Not only are Pink Lemonade Cupcakes absolutely adorable--they're also the fluffiest tart and refreshing bite of lemony cake and frosting, perfect for any summer celebration.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Pink lemonade brings me back to childhood. It was such a fun twist on the original tart drink, and I loved the pop of unexpected pink! These cupcakes totally add another layer of sweet, sweet nostalgia (literally!). They couldn't be cuter, and every kid and parent alike will have a hard time stopping at just one.

Lemon cakes always have such a sophisticated air to them. They remind me of fancy desserts you might serve at a tea party. Pink Lemonade Cupcakes are definitely worthy of a tea party, but they're also a lovely ender for any summertime celebration! Whether it's a pool party, cookout, block party, or picnic--these beauties will add a little fun and tart sweetness to any kind of gathering.

What's in Pink Lemonade Cupcakes?

This recipe is pretty basic, which makes it even better for entertaining since it comes together in the snap of a finger! For the cake, you just need a lemon cake box mix, oil, buttermilk, and eggs. The frosting calls for butter, pink lemonade concentrate, vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. Unlike a lot of lemony desserts, you don't need to zest, juice, or slice any real lemons in the making of these cupcakes! Easy as can be.

How do you make the perfect cupcake icing?

The consistency of cupcake icing is really important if you want to pile it nice and high on the little cakes. When you mix up the icing ingredients, only add half of the powdered sugar at first. You want it to be a medium consistency, so start there and adjust as needed.

You should be able to stick a small spoon in the middle of the bowl of icing, and it stays standing up (this is the best way to test it). If it's too thick, add a little more pink lemonade concentrate. If it's too thin, add a quarter cup of powdered sugar at a time until it reaches the best consistency.

Tips for making Pink Lemonade Cupcakes:

You get what you pay for. When you bake from boxed cake mixes, I always think the nicer brands yield a better finished product. You'll save a couple bucks on the off brand selections, but the quality is truly better in the little bit pricier ones. I like to use Betty Crocker.
Don't ignore room temp instructions. When making the icing, both the butter and pink lemonade concentrate should be room temperature. If the concentrate is still frozen or cold, it will cause chunks of butter to harden in the icing. I like butter, but I'm not sure chunks of it in a bite of frosting is very appealing...
Have fun with the toppings! You can get really creative with your garnishes here. Add mini umbrellas, slices of lemon, decorative sprinkles, or small paper straws, like I did here. These cupcakes are seriously precious, so deck them out however your heart desires.