Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

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Celebrating the weekend with these sweet and citrusy Lemon Meringue Cupcakes…with lemon curd filling, of course! The perfect treat for summertime baking, these are easy to make lemon cupcakes, filled with homemade lemon curd that’s actually so simple to make, and then finished with the best EVER meringue gently toasted to golden perfection. These cupcakes are truly so good. Every bite is layered with lots of lemon, vanilla, and just the right amount of sweetness. Be sure to serve these cupcakes for any and every occasion this summer. They’re a guaranteed crowd pleaser and much simpler to make than you might think!

About The Recipe

Happy Friday!

Can you believe the first day of summer is next week? The weather here has been so hot lately that it feels like summer got here two weeks ago, but according to the calendar, it’s Tuesday. Honestly, this year seems to be FLYING by.

But it’s not just been this year. It’s been this WEEK! Every recipe we’ve been making lately has had a lot more components than usual. Not that they’re hard recipes, but more my mom and I have been so tired that working has been a monumental effort.

It took two days to get these cupcakes just right! They’re such a simple recipe, but…you know how you get really tired of working and you’d rather be doing pretty much anything else? Yeah, we’ve been there this week. Like, we actually did laundry and folded it to avoid cleaning in the kitchen.

Though, I will admit, it’s also just been crazy hectic around here.

For example? These cupcakes we originally had planned for NEXT week. But another recipe we planned didn’t exactly work out, soooo these delicious treats got made instead! And, I will admit, even though we had a bit of trouble with them in the beginning…

There is nothing more satisfying than a delicious bake finally coming out just like you plan it. Honestly, I am SO glad we made them, and I couldn’t be more excited to share them with you! They’re light, fluffy, full of flavor, and perfectly sweet.

These might just become our go-to cupcake this summer! They’re honestly perfect for any and all occasions.

Reasons You Will Love These Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

• They’re so much easier to make than you might think.
• Full of lemon flavor.
• You can use the leftover egg whites from the curd to make the meringue!
• There is no cream of tartar in the meringue.
• Every bite is soft, moist, and oh so delicious!
• They’re the perfect summertime bake.
• A true crowd pleaser!

Equipment Needed

• Mixing Bowls
• Hand Mixer
• Cupcake Pan
• Cupcake Papers
• Large Cookie Scoop
• Cake Tester
• Small Pot
• Fine Meshed Sieve
• Rubber Spatula
• Stand Mixer
• Candy Thermometer
• Pastry Brush
• Cupcake Corer
• Piping Bags
• Offset Spatula
• Kitchen Torch

Ingredients

(Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)

For The Cupcakes:

• All-Purpose Flour – has just the right amount of protein to give these cupcakes the perfect texture and structure.
• Baking Soda – is used because of the acidic ingredients, and we didn’t want a second rise in the oven.
• Salt – enhances the flavor.
• Lemon Zest – turns up the lemony flavor.
• Unsalted Butter – adds moisture and flavor.
• Granulated Sugar – adds the perfect amount of sweetness, as well as helping with the texture and structure of the cupcakes.
• Large Eggs – add leavening, structure, richness, color, and even flavor!
• Vanilla Extract – adds a subtle undertone that enhances the lemon flavor.
• Buttermilk – helps make the cupcakes tender and adds a little tang to enhance the flavor.
• Lemon Juice – helps keep the tops of the cupcakes flat.

For The Lemon Curd:

• Egg Yolks – are used to thicken the curd.
• Granulated Sugar – not only sweetens, it also contributes to the texture and structure of this curd.
• Lemon Juice – flavors the curd.
• Lemon Zest – adds an extra punch of lemon flavor.
• Salted Butter – makes the curd rich and velvety.

For The Meringue:

• Egg Whites – provide the lift and structure for meringue.
• Granulated Sugar – when combined with water and cooked into a syrup, not only stabilizes the meringue, it makes it safe to eat without cooking.
• Water – is the liquid element essential in making the sugar syrup.

How To Make Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Step 1: Make the cupcake batter

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.

Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Stir in lemon juice.

Step 2: Bake the cupcakes

Spoon into muffin cups, filling each ⅔ full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until done.

Step 3: Make the lemon curd

In a medium glass bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs yolks, and lemon juice.

Place over a simmering pot of water and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve.

Add lemon zest and butter, stirring until butter is melted. Set aside.

Step 4: Make the meringue

With an electric mixer, beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Turn OFF the mixer.

In a small saucepan, heat sugar and water, stirring continually until sugar melts. Cook over medium heat to 246°F-250°F, brushing down the sides with water twice. Turn the mixer back on and slowly stream the syrup into the egg whites. Beat until cool.

Step 5: Assemble

Using a cupcake corer or a spoon, core the cupcakes. Fill each cupcake with the lemon curd. Place the tops back on the cupcakes.

Pipe or spread tops with meringue. Gently toast with a kitchen torch.

Decorating Ideas

Once the cupcakes are ready to be frosted, there are so many things you can do! I decided to keep it simple, but here are a few ways to dress up these cupcakes.

• Pipe the meringue rather than spread it.
• Use edible flowers (chamomile is a personal favorite!)
• Candy some lemon slices or lemon peel to place on top.

Choosing The Right Lemon & How To Get The Most Juice From It

It may sound a bit odd, but I promise there is actually a trick to this!

• First things first, when you’re at the store, don’t go for the larger lemons. I know it’s tempting, but generally… that size yields quite a bit more rind than juice.
• Pick them up! Use that scale you see by the other fruits. See what’s heavier. The heavier the lemon, the more more juice it’ll have.
• Squeeze it gently. A thinner rind will have some give to it, whereas a thicker rind will be about as hard as a rock.

So, now that you have the perfect lemons, what’s the best way to get the most amount of juice? Using room temperature lemons! But, that’s not all. From there, roll them on the counter until they’re super soft and squishy! This will yield the most amount of juice. Especially if you’re using a citrus juicer!

How To Store

If you have some cupcakes left over, they need to be refrigerated! If placed in a lidded and airtight container, the cupcakes should last about 3-5 days.

Substitutions

• If you don’t want to make the curd, you can use store bought!
• Store bought lemon juice can be used, but it’s better to use fresh because you will also need the rind for this recipe.

Looking for more recipes like this? Here are a few you may like: Blackberry Lavender Cupcakes, Lemon Meringue Pie, Lemon and Sour Cream Pound Cake, No Fail Lemon Bars

Expert Tips

• The cake batter for this recipe is very thick!
• After baking, the cupcake tops are flat. This makes for easier coring and decorating!
• Do NOT over mix the cake batter.
• When making the curd, the texture should be about pudding consistency. It takes anywhere from 10-25 minutes to thicken. Just be sure to use a heatproof GLASS bowl and place over a simmering (not boiling) pot of water.
• Don’t waste the egg whites from the curd! Use them to make the meringue. Save the rest for breakfast or another recipe!
• The egg whites for the meringue need to be whipped to stiff peaks. Turn off the mixer and make the syrup. Once the syrup is at temperature, turn the mixer on high and slowly stream the syrup in.
• Do NOT stir the syrup once the sugar is dissolved.
• Keep a bowl of water and a pastry brush nearby. You will need to brush the sides of the pan down to keep the sugar from crystalizing.
• Beat the meringue until it’s completely cool. This takes about 5-10 minutes. You can feel the temperature of your mixing bowl to gage if the meringue is cool.
• I found that piping the meringue onto the cupcake and then using an offset spatula resulted in the best way to get the meringue on the cupcake without a mess. If you just use an offset spatula, the cupcake may tear when trying to spread the meringue.
• Toasting the meringue is optional, but highly recommended!

When you make these Lemon Meringue Cupcakes, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

– Still Hungry? –

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