Lemon-Cream Cheese Cupcakes

photo by:kraft

These treats are all about the citrus zing: Moist lemon cupcakes are nestled under sweet cream cheese frosting with a tangy zest.

time

prep:

10 min

total:

1 hr 34 min

servings

total:

24 servings

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What You Need

pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix

pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding

cup water

egg whites

Tbsp. oil

pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/4

cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened

Tbsp. lemon juice

pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar

Make It

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

BEAT first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer on low speed until moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 min. Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.

BAKE 21 to 24 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

BEAT cream cheese, butter and juice with mixer until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating on low speed after each addition until well blended. Spread onto cupcakes.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute

Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese.

Special Extra

Blend 1 tsp. lemon zest into frosting before spreading onto cupcakes.

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a cook

posted:6/4/2009

It was good especially the frosting. But make sure people like lemon

reisee2

posted:5/31/2009

I have made these cupcakes several times. I think it works best if you keep adding powdered sugar to the icing to satisfy your own taste preferences and it also helps to thicken the icing. The lemon zest is a MUST. It adds the extra pop of flavor!

LauraC847

posted:5/23/2009

Wow. So easy and totally yummy. The magazine cover I saw at a friends house sold me. I am going to make them again to bring to a friends cookout next weekend. Do u think these will freeze well?

ratequeen

posted:5/17/2009

YUMMY!The icing was not runny. Once it sets up, it is like any other powdered sugar icing. It had a thin shell on the outside and still creamy on the inside. I didn't think the cake by itself had enough lemon flavor but combined with the icing it was just right. Big hit at work and home!

MrsMatthies

posted:5/13/2009

The cupcakes were too heavy and the cream cheese frosting wasn't all that great. I was hoping these cupcakes would be "refreshing", but aren't!

xspunkyx13

posted:5/6/2009

The first time I made these I hated the taste of the cream cheese icing so I decided to use lemon frosting I bought from the supermarket instead. They were a hit when I used the lemon frosting. It really gave it that lemon flavor. MMMM so good! This would have gotten 5 stars with lemon frosting instead of cream cheese.

a cook

posted:4/26/2009

My children loved these cupcakes, and they were easy to make.

mollymc

posted:4/8/2009

These are the best cupcakes, light and delicious. I doubled the cupcake recipe the second time I made them, there is plenty of icing for 2 batches.

a cook

posted:4/5/2009

Big hit a family party. I put food coloring in the icing:)

laurenpaez

posted:4/1/2009

Made these cupcakes for a spring celebration at work and they were a hit! Absolutely wonderful and easy to make. For an additional wow factor, I added edible sparkle powder to the icing and garnished with candied lemon slices.