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Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes with Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting

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These Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes are soft, moist, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor and juicy blackberries. Topped with creamy blackberry cream cheese frosting, they’re the perfect homemade summer dessert.

Freshly baked lemon blackberry cupcakes cooling on a rack with homemade berry frosting.

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If you are looking for the perfect homemade summer dessert, these Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes are bursting with bright lemon, juicy blackberries, and topped with a creamy blackberry cream cheese frosting. These cupcakes are soft, moist, and made completely from scratch using real ingredients.

The combination of fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and sweet blackberries creates the most refreshing flavor in every bite. The homemade blackberry frosting takes these cupcakes to the next level with its creamy texture and beautiful natural berry flavor. Whether you are making these for a summer gathering, baby shower, brunch, or just because you love lemon desserts, this recipe is one everyone will remember.

These lemon blackberry cupcakes are simple to make, bakery-worthy, and absolutely packed with fresh flavor.

Why You’ll Love These Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes

  • Soft and moist cupcakes made from scratch
  • Fresh lemon flavor in every bite
  • Juicy blackberries folded into the batter
  • Tangy blackberry cream cheese frosting
  • Perfect for spring and summer desserts
  • Made with simple pantry ingredients
  • Beautiful cupcakes for parties and gatherings
Moist lemon cupcakes filled with fresh blackberries and topped with pink blackberry frosting.

Ingredients for Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes

For the Cupcakes

  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (check out my homemade vanilla recipe)
  • Zest of 2 lemons
  • Juice of 3 1/2 lemons
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh blackberries
  • 1 tablespoon flour (for coating berries)

For the Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 8 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup muddled blackberries
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Close-up of lemon cupcakes topped with creamy blackberry frosting and fresh berries.

How to Make Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes

Step 1: Prepare the Sour Milk

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the milk and juice from 1/2 lemon. Stir gently and let sit for a few minutes until slightly curdled. This homemade sour milk helps create soft and tender cupcakes.

Step 2: Make the Cupcake Batter

In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a handheld mixer, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in the olive oil, Greek yogurt, sour milk mixture, eggs, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice. Mix until fully combined.

Next, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.

Step 3: Fold in the Blackberries

In a small bowl, toss the blackberries with 1 tablespoon of flour. This helps keep the berries from sinking to the bottom of the cupcakes while baking.

Gently fold the coated blackberries into the cupcake batter.

Step 4: Fill and Bake

Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Using a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop, evenly divide the batter between the cupcake liners.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25–30 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

How to Make Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting

In a stand mixer or using a handheld mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.

Add the muddled blackberries, salt, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

Slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing until the frosting becomes smooth, fluffy, and easy to pipe or spread.

Frost the completely cooled cupcakes and top with extra blackberries or lemon zest if desired.

Bakery-style lemon blackberry cupcakes with rich blackberry cream cheese frosting and lemon zest.

Tips for the Best Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes

Use Fresh Lemon Juice

Fresh lemons give these cupcakes their bright citrus flavor. Bottled lemon juice will not have the same fresh taste.

Coat the Blackberries in Flour

Tossing the berries in flour helps distribute them evenly throughout the cupcakes instead of sinking to the bottom.

Don’t Overmix the Batter

Overmixing can make cupcakes dense instead of soft and fluffy. Mix only until the ingredients are combined.

Cool Completely Before Frosting

Cream cheese frosting will melt if added to warm cupcakes, so be sure they are fully cooled first.

Use Room Temperature Ingredients

Room temperature butter, eggs, and cream cheese help create a smooth batter and creamy frosting.

Soft and moist lemon blackberry cupcakes made from scratch with fresh lemon zest and juicy blackberries.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Swap blackberries for raspberries or blueberries
  • Add extra lemon zest for stronger lemon flavor
  • Make mini cupcakes for parties
  • Use sour cream instead of Greek yogurt
  • Add a blackberry on top for decoration

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You can use frozen blackberries if fresh are unavailable. Do not thaw them before adding them to the batter.

Because of the cream cheese frosting, store the cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Yes. Freeze the unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw and frost before serving.

Absolutely. Bake the cupcakes a day ahead and frost them the next day for easy entertaining.

Homemade lemon blackberry cupcakes with blackberry cream cheese frosting topped with fresh blackberries.

The Perfect Summer Cupcake Recipe

These Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes with Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting are the perfect balance of sweet, tart, fresh, and creamy. The bright lemon flavor paired with juicy blackberries creates a cupcake that tastes like summer in every bite.

Whether you are baking these for a special celebration or simply want a homemade dessert made with real ingredients, this recipe is sure to become a favorite. The soft lemon cupcake paired with the creamy blackberry frosting is truly irresistible.

If you make these homemade lemon blackberry cupcakes, I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a comment below and share your creations on social media so others can enjoy them too!

Don’t forget to pin this for later!

Soft and moist lemon blackberry cupcakes made from scratch with fresh lemon zest and juicy blackberries.
Moist lemon cupcakes filled with fresh blackberries and topped with pink blackberry frosting.

Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes with Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 24 Cupcakes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

These Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes are soft, moist, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor and juicy blackberries. Topped with creamy blackberry cream cheese frosting, they’re the perfect homemade summer dessert.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Zest of 2 lemons
  • Juice of 3 1/2 lemons
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh blackberries
  • 1 tablespoon flour (for coating berries)

For the Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 8 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup muddled blackberries
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes

    Step 1: Prepare the Sour Milk

    In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the milk and juice from 1/2 lemon. Stir gently and let sit for a few minutes until slightly curdled. This homemade sour milk helps create soft and tender cupcakes.

    Step 2: Make the Cupcake Batter

    In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a handheld mixer, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

    Add in the olive oil, Greek yogurt, sour milk mixture, eggs, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice. Mix until fully combined.

    Next, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.

    Step 3: Fold in the Blackberries

    In a small bowl, toss the blackberries with 1 tablespoon of flour. This helps keep the berries from sinking to the bottom of the cupcakes while baking.

    Gently fold the coated blackberries into the cupcake batter.

    Step 4: Fill and Bake

    Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Using a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop, evenly divide the batter between the cupcake liners.

    Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25–30 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

    Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting

    In a stand mixer or using a handheld mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.

    Add the muddled blackberries, salt, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

    Slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing until the frosting becomes smooth, fluffy, and easy to pipe or spread.

    Frost the completely cooled cupcakes and top with extra blackberries or lemon zest if desired.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, use fresh lemon juice and lemon zest—this is what gives the cupcakes their bright, citrusy taste.
  • The sour milk (milk + lemon juice) helps make the cupcakes extra soft and tender, similar to buttermilk.
  • Tossing the blackberries in 1 tablespoon of flour helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cupcakes while baking.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added—this keeps the cupcakes light and fluffy.
  • Make sure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting, or the blackberry cream cheese frosting will melt.
  • If using frozen blackberries, add them straight from the freezer (don’t thaw) to avoid excess moisture in the batter.
  • For a smoother frosting, make sure both the cream cheese and butter are fully softened before mixing.
  • These cupcakes are best stored in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese frosting and will keep well for up to 4 days.
  • You can easily swap blackberries for raspberries or blueberries if desired.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 477Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 263mgCarbohydrates: 82gFiber: 2gSugar: 55gProtein: 6g

Nutrition facts are calculated automatically and are approximate.

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