These soft and fluffy, easy Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes start with a cake mix and homemade raspberry lemonade frosting. Add a fresh raspberry for a delicious, fresh take.
This recipe was originally published in July 2012. I updated the recipe notes and added new images in May 2026.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
I have to let you guys in on a little secret. I cheated when I made these raspberry lemonade cupcakes. How you ask? I used a box cake mix.
Now, before you gasp loudly or start to judge me, you should know that it’s not very often that I use a box of cake mix. But every once in awhile, it is a necessity. (Umm, remember these amazing cake mix cookies???)
So I used my trusty box cake mix for these raspberry lemonade cupcakes and they ended up turning out great. And in the end, that’s all that really matters, right?
The real key to these lemonade cupcakes is actually in the raspberry buttercream frosting anyway. And that is not from a container.
I used a tangy raspberry lemonade concentrate to make the frosting from scratch and it really gives these lemon cupcakes a nice zing!
The taste of raspberries and lemons gives these cupcakes a sweet and tart flavor that is perfect for a birthday party, summer day, or yep you guessed it, swim team! You’ll see this flavor paired in my raspberry lemon cookies too!
Enjoy!
Here’s What You’ll Need
After years of baking from scratch, sometimes a shortcut recipe is called for. Especially one as easy and delicious as these cupcakes. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients with measurements.
- Cake Mix- The combination of a white cake mix with the lemon gelatin is delicious. Creates a fluffy soft cake. You could also swap the cake mix for lemon for an even more tangy citrus cupcake.
- Oil & Water- Adds moisture and a soft texture.
- Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate- this gives the frosting the tangy flavor. You could also swap it out for 2 Tablespoons of raspberry jam and the juice of one lemon.
How to Make Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes
- Fill cupcake liners half full with batter and bake for about 15 minutes. The cupcakes are done once a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Fill a decorator piping bag (I use Tip 2D) and pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with sparkly coarse sugar if desired and top each cupcake with a fresh red raspberry.
Tips and Tricks
Flavor Tips:
- If you want a more intense raspberry flavor, add dried raspberries to the frosting like I do in my Strawberry Almond Cake recipe. To do this, just pop some freeze dried raspberries in a food processor or freezer sealed bag to make crumbs and then add it into the frosting mixture.
- Add lemon zest to the batter for even more citrus punch.
Baking Tips:
- Don’t overfill the liners.
- Don’t overbeat the batter.
Storage Tips:
- Keep cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freeze cupcakes for up to 30 days in a freezer safe container.
More Cupcake Recipes
- These Lemon Coconut Cupcakes and Lemon Cupcakes are the perfect zesty treat for the summertime! Add some of creamy Lemon Buttercream Frosting on both of them for the perfect bite!
- Try out a batch of these classic Carrot Cake Cupcakes with some tangy and homemade Cream Cheese Frosting on top!
- Lemon Pudding Cupcakes are a hit wherever you take them, and whatever time of year it is! Just like these S’mores Cupcakes too!
- Make some zesty Pineapple Orange Cupcakes that are packed full of your favorite fruity flavors! Same with this delicious Raspberry Lemon Cake!
My readers love fresh berries, especially when topped on these delicious Lemon Cheesecake Bars! Love these Almond Wedding Cupcakes with delicious raspberry filling!
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Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE CUPCAKES:
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 box lemon jello gelatin powder, 3 ounce
- 3 large egg whites
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ¼ cup water
FOR THE FROSTING:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 7 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 2 drops red food coloring, optional
Instructions
- Line cupcake tin with paper liners and set this aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- For the cake, add cake mix, jello, egg whites, oil and water in a mixing bowl. Beat 2 minutes until blended.
- Fill cupcake liners half full and baking in a 350 degree oven for about 18 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat butter, powdered sugar, raspberry lemonade and food coloring on high for 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Fill a decorator bag (I used tip 2D) and pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Top with fresh raspberry.
Notes
- If you want a more intense raspberry flavor, add dried raspberries to the frosting like I do in my Strawberry Almond Cake recipe. To do this, just pop some freeze dried raspberries in a food processor or freezer sealed bag to make crumbs and then add it into the frosting mixture.
- Try swapping out raspberry lemonade concentrate for several tablespoons of raspberry jam and fresh lemon zest or lemon juice.
- The white cake mix and lemon-flavored jello combined creates a delicious lemon flavor. You could also swap out the white cake mix for lemon flavor cake mix and omit the gelatin altogether.
- See blog post for more tips and tricks.
Nutrition
Easy Cupcake Recipes
Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes are a quick and easy summer dessert with a tangy sweet frosting!
haha, cake mix isn’t cheating 😉 I wanted to make doughnuts, but instead of making the batter, I used cake mix. I forgot that cake has a total different texture than doughnuts. So it was just little circular cakes.
But these things look to DIE for!! I would eat half the batch, and I don’t even think I would be sorry
Yummy!
wow!! yum yum yum!!!
would love it if you could share them on my link party – http://serenityyou.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/serenity-saturday-48.html
Natasha xx
these are so flipping adorable!! i love the straws and “lemonade” theme 🙂 who cares if it’s a boxed mix! they’re tried and true!
Thanks Julie!
Oh yum, and oh cute! I love these!
Yummo! Thanks for sharing! We would love to have you link up some of your recipes over at our party!
http://baked-inthesouth.blogspot.com/2012/07/made-it-by-monday-link-party.html
This is like those pink lemonade cake mixes I’ve been seeing on the shelves recently. I like your version better though Aimee. They look great! perfect for summer!
I have not seen those cake mixes. I don’t buy cake mix often though, so I think I better go check this out….
Yummy! I never met a cupcake I didn’t like, made with a box or not! Great flavor combination!!! Good luck with all the insanity!
Haha, thanks Tanya. It’s good insanity 🙂
Hi there, I’m hosting My Sweet party and I would love you to join! Check it out at http://meandmysweets.blogspot.se/2012/07/my-sweet-party-july-my-favourite-pie.html
Cheers!
Mmm, raspberry lemonades are one of my fave summertime drinks and now they’re in cupcake form? I’m drooling! Seriously, the way people feel about pb + chocolate is how I feel about raspberry + lemon. It’s an awesome pairing. These cupcakes look totally yummy, Aimee!
I am with you Hayley. I LOVE Raspberry and Lemon together too! I’ve got another recipe coming soon with that combo.
I used the pink lemonade cake mix. Loved it so much. Now u can’t find it anywhere. Totally bummed
Well, you know that I am all about using doctored up cake mixes for everything:-) These look and sound great…perfect summer time cupcake!!! I love your shot with the green in the background:-)
Cupcakes are all about the icing, so it’s okay that you used a cake mix 🙂
Thanks Ellen! I do love the frosting…on ANY cupcake!
These are so pretty Aimee! I love boxed mixes…so easy in a pinch. And that frosting sounds to die for!
Who cares if it comes from a box?! Boxed cake mix can be doctored up in so many ways. And lemon is a great flavor. My mom makes a lemon bundt/pound cake from it. (And most moms would’ve went to the bakery section and just bought the cupcakes, right? 🙂
Looks really cute and delicious! I love how you added the stripe straws to each cupcake.
Oooooohhhh so fun! This looks awesome!
they look awesome! at the beginning of summer I bought a box of special edition pink lemondade cake mix – havent used it – and now, this post pops up. Great idea just to use white mix and doctor it!
Pink Lemonade Cake mix? That sounds amazing! And would go very well with this frosting 🙂
Yum!! I am on a raspberry kick and will have to try these out! Thanks for sharing – pinnint now!
Kelsey, I totally am on a raspberry kick too. I have another great recipe coming to the blog soon…the raspberries are juicy and giant sized right now!
These sound delicious and I love your pics!
Thanks Jenn!