Key Lime Cupcakes

Key lime cupcakes topped with homemade cream cheese frosting flecked with lime zest are a festive dessert for Cinco de Mayo parties.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 215 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup water
• 3 drops green food coloring
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 (15.25 ounce) package white cake mix (such as Pillsbury® Classic White)
• 2 tablespoons lime zest
• 0.5 cup butter, softened
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.33333334326744 cup vegetable oil
• 1.5 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 2 tablespoons pearlized sprinkles, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners or spray with cooking spray.

Step 2

Mix cake mix, water, eggs, and vegetable oil together in a bowl using an electric mixer until batter is smooth, about 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons lime zest, lime juice, and food coloring; mix well. Pour batter into the prepared muffin cups.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Cool cupcakes on a wire rack.

Step 4

Spread frosting onto each cupcake and top with sprinkles.

Step 5

Beat butter and cream cheese together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add 2 tablespoons lime zest and vanilla extract to creamed butter mixture; mix well. Mix confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, into creamed butter mixture until frosting is smooth; chill in refrigerator until frosting is thickened, about 30 minutes.