Dreamy Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting Recipe

Baking these delightful lemon poppy seed cupcakes with blackberry frosting can turn an ordinary afternoon into a magical culinary adventure.

Sweet citrus notes dance alongside tiny poppy seed specks, creating a texture that surprises with every bite.

Delicate crumbs melt on your tongue, while the vibrant blackberry frosting adds a stunning purple-hued crown.

Each cupcake tells a story of bright, fresh ingredients celebrating summer’s bounty.

Soft, zesty, and utterly irresistible, these treats promise to become your new favorite dessert.

Whip up a batch and watch smiles bloom around the table.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes Feel Like Spring in Every Bite

• Brighten Weekend Baking: Quick and delightful cupcakes that transform ordinary afternoons into special moments with minimal kitchen effort.
• Quick Flavor Adventure: Combines zesty lemon and sweet blackberry in a single dessert, delivering unexpected taste combinations that surprise and delight taste buds.
• Family-Friendly Treat: Simple enough for kids to help prepare, with straightforward steps that make baking together fun and engaging without complicated techniques.
• Versatile Occasion Dessert: Perfect for brunch gatherings, afternoon tea, potlucks, or casual celebrations where a vibrant, homemade dessert will impress guests with minimal professional baking skills required.

Lemon Poppy Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting

• All-Purpose Flour: The essential foundation for the cupcake's structure, providing tender crumb.
• Poppy Seeds: Adds delightful texture and subtle nutty flavor to the cupcakes.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Crucial leavening agents to help cupcakes rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Butter: Provides rich flavor and creates a soft, moist texture.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender crumb.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and contribute to the cupcake's structure.
• Lemon Zest: Brings bright, fresh citrus flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Adds tangy notes and helps activate leavening agents.
• Vanilla Extract: Deepens flavor complexity.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth batter.

• Blackberries: Fresh or frozen berries creating vibrant color and fruity flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and creates smooth frosting texture.
• Butter: Creates creamy, rich base for frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out flavor profile.
• Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and balances sweetness.

Lemon Poppy Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting Baking Guide

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350°F.

Grab your cupcake tin and line it with cute paper liners, making sure they’re nestled in snugly.

Step 2: Create Dry Magic

• All-purpose flour
• Crunchy poppy seeds
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• A pinch of salt

Blend these ingredients until they’re perfectly combined and looking gorgeous.

Step 3: Whip Up Creamy Base

In another bowl, grab your mixer and beat butter and sugar until they transform into a light, fluffy cloud.

Crack in eggs one by one, mixing after each addition.

Sprinkle in zesty lemon zest, splash of lemon juice, and a dash of vanilla extract.

Keep mixing until everything looks smooth and dreamy.

Step 4: Marry Wet and Dry

Slowly introduce your dry ingredients to the creamy mixture.

Pour in milk between flour additions.

Stir gently until everything just comes together – don’t overmix!

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Scoop the batter into your prepared liners, filling each about three-quarters full.

Slide the tin into the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes.

Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

Let cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 6: Craft Vibrant Frosting

Blend fresh blackberries and strain to remove seeds.

In a clean bowl, beat butter until it’s super creamy.

• Powdered sugar
• Blackberry puree
• Vanilla extract
• Splash of lemon juice

Whip until the frosting becomes silky smooth and irresistibly fluffy.

Step 7: Decorate and Devour

Pipe or spread the luscious blackberry frosting onto your cooled cupcakes.

Get ready to enjoy a burst of lemony, berry-packed happiness!

Cupcake Decorating Tips for Lemon Poppy Seed with Blackberry Frosting

• Use fresh, organic lemons for the most vibrant citrus flavor and grate only the outer yellow part to avoid bitter white pith.
• Level off poppy seeds in the measuring spoon to ensure consistent texture and prevent overpowering the delicate lemon taste.
• Let eggs, butter, and milk sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to create a smoother, more even cupcake batter.
• Press blackberry puree through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds and create a silky-smooth frosting with intense berry color.
• Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients gently and stop mixing as soon as no flour streaks remain to keep cupcakes tender and light.

Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting Storage

• Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cover loosely with plastic wrap to prevent the frosting from getting smudged.
• Keep unfrosted cupcakes at room temperature in a sealed container for 2 days. Ensure the container is completely dry to maintain freshness.
• Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature before frosting.
• Warm refrigerated cupcakes briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Let sit for a minute to prevent overheating and maintain moisture.

Cupcake Matches for Lemon Poppy Seed & Blackberry

• Pair with Sparkling Lavender Lemonade: Craft a refreshing drink that echoes the cupcake's bright lemon notes while adding a delicate floral twist.
• Match with Honey Chamomile Tea: Brew a soothing tea that complements the cupcake's delicate flavors and provides a gentle, warming counterpoint.
• Create a Blackberry Prosecco Cocktail: Mix prosecco with fresh blackberry puree to enhance the frosting's fruity essence and add a celebratory touch.
• Serve with Vanilla Bean Gelato: Scoop creamy, smooth gelato alongside the cupcake to balance its tangy and sweet profile with rich, classic flavor.

Lemon Poppy Cupcakes With Frosting Combos

• Gluten-Free Option: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and add xanthan gum for better texture and binding.
• Dairy-Free Version: Substitute butter with coconut oil or dairy-free margarine, and use almond or oat milk instead of regular milk.
• Vegan Adaptation: Use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, swap butter for vegan butter, and replace milk with plant-based milk alternatives.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Reduce sugar content by using stevia or monk fruit sweetener, and opt for a sugar-free blackberry reduction for the frosting.

FAQs

• What gives these cupcakes their unique flavor?

The combination of lemon zest, lemon juice, and poppy seeds creates a bright, tangy taste that perfectly balances the sweet blackberry frosting. The fresh citrus notes complement the nutty poppy seed texture.

• Can I use frozen blackberries for the frosting?

Yes, frozen blackberries work great for the frosting. Just thaw them completely and strain out the seeds before pureeing to ensure a smooth, vibrant frosting that adds a beautiful purple color to the cupcakes.

• How do I know when the cupcakes are perfectly baked?

Insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If it comes out clean with no wet batter, the cupcakes are done. They should be golden around the edges and spring back when lightly touched.

• What makes the texture of these cupcakes so moist?

The combination of butter, eggs, milk, and careful mixing ensures a tender crumb. By adding wet and dry ingredients gradually and mixing just until combined, you prevent overmixing and keep the cupcakes light and soft.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes with Blackberry Frosting Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Sweet lemon poppy seed cupcakes dance with bold blackberry frosting, creating a delightful dessert symphony. Zesty citrus notes and tender crumb invite passionate bakers to savor each delectable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup (170 grams) fresh blackberries
• 2 1/2 cups (300 grams) powdered sugar

Flavor and Binding Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• Zest of 2 lemons
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk or buttermilk

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the baking workspace by heating the oven to 350°F and arranging cupcake liners in the tin.
2. Create a dry ingredient blend by thoroughly whisking flour, poppy seeds, leavening agents, and salt in a mixing bowl.
3. Develop a creamy base by vigorously beating butter and sugar until they transform into a light, airy mixture.
4. Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, ensuring complete integration after each addition.
5. Enhance the flavor profile by stirring in lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract until evenly distributed.
6. Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, alternating with milk to maintain a smooth, consistent texture.
7. Distribute the batter evenly into cupcake liners, filling each about three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
8. Bake the cupcakes for 18-22 minutes, watching for a golden surface and testing with a toothpick for complete doneness.
9. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack, ensuring they reach room temperature before frosting.
10. Create the blackberry frosting by first pureeing fresh blackberries and straining to remove seeds.
11. Whip butter until it becomes creamy and light, then gradually introduce powdered sugar and blackberry puree.
12. Refine the frosting by adding vanilla and a touch of lemon juice, beating until it becomes smooth and fluffy.
13. Decorate the cooled cupcakes by piping or spreading the vibrant blackberry frosting generously on top.

Notes

• Adjust Lemon Intensity by experimenting with more or less zest and juice for a personalized citrus punch.
• Swap Regular Milk with almond or oat milk to create a dairy-free version that maintains moisture and texture.
• Use Frozen Blackberries if fresh aren’t available, ensuring they’re thawed and well-drained before pureeing for frosting.
• Consider Adding a Sprinkle of poppy seeds on top of frosted cupcakes for extra visual appeal and slight crunch.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 280
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg