Homemade Grapefruit Cupcakes

Grapefruit cupcakes are a fun and delicious way to welcome in spring! These homemade cupcakes are easy to make, delicious, and have a wonderful texture. The easy cream cheese frosting compliments the cupcakes perfectly and tastes amazing! Overall, one of my favorite spring inspired cupcakes!

I love cupcakes and I love how these turned out! The pretty pink frosting piled high on top of this delicious cupcake is gorgeous and quite delicious. They are so easy to make and even easier to eat!

I’m on a spring cupcake  kick and in the next few weeks I’ll have a couple more cupcakes recipes coming out, but I wanted to start with these beauties. I was contemplating making either lemon cupcakes or grapefruit cupcakes and when I asked my husband which I should do- he said both!

So, that’s what I did! I wanted to share these yummy grapefruit cupcakes first though because they are my favorite! They are perfect for Easter, Baby Showers, Mother’s Day or anytime really. They are easy to make and really pretty with all that fun pink frosting on top!

Speaking of the frosting- you have to go make this! It’s a pretty standard recipe for cream cheese frosting, but I like to add a little more powdered sugar to it than some recipes suggest so the frosting is a bit stiffer and holds up better if sitting at room temperature. You can also refrigerate the amazing cream cheese frosting and that will help it thicken up too. You can also add more grapefruit juice if you want a stronger grapefruit flavor, but you might need to add a little more powdered sugar to compensate for the extra liquid.

Seriously go make these cupcakes! Or come visit and I’ll make them for you!

Do you have a favorite springtime dessert recipe? I’d love to know! Let me know in a comment below and then go make these!

If you liked these don’t miss my Orange Marmalade Cupcakes or my Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Cupcakes!

4.7 from 13 votes

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Grapefruit Cupcakes with a Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting

These easy homemade cupcakes are delicious and flavored with grapefruit! The light citrus flavor is delicious and refreshing and the sweetness of the frosting will make these a favorite in no time!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 12 cupcakes

Author Lisa

Ingredients

Homemade Cupcake Recipe

• 1 ½ cups cake flour*
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 tbs grapefruit zest
• 3 tbs grapefruit juice

Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 4-5 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tbs grapefruit juice
• 2 tbs grapefruit zest
• Food coloring optional

Instructions

How to make grapefruit cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
2. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl, set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar. Then add eggs and vanilla, making sure they are fully incorporated.
4. Mix flour mixture into butter mixture until just combined.
5. Add in buttermilk, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit zest. Mix until fully combined.
6. Divide batter into 12 cupcakes.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

8. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

How to make grapefruit cream cheese frosting:

1. With a hand mixer or a stand mixer, cream butter and cream cheese on medium high until fully combined.
2. Add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, adding in grapefruit juice in intervals to help the powdered sugar incorporate. The more powdered sugar the stiffer the frosting. I like to use at least 4 cups.*
3. Stir in the zest, and food coloring if using, and frost your cupcakes!
4. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*You can use all-purpose flour if you need to. *Refrigerating the frosting will also help it to thicken and will pipe on nicely to the cupcakes.