Lemon Cupcakes with Luscious Lemon Frosting

A lightly flavored cake with a bright flavorful icing.

Lemon Cupcakes with Luscious Lemon Frosting

Ingredients

For cake:
8 egg yolks
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For frosting:
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
32 ounces powdered sugar
2 to 4 tablespoons half and half 

Directions
Preheat oven to 375. Grease and flour cupcake pans or use paper liners. Set aside.

Beat egg yolks at high speed with an electric mixer 4 minutes, until thick and pale.

In another bowl, beat butter at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar and egg yolks, beating well after adding.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla. Spoon batter into prepared cupcake pans.

Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let fully cool on wire racks.

To make the frosting, beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Stir in lemon zest and juice. Gradually add sugar. Beat at high speed 4 minutes. Gradually beat in half and half,  until lthe frosting reaches desired consistency. 

Spread frosting on cupcakes Cover and chill until ready to serve.