OK, here’s the deal. I was going to post today about either kale salad or enchiladas, until I remembered…THIS IS OUR DUE DATE!!!!!!
Nope, still no baby yet, but I almost feel like this is his unofficial birthday. I mean, the day’s still young y’all – he could still be the Leap Year baby we’ve thought him to be all along. But I couldn’t let today go by without recognizing it birthday-style with some cupcakes.
Just can’t happen.
This recipe actually makes 3 cupcakes, which I figure means that everyone gets their own and then, since we all always want seconds of dessert, you get an extra to split. If you’re feeling nice!
The best part about these cupcakes? It makes 3 total cupcakes which means:
- automatic portion control
- you can make it all in one small bowl which means…
- fewer dishes!
- automatic portion control
- you can spend as much time as you want decorating
- automatic portion control
- no leftovers to tempt you for breakfast in the morning (ahem…)
- automatic portion control
Savvy?
Really though, pound cake in cupcake form is a thing of beauty. Throw in a ton of lemon zest for LOTS of sunshine-y flavor and top with a thick, rich creamy cheese frosting and you’ll be wishing that the recipe was for more. But really, it’s best to just make a batch at a time…unless you just love craving cupcakes first thing in the morning. You know, whatevs.
LEMON POUND CUPCAKES FOR TWO
- 4 Tbsp butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- tiny pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- zest from one lemon + 1 Tbsp of the juice
Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add the lemon juice and zest and mix until incorporated. Slowly mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Line a muffin pan with 3 muffin cups and scoop the batter evenly into them. Bake at 350 for 15-17 minutes until the sides are just golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
3-CUPCAKE FROSTING
- 2 Tbsp butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1-2 Tbsp milk
In a small bowl cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and mix well until creamy. IF the mixture needs to be a little runnier, mix in a bit of milk at a time until the consistency desired is reached. Frost the cupcakes!
Well son, happy almost birthday to you – and one day, one day soon, you and I will be able to enjoy more cupcakes in our lives!
When I look up small batch cupcakes I usually get the same old vanilla or chocolate recipe. Kept my fingers crossed and searched for lemon cupcakes for two and found this. I made them last night and they were a hit. What made it even better is that I managed to get four cupcakes out of this recipe. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I am so glad you loved it!!!
I have made these countless times since our introduction in August. I have made them for parties. I have made them for my 3YO because he asked for them. I have spread the word to many many people who share the love for super lemon cupcakes. And now I am making them for the Halloween Festival bake sale at my sons school. You have found a true fan in me Heather!
Thanks a million!
Jessica
aw, thank you so much jessica! i’m so glad you liked them – i’m a big lemon lover and these are some of my faves!
Yeilded 4 perfect super lemony cupcakes. I AM IN HEAVEN!!
Lemon is my abso favorite! Often lemon recipes don’t have enough lemon in them. I’d say they have a hint of lemon to them. This recipe is full on lemon. It’s not lemon squares lemony but it’s not too too far from. I could not be happier!
It’s LEMONY, it’s subtly SWEET, it’s PERFECT!
I did not make the frosting. Since I am a bit of a weirdo I made a maple frosting to counter the lemon. It worked fantastically.
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing!
i’m so glad you liked them! i’m a big fan of big lemon flavor too…not just a hint, i want the whole shebang! 🙂
Stumbled upon this recipe and made a small cake instead of 3 cupcakes. The result was amazing, a new favourite. Thanks a bundle!
LOVE the “automatic portion control”! I need it! Good luck and I hope he shows his cute face soon…if he hasn’t already 🙂
these are the cutest cupcakes everrrrr.
ahhh how exciting!!! can’t wait to see the little one!
Got to love that automatic portion control. Here’s hoping for the big baby news soon!!
Wow– I can’t believe your due date is here!!! I hope he makes his appearance…SOON!!
It would be pretty cool if he were born today. He still has plenty of time to be a leap day baby. If he makes an appearance, make sure to dress him in blue and yellow! I just watched the Leap Day 30 Rock episode and am still laughing about it.
yum this looks awesome! i posted this one my facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/whatkatiesbaking
for others to see, of course… but mostly so i can come back to it frequently and easily! haha 🙂
I like the ised of a pound cake turned cupcake, since usually I find most of the cupcakes very airy, if you know what I mean, and I like a more dense texture!
Good luck over the next few days!! Definitely a great way to celebrate a sort of birthday:-)
Happy Due Date! Mine came and went in January and ended up with a February baby! Oh the end is hard! Mine is 3 weeks old today and even though she came over a week late it was worth it! Woohoo! I think you should eat TWO cupcakes since you have a full grown newborn in your belly! Whole person! Which means two whole cupcakes! 😉
I like the idea of baking just 3 cupcakes. My hubby wants to lose some pounds but I cannot help myself and bake 🙂
My girl was 2 weeks early and I had things to do haha. She had her own mind. Crossing fingers that you do not have to wait much longer.
Love these and so excited for you!
because sometimes you just need one cupcake.
go, Baby, GO! 😀
Is it still portion control if you eat all 3 cupcakes yourself? Cause I think that is what will happen if I make these tonite!!
I am the biggest pound cake fan EVER. Add lemon to it?? I am crazy excited about this recipe! I love how light + creamy the frosting is too. I’m not a fan of super sugary frosting, strange I know. COME on baby!!!!
I love baking pound cake muffins. You almost don’t mind the butter because you’re eating such tiny portions. lol.
These look gorgeous! 🙂
These look delicious! And your little guy still has the whole day to show up 😉
I love that it’s called for 2 but there are 3 — genius. 🙂
Yum, like Spring in a Cupcake!
I love this scaled down portion size..perfect! There are many times I crave a cupcake but have no desire to make 12 of them.
Also..the “savvy?” part had me hysterical laughing. I read it with an image of Johnny Depp in full out Pirates of the Caribbean costume all bobbly like his character is in those movies.
@Gina – definitely thought of Pirate Johnny too. 🙂
Love this!! Happy Due-Date-Day 😀
Yay! I love that you made cupcakes for his “birthday.” Hope he arrives soon!
I love portion control baking. It makes me feel disciplined. 😉
Love the built in portion control.
Here’s hoping the little one comes on the scene soon 🙂
^I mean “so” cute, oops!
Awww 😀 Ho cute! He’ll come when he wants to 😀