Skip to content

Our 2024 Print Your Own Calendar is now on sale! Buy now!

On December 15th, it’s time to pay special attention to cupcakes; one specific type of cupcake, in fact. Because it’s National Lemon Cupcake Day!

Lemon is a favorite flavor in the world of cake and sweets, and this day is the perfect excuse to enjoy a sweet treat with that distinctive twist of citrus. Adding lemon flavor to cakes can give them a refreshing kick, and when made into the miniature treat of a cupcake, it’s especially tasty.

That’s why lemon cupcakes deserve their own day!

The History of National Lemon Cupcake Day

Exactly when National Lemon Cupcake Day started popping up is under some debate, but there’s no doubt that cupcakes themselves have been around for a very long time. The first written record historians can find of what would become a cupcake is in the 1796 book ‘American Cookery’ by Amelia Simmons, who was the first American to write and publish a cookery book. One of the recipes called for the use of small cups to bake a small, light cake.

The term ‘cupcake’ was first printed in ‘Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats” by Eliza Leslie in 1828. Clearly, the term came about for obvious reasons, due to the fact that these little treats were baked in their own small molds (cups) or ramekins.

This turned out to be a convenient and quick way to bake cakes, and soon enough they became popular as a snack cake. And of course, their small size would help people monitor their cake intake a little better for those who were a bit more diet-conscious.

Cupcake flavors are endless. No matter which one a sweet tooth craves, there’s more than likely a cupcake for that. From chocolate to simple vanilla to all different kinds of fruit, or maybe a twist of peanut butter or caramel, these little cakes have the potential to be flavored any way a person might like.

But one of the most delicious options has to be the humble lemon cupcake. And that’s the one that is celebrated today!

How to Celebrate National Lemon Cupcake Day

National Lemon Cupcake Day comes with all sorts of fun options for observing and honoring the featured dessert of the day. Try out some of these ideas or come up with other creative ways to enjoy the day:

Eat Lemon Cupcakes

Just like most dessert-themed days, the best way to celebrate is by enjoying one of these little lemony treats! Head on over to a local bakery to see what lemon cupcakes they have on offer. They might even have a special deal or giveaway in celebration of this important baked goods day!

Order Lemon Cupcakes from a Bakery

Some bakeries rotate their offerings and may not be aware that National Lemon Cupcake Day is coming. In this case, simply give them a call a few days ahead and make a special order for a dozen (or several dozen) lemon cupcakes that can be passed around to friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers.

This is the perfect way to bring joy and delight to almost anyone. Because who doesn’t appreciate a lemon cupcake?!

Make Lemon Cupcakes at Home

One of the best things about cupcakes is how simple they are to make, and adding that twist of lemon is so easy. This is a fun activity for kids to enjoy with mom and dad at home, whether using it as a lesson for homeschool or simply building important life skills related to subjects such as math and science!

First off, the best way to begin is by using some paper cupcake liners, or simply use a cupcake tray but be sure to grease it well so the cupcakes don’t stick. Use an electric mixer to blend together 100 grams of granulated sugar with around 140 grams of butter, 140 grams of self-rising flour, and 2 eggs.

Drop in the zest of half a lemon, and put the mixture into the paper-lined cupcake pan. If there are any holes that aren’t filled with cupcake batter, be sure to fill them halfway with water so the heat will distribute evenly and the cupcakes will bake evenly.

It might be fun to get creative with the icing, but for a simple treat make some buttercream and add a bit more lemon zest into it. When after about 20 minutes in a medium heat oven the cupcakes are ready, get artistic when putting the icing on the cooled cakes by adding little pieces of candy or delightful sprinkles.

Make some delicious lemon cupcakes for friends and family, or hoard a batch all on your own—we won’t tell!

Learn About Lemons

In honor of National Lemon Cupcake Day, try out these fun facts that other people might not know about lemons! It’s a great way to celebrate the day and learn something about the world around us. Start with these bits of trivia related to lemons:

  • Lemons are native to the continent of Asia and are a hybrid between a citron and a sour orange. They have now been cultivated all over the world and the countries that produce the most lemons each year are China, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and India.

  • Lemon trees can be prolific fruit givers—one lemon tree can produce up to 600 pounds of lemons each year, and they produce fruit all year round.

  • In addition to being a great flavoring for cupcakes, lemons have high acidity (5-6% citric acid) which makes them a great tool for natural cleaning.

  • The largest recorded lemon ever grown was cultivated in Israel in 2013 and weighed almost 12 pounds.

Also on ...

View all holidays
-
View all holidays

We think you may also like...