Simple and delicious, these fluffy gluten free lemon cupcakes are a delicious dessert your family will love. These cupcakes are also dairy-free so that everyone can enjoy them! Top them with either lemonade icing or frosting for any celebration!

Three lemon cupcakes on a plate. They are frosted and topped with lemon sprinkles.

These gluten free lemon cupcakes are incredible and are a delicious way to use some of my fresh lemons. If you love that sweet-tart flavor you get from lemons, you will love this simple, gluten free lemon cupcakes recipe!

This is one of my favorite cupcake recipes. If you want more lemon recipes, try my Gluten Free Lemon Pound Cake recipe! For more cupcake recipes, check out all of my Gluten Free Cupcakes.

A picture of the lemon tree in our backyard.
Here is our tiny but mighty lemon tree!

Why This Recipe Is Great:

  1. This gluten free lemon cupcake recipe is homemade, made from scratch, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. If you want a tried and true cupcake recipe, this is it!
  2. These cupcakes are also dairy-free!
  3. Store-bought gluten free cupcakes will never be as good. I made this cupcake recipe easy to follow so that you can make these in your kitchen!
  4. You can top these with the lemonade icing or add a few drops of yellow food coloring to my easy gluten free frosting recipe! Also, be sure if you use sprinkles to check my gluten free sprinkles list to verify the brand you use is gluten free!

Allergen Information:

This gluten free lemon cupcake recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free.

Top Pick
King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs

This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)

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Ingredient Notes:

Photos of the lemon cupcake ingredients.
  • Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn’t mean other flour mixtures will not work; I just have not tested other flour.
  • Xanthan Gum – If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon. See the Substitutions section below for a gum-free alternative.
  • Eggs – Use large eggs. You can use them from the refrigerator; they do not need to be at room temperature. Note I have not tested this recipe with any egg replacer.
  • Sugar – You can use organic or regular. Both work perfectly fine.
  • Lemons – I prefer fresh, but bottled is okay to use. If you have a lemon tree like me, use fresh!
  • Non-Dairy Milk – I used almond milk, but you can also use a different one, like flaxseed or soy milk. I do not recommend canned coconut milk. Oat milk is great to use, but check to see is oat milk gluten free.
  • Coconut Oil – Any brand is fine; depending on the temperature in your house, be sure to melt it before using it.
  • Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract.
  • Baking Soda – I use baking soda because it works better in acidic recipes.
  • Powdered Sugar – You can use this for the yummy lemonade glaze recipe below or in a homemade buttercream frosting.

If you love fruity cupcakes, try my Gluten Free Peach Cupcakes recipe!

Substitutions:

  • Make these cupcakes gum-free (aka gluten free lemon cupcakes without xanthan gum) using my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend. It uses psyllium husk instead of xanthan gum as a binder.
  • If you can’t have coconut, swap the coconut oil for another oil like avocado or canola oil.
  • If you are dairy-free, use plant-based butter (aka margarine) for the frosting.
An image of a sketched coffee cup.

Tips For Sucess:

  • Do not use a stand or electric mixer. These tools usually overmix your batter, leaving a dense cupcake.
  • Use parchment paper cupcake liners. The cupcakes come away from these liners cleanly.

Check out my Gluten Free Cake Troubleshooting Guide for even more baking tips.

Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Making these fluffy gluten free lemon cupcakes is so easy. Preheat your oven to 350º F, and move your oven rack to the middle position. You do not want your oven rack too low, or your cake bottoms can burn. Gluten free baking is easy with these simple directions:

A photo of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Step 1: Add your gluten free flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk to blend dry ingredients together.

To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using either the spoon method or leveling method.

Spoon Method: You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.

Leveling Method: Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, add the oil, lemon juice, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and non-dairy milk. Whisk the wet ingredients.

A photo of the wet and dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. For best results, mix them together until they are just barely mixed.

I like to let my batter sit for 15 minutes, but this is optional. For grittier gluten-free flour blends, this can help make the cupcake texture because it helps soften the rice flour in your flour blend.

🔑 Sandi says: The air bubbles from gently mixing your batter by hand help to make your cupcakes fluffy. Overmixing the batter will eliminate these air bubbles, leaving denser cupcakes.

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Cupcake batter in a muffin tin ready to bake.

Step 4: Use a large cookie scoop or spoon the cupcake batter into a parchment paper-lined muffin tin to bake.

Fill each cup about ¾ full of the gluten free cupcake batter so they can rise up but not spill over the top of the liner onto the muffin tin. This will also give you an even surface on top if you are going to frost the cupcakes.

Step 5: Bake at 350º F for 20-25 minutes until done. You can test to see if they are finished baking by inserting a toothpick in the center of a cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cupcakes are finished baking. If you see crumbs or batter, they will need to bake a little longer.

Step 6: Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow your cupcakes to cool on a wire rack.

Now is a good time to mix the icing or frosting.

Ascooper that takes out the middle of the cupcakes.

Do not frost the cupcakes until they are completely cooled. You can use this contraption to scoop out some of the middles and fill the cupcakes with lemon curd if you prefer an even more lemony flavor!

TIP: If you want your frosting to be more lemon colored, add a few drops of lemon food coloring to the frosting as it mixes in your standing mixer. Here is an excellent guide to gluten free frosting, including how to color it.

A spoon drizzling icing over a cupcake.

Note this post was updated from an older Feb. 2017 post with better directions and photos. This is what the older photo looked like. It had lemonade icing instead of lemon frosting.

These gluten free lemon cupcakes have a wonderful lemonade icing drizzle, making them so refreshing. For an extra fancy occasion, top them with your favorite frosting. Dig in!!

Recipe FAQ:

What makes a cupcake light and fluffy?

The best way to keep your cupcakes light and fluffy is to be careful not to over-mix the batter.

How do you know when the cupcakes are done baking?

To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cupcakes need to bake longer.

How do you store gluten free lemon cupcakes?

These cupcakes will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container. These cupcakes also freeze really well and can be stored for up to 4 months in the freezer. I place cooled cupcakes into a freezer-safe zip-style bag.

Why didn’t the cupcakes rise?

If your cupcakes didn’t rise, you may have used expired baking soda or overmixed your cupcake batter.

Four lemon cupcakes on a wire rack.

Check out all of these incredible Gluten Free Lemon Desserts!

More Gluten Free Lemon Dessert Recipes:

Reader Reviews:

“So yummy! Love this recipe”

Lauren T, Pinterest User
Three lemon cupcakes on a plate. They are frosted and topped with lemon sprinkles.

Gluten Free Lemon Cupcakes with Lemonade Icing

Sandi Gaertner
Easy light and fluffy gluten free lemon cupcakes with a lemonade icing.
4.77 from 26 votes
dairy free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Gluten Free Cake Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 256 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ¼ cup gluten free flour blend * see note
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ¼ cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 ¼ cups almond milk * see note
  • ¼ cup coconut oil melted

Frosting:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest to top cupcakes with
  • ½ cup unsalted butter Softened, use dairy-free butter if you are dairy-free
  • Optional: 3-5 drops of yellow food coloring

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F. Be sure that the oven rack is in the middle setting.
  • Line a cupcake tin with paper cupcake liners. I like to use parchment paper liners so the cupakes don't stick to the paper.
  • In a large bowl, add all of the dry ingredients.
  • Whisk to blend these ingredients.
  • In a medium bowl, add all of the wet ingredients and whisk to blend them all together.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until they are just barely mixed. This will help to keep your cupcakes light and fluffy.
  • Use a large cookie scoop to add the batter to each cupcake liner. Fill each cup about ¾ full. Try not to overfill the batter or your cupcakes can rise too high.
  • Sprinkle the top of each cupcake with lemon zest.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until done. (*See note to test if they are fully baked)
  • Allow the cupcakes to cool on a wire cooling rack.
  • Mix all of the frosting ingredients in a stand mixer. Use the whisk attachment to make this frosting really fluffy.

Notes

  1. I have tested this recipe with two gluten free flour blends. King Arthur Measure for Measure GF Blend and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF Blend. This does not mean they are the only two that work for this recipe. It just means I haven’t tested all of the gluten free flour blends out there.
  2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum, please add 1 teaspoon to the dry ingredients. For gum-free, use my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend.
  3. Mix your cupcake batter for light and fluffy cupcakes until it is barely mixed; it will help make your cupcakes lighter and fluffier.
  4. To test to see if your cupcakes are done baking, insert a toothpick into a cupcake. if the toothpick comes out clean, your cupcakes are finished baking. If you see batter or crumbs, you will need to bake them a little longer.
  5. You can top these cupcakes with the icing in the recipe or frost them with buttercream frosting.
  6. These cupcakes will keep fresh for up to 3 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze them in a freezer bag for up to 4  months.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 256kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 51mgPotassium: 86mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 59IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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Recipe Rating




65 Comments

  1. In the photo of ingredients it has baking powder, but in the list of ingredients it has Baking Soda?? Which one should we be using?/

  2. I was wondering if regular butter could be used for this recipe. If so, how much? I can’t wait to try this, my husband loves lemon deserts.😊

    1. Hi Kenyale, I assume you can use regular butter. I haven’t tested it in this recipe, but I have other lemon recipes where I use butter. It would be the same amount as the oil.

  3. hi,
    do you use coconut oil in liquid form or coconut oil – like butter? i’m meaning to try this for the weekend. my coconut oil is solid like a butter – so i’m not sure if i need to buy a coconut oil in liquid form.

    thanks!

      1. Is it 1/4 c melted coconut oil or 1/4 c coconut oil measured first, then melted?

      2. Thank you. I just finished making these and they turned out very dense. They aren’t risen nearly as high as the ones in your pictures. Also, I can’t taste any lemon. I used fresh lemon juice, but all I can taste is the coconut oil. I’m wondering if you have any thoughts on why I only taste the coconut oil? What brand do you use? I followed the recipe exactly. I used Krusteaz flour instead of the 1 to 1 since I couldn’t find that brand. It already had the xanthan gum. Thanks for your help.

      3. Hi Tiffany, I have never used Krusteaz flour mix before so I looked up the ingredients. I notice it has no starch in the mix, just a lot of gluten free flours. Starch is what gives these a more fluffy texture so I am thinking this is why your cupcakes were denser. I use Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF Blend or King Aruthur’s Measure for Measure mostly.

  4. Do you know if this recipe could be baked into a layer cake instead of cupcakes? Usually cupcake and cake recipes are interchangeable but I’m still fairly new at gluten free baking and wasn’t sure. Thanks!

    1. Hi Deeanna, I am sure you could make a cake. I have a lemon cake recipe on the blog too if you want to make that one instead. They have a very similar flavor. Just put lemon cake into the search bar on the right.

  5. 5 stars
    These are perfect for a brunch I’m planning with some friends who are staying away from gluten! Can’t wait to taste them!

  6. Hi
    We loved your Strawberry Muffins (I used a bit less sugar) and so I’m going to make these cupcakes for my son’s bday this week. Which milk- almond or coconut – do you prefer?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Kamala, I am so glad you liked the strawberry muffins. I liked these muffins with almond milk, and I tend to use it more often in baking. I hope your son has a great birthday 🙂

  7. Hi Sandi. I’m a little confused. I see a lot of comments on the use of the coconut milk in this recipe, but you only list coconut oil and not milk as an ingredient. Should it be coconut milk and not oil? Thanks!

    1. Hi Kristi, thank you for your note. This was a while ago, but there were quite a few people who wanted to use coconut milk instead of the almond milk to make these nut free. You can use either almond or coconut milk. I hope this helps. Sandi

  8. Hi there, I’m looking forward to trying these for my daughters birthday, but just wanted to double check if you use regular coconut milk or canned? TIA 🙂

  9. Hi! My 17 year old daughter found your site and we are really excited to try these! She is also curious about the calorie count in this recipe and your other recipes. Thanks!

    1. Hi Jan, I do need to find a way to do this. My recipe plug in doesn’t do this. I would highly suggest doing this through a free app like My Fitness Pal. Their calorie counter is really easy to use. I am so glad you will be trying some of my recipes. Please let me know how they turn out 🙂

  10. Hello, these look so yummy!! Is there a substitution for
    almond milk? My husband has a nut allergy so I wouldn’t
    be able to use almond milk ?. Please help because I would love to make these for him ?

    1. Hi Kelly, go ahead and use coconut milk. I substitute back and forth with this all of the time. Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂

  11. I am so excited to make these for my Grandma’s 80th birthday party! They look divine. How many cupcakes can be made from 1 batch?

    1. Hi Laura, I ended up with 15 cupcakes with this recipe. I hope you have a great birthday party!!