! What a great summer treat!
Amber from BambuEarth said 6 years ago
UM.. YUM! ♥ If I wasn't a soapmaker, I'd be a pastry chef without a doubt. Maybe someday I'll conquer both! Love this recipe, and of course, I'm sure to try it soon. My friends all love my lavender and grapefruit cupcakes. I'm sure this recipe would be amazing with a grapefruit cake instead of lemon and maybe a pastry cream custard filling. My mouth is watering. :)
H88255 from HillarysSuperfoods said 6 years ago
Looks pretty but unhealthy! I'd like to re-create these to be raw, vegan, gluten free, paleo, low sugar and low carb!
Sandro Stumpo from GalleryDiModa said 6 years ago
I'm drooling. They look real nice- almost too nice to eat.
Alfredo Ramos from PolishMeFreddy said 6 years ago
These are SO cute & they look delicious. Yum Yum <3
Vanessa Tsumura from BluetandClover said 6 years ago
So, so perfect for my daughter's summer birthday party. I will follow the pictures only using a box of mix and my buttercream frosting, as I have short attention span.
Saliha Dilber from fashioncesa said 6 years ago
So cute! I love cake!
Brian McNamara from rarebeasts said 6 years ago
Yum, can't wait to try these out at my next cupcake party.
Jean from Meanjeanarts said 6 years ago
Wonderful presentation. Will definitely make these, but will use my own lemon curd--it's not hard to make; not particularly healthy as it is loaded with butter and egg yolk, but a worthwhile indulgence. Thanks for sharing the instructions.
Susan from PlanetSusan said 6 years ago
Wow, look out Martha Stewart! They are the cutest cupcakes for a Garden Party.
Angela Hansen from AngelaHansenFineArt said 6 years ago
This looks absolutely adorable! Perfect for my kindergarten class!!
PaperAltar from PaperAltar said 6 years ago
Too cute !
ThePattypanShop from ThePattypanShop said 6 years ago
These are great for spring and another fun way to use my #233 grass tip!!Thanks for the post!!
Linda from lovelygifts said 6 years ago
Looks delicious and so cute!
Nerrissa W from RecycledWares said 6 years ago
These are so adorable and look yummy. Thanks for showing how to make the flowers, I will have to try this.
AnitasPottery.com from potterybyAnita said 6 years ago
Oh, MY! If these aren't about the cutest things I've seen! And so delish-looking, my mouth is watering! Thanks so much for this article! Wouldn't these have been SUPER for Easter treats!? ♥♥♥
Sunde Farquhar from PinkysPetGear said 6 years ago
These are the most adorable cupcakes ever! They put a smile on my face! I can't wait to make them. Thanks so much for sharing :)
Lisa from FoxInTheFerns said 6 years ago
Vegans could also get their faux buttercream cupcake on by substituting butter for coconut cream (That solid stuff when you open a can of coconut milk) and whipping it gently to get a buttercream-like texture. Thanks for the recipe!
Amy Gunderson from amysfunkyfibers said 6 years ago
Sweet!
Doris C. from SewBeautifulbyDC said 6 years ago
These look beautiful ! They would be great for a bridal shower or a little girl's Summer birthday party. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.
kathy johnson from ShoeClipsOnly said 6 years ago
Thank-you for this recipe, I love baking!
Joey R. from BowFantasy said 6 years ago
Too cute. can't wait to try them. Thanks for sharing.
SilverFoxDesigns6 from SilverFoxDesigns6 said 6 years ago
They look so delicious! I love lemon curd.
joan kelly from cosmiksouls said 6 years ago
CUTE and festive for SPRING .. bet they taste amazing too !!!!:) Thanks for the share :)
glitterandstones from glitterandstones said 6 years ago
So cute . Thank you for sharing:)
DreamJewelrySupplies from DreamJewelrySupplies said 6 years ago
Lovely!!!
Christine from FineArtWithaTwist said 6 years ago
God I love buttercream.... I save that sweet-tooth it for weddings, or I'd be in trouble!
Jennifer from skyvalleyjewelry said 6 years ago
You can never go wrong with cupcakes. These are so cute for spring.
Matejka Max from NattyMatty said 6 years ago
Adorable!
AntonellaMia from AntonellaMia said 6 years ago
These cupcakes are sooo adorable!!
AntonellaMia from AntonellaMia said 6 years ago
These cupcakes are sooo adorable!!!
Aulia Rizki said 6 years ago
cute! little garden http://www.indotrading.com/product/p22566.aspx
Paola from atelierpompadour said 6 years ago
yummy and funny!!
Lifeof Pen from Lifeofpenoriginals said 6 years ago
The grass is always greener over the other side of the fence! Especially when it's a cupcake ;)
Joanna from Jrocreations said 6 years ago
Absolutely delightful and scrumptous cupcakes!
Sarah Laguna from BemusingBaubles said 6 years ago
So cute!
Iris Rezoagli from cakedreamsbyiris said 6 years ago
Thank you so much!!!!!!
Iris Rezoagli from cakedreamsbyiris said 6 years ago
Thank you so much!!!!
Dig Deep Vintage from digdeepvintage said 6 years ago
hope I can pull this off-worth a try!
Madalyne Do from Donhvy said 6 years ago
They look cute. I'll make them for my daughter. Thank you very much for your post.
Sukran Kirtis from SukranKirtisJewelry said 6 years ago
impossible to eat these cute cakes
Heather Rai from FattysSoapCo said 6 years ago
Super adorable!
CujiCoo from CujiCoo said 6 years ago
Thank you very much for the post Heather, will try them over the weekend!
Lynsey from lmouer said 6 years ago
Very cute cupcakes! Thanks for sharing!
NA from Sawasdeekaa said 6 years ago
Look yummy!! :)
Erin Miller from ThreePoisonApples said 6 years ago
You didn't even need a picture, the title was enough! Yummy!
Carol from HarrachGlass said 6 years ago
They look so cute!
Theresa Ryales from TheresasGourmet said 6 years ago
Wonderful! Reminds me of when I was little my mother use to decorate cakes.
Carter Seibels Singh from WomanShopsWorld said 6 years ago
Those are freakin' adorable! And they look delicious too!! You're making me want to go eat cupcakes ;-)
emberair from EmberandAir said 6 years ago
So cute! And just in time for what is (hopefully) Spring in Kansas!
Ombretta from IndieLab said 6 years ago
...can't eat them... tooooo lovely! :)
Kerri from ResparkableVintage said 6 years ago
so cute. but they just might be too cute to eat! :)
Katy from INeedAStitch said 6 years ago
Ooh! Love them! Yummy-licious...
aressa from OriginalBridalHanger said 6 years ago
These look really yummy. They are so cute too...Thanks for sharing!
Liz Hutnick from LizHutnick said 6 years ago
Those look divine!
Julie S. from julesoldjewels said 6 years ago
These look too lovely to eat! I love to cook and collect recipes and this is a keeper. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca Blevins from RaccoonValleyRouge said 6 years ago
Lemon cake! I could eat for days... Thanks!
Ida Herter from HerterCrochetDesigns said 6 years ago
What lovely cupcakes! Thank you for sharing, I am a sucker for a good cupcake.
Shawnzi from TimeEnoughAtLast said 6 years ago
These are so cute!!!
Julia K Walton from JuliaKWalton said 6 years ago
So pretty! And the recipe sounds tasty ;op
Rachel from PeppersJewelry said 6 years ago
These are cute! Thanks for the directions on how to create them!
Lana Koopman from LanaKoopmanDesign said 6 years ago
These are just too pretty to eat!
Nicola and Jessica Belton from CelticKnittingCo said 6 years ago
Love making cupcakes, these ones look so summery I will have to make them for my daughters birthday party.....yum!!!
dead set babes from deadsetbabes said 6 years ago
yum yum yum
Star Ravenwood from RavenwoodMagic said 6 years ago
Gorgeous!
Odette Carrier from OhbyOdette said 6 years ago
These look incredible. I'm incredibly jealous of your patience to create something so pretty and edible!
Carole Fox from foxpots said 6 years ago
Looks great! Love the detailed instructions with pictures.
Crystal Renee from ForeverRenee said 6 years ago
How adorable!
Lisa from thecraftartykid said 6 years ago
These are adorable! The little daisies are especially cute
Denise Vining from kadydesigns said 6 years ago
These are the cutest cupcakes ever!!! Thanks for the directions, all though I don't think mine will look this cute!! Hehe
Kaitlyn Adams from JellybeanDesigns10 said 6 years ago
so cute love it
Ellen Choate from SweetShopDesign said 6 years ago
OMG! These are so freaking cute!!! I love it!
Charlene Owens from charlenesembroidery said 5 years ago
Cute!
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 4 years ago
Cute! Thanks for sharing this again with us! :)
MyChouchou from MyChouChou said 4 years ago
wow! they look so pretty! thanks for sharing : )
Sue from SuesAkornShop said 4 years ago
Yum, yum, yum!!!!!
Zygopsyche from Fuzziggles said 4 years ago
yummy!
Laura Stark from laurastark said 4 years ago
Holy moly, these cupcakes are so cute!
Jessica from CreativeDollCrafts said 4 years ago
Yum..a fun way to make a cupcake!
studioLISE from studioLISE said 4 years ago
these are the cutest cupcakes! they make great decorations for your table and then you get the added bonus of eating them : ) thanks for sharing!
Marta DQ from tribomo said 4 years ago
Cute and yummy! :)
Kalisa L. from MuchandQuick said 4 years ago
Sure to impress at any Spring party!
Lynn from SouthernBelleOOAK said 4 years ago
Lemon cupcakes sound so refreshing and look so adorable, too! Valerie asked earlier where to get the Picket fence cup cake wrappers. I found several sellers on ETSY that sell them: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=picket%20fence%20cupcake%20wrappers
Betty Somelar from Kriips said 4 years ago
Very cute cupcakes :) So spring!
Relly from RelsFindsNapaValley said 4 years ago
They look delicious, fun color to serve at children's party or tea party. Thanks for sharing.
UNEMPLOYED Custom Orders Wanted USA Made Superhero Cufflinks Wedding Jewelry from boloties said 4 years ago
Beautiful cupcakes. You make it look so easy too!
Sharon Henry from PlumroseLane said 4 years ago
Thanks SO much for sharing ~ these are simply darling!!
Arianna Featherstone from HerbNLiving said 4 years ago
ohhhh my goodness, thank you for this. these look absolutely delectable aaaaand gorgeous! ahh, yum. ♥
ACR from IntoTheBluePaintShop said 4 years ago
Adorable !!
LivingVintage from LivingVintage said 4 years ago
Great. That's a lot of piping.
Janine from IndependentReign said 4 years ago
THEE cutest cupcakes ever!
Gulabo from Cooldesires4u said 4 years ago
Beautiful…xx
Renate from 2Crafty4You said 4 years ago
Love these Cupcakes, their look great and yummy :)
Amber from BambuEarth said 4 years ago
♥︎ These look delicious, adorable and fun!! ♥︎
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 4 years ago
How cute cupcakes! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Megan from 645workshop said 4 years ago
too pretty to eat!
Nandita Albright from ContemporaryArtDaily said 4 years ago
Cutest cupcakes EVER. I can imagine an Easter themed party with these there!
Marlous P from Lousje said 4 years ago
So that's how it's done!!! Very cute! Definitely trying this one, thanks for sharing :)
Adam Speicher from SpeicherBowTieCo said 4 years ago
cool
Elizabeth Knaus from FreshRetroGallery said 4 years ago
Keep up the creativity with your food art, Heather!
TJ Carls from BloomgoDesignStudio said 4 years ago
These are so creative!
Jeannette Perez from JPerezArt said 4 years ago
Thank you for sharing such a nice looking cupcakes.
Mariya Paunova from DARAUNIQUE said 4 years ago
Wow, these cupcakes are so amazing! I can't believe that they can be eaten!
Stone StoryArt from StoneStorymosaic said 4 years ago
Great!!!!
Laney from LittleLaneyTails said 4 years ago
Thanks for the cupcake tutorial! It's really interesting to see how those adorable little things are done.
UmmNiyatiJewelry from UmmNiyatiJewelry said 4 years ago
Thank you so much for sharing.
Jen Root from SheepyShoes said 4 years ago
Heather, this is really helpful because my daughter is in cake decorating in 4H and we're always looking for ways to help her improve her technique. I will make sure to show her this! Lots of great tips here - no pun intended ;)
Seksun Suriya from TIWMONSTER said 4 years ago
I love it. Thank you for good idea.
SandraMaria Maria from TimelessWhimsy said 4 years ago
Wow, these are so stinkin' cute!!! Thank you for sharing!! Is that picket fence from Lawn Fawn??
Ellipsis Books from EllipsisBookstore said 4 years ago
Thank you! How adorable.
dee wagner from gramsheart said 4 years ago
Looks tasty, I love daisys. Crochet them a lot.
Pat from WhiteDaisyPetals said 4 years ago
How could I not love these. So pretty! Will have to give them a try for my granddaughter (and me, of course). Yum!
Mia Blaz from MiaBlazdesign said 4 years ago
Yum, yum!
Céline Lafargue from LejardindeCeline said 4 years ago
So adorable ! :o)
RoyalCrownHandmade from RoyalCrownHandmade said 4 years ago
Adorable cupcakes!!!
Konstantinos Gkikas from GkArtStudio said 4 years ago
These are so cute for spring!
Sahana P from TheLegacyShop1 said 4 years ago
These look delicious and are perfect for spring!
Nicole from Crackerjackarma said 4 years ago
Sweets for our Sweets ~ Adorable idea !
Alyssa Kaplan from LunaAzelea said 4 years ago
Adorable. Mine would ever turn out like that!!
Craig Neukirch from Turns2art said 4 years ago
Ah reminds me of the Wilton Cake decorating class days! Fun. Thanks for sharing your bit of edible sunshine with us.
Krasi Kids Art from gingerkidsart said 4 years ago
Thank you for this recipe. Beautiful designs!
Raluca Gonciar from RALOOLAND said 4 years ago
Wonderful cupcakes! I'll give them a try, though I'm sure mine will never come out so perfect!!
Mia Blaz from MiaBlazdesign said 4 years ago
Ooh! Love them! Yummy-licious...
Wendy McDonagh-Valentine from CrickleberryVintage said 4 years ago
Absolutely adorable!!! Can't wait to make them!! I wish I would've seen this in time for Easter!!!
Elena Stryzhak from ElenaStr said 4 years ago
nice idea ! wanna taste it ))
Kerime Sevilen Mustafaoglu from ASHYL said 4 years ago
Looks wonderful and delicious! I will try to make :)
Wirat J. from SkylaBoutique said 4 years ago
Yummy and pretty...I love how daisy on cupcake look. ;)
pinksnakejewelry from pinksnakejewelry said 4 years ago
Fantastic looking cupcakes!!! Will definitely try!!!
Diana Tinelli from DianasDecor said 4 years ago
I love these and I love baking! Wish I could decorate my cupcakes as perfect as that!
Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 4 years ago
So cute. Thanks for sharing.
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Martin Lam from martin1206 said 4 years ago
LOOOOOVE THIS. SO NICE!
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 4 years ago
Cupcakes not only sounds delicious they look so pretty. Thank for sharing the receipe.
Lost My Name from Lostmyname said 4 years ago
Cute!! a great idea
Laura from PetalAlley said 4 years ago
These are so cute!
Suzanne from AuntNannieCrafts said 4 years ago
So pretty! Thanks for sharing the recipe....Yummy!
Sheeta tam from SheetaDesign said 4 years ago
thank you for sharing! So fresh and sweet
5erg from 5erg said 4 years ago
I am definitelt trying this! I love the grass :3 Thank you!
Susana O from SuesFabCreations said 4 years ago
Very cute cupcakes.
sara Hensley from jewelrybeadslover said 4 years ago
So cute!!!
Georgia Bazakou from Giahandmade said 4 years ago
Cupcakes είναι πολύ ωραία και πιστεύω θα είναι και πολύ νόστιμα. Θα είναι ένα ωραίο δώρο στην εγγονή μου για τα γενέθλιά της. Συγχαρητήρια!!!
Cheryl Mendenhall from EECustomHorseShoes said 4 years ago
OMG! So adorable! Thanks for sharing the how to! Pictures tell the story without words! Cheryl
Mary Mary said 4 years ago
these are amazing and explained so precisely that maybe even am amateur like myself could make it work Thanks again
Marjathe said 4 years ago
Très très beau j'adore.....