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Key Lime Cupcakes

Posted : May 9, 2016
tag : Cream Cheese, Cupcakes, Frosting, Lime
by : Kristan
comment : 50

These Key Lime Cupcakes are the perfect tart and tangy combo. I love this Summer cupcake!

Key Lime Cupcakes Picture

**This post was originally published on March 31, 2013. I have updated the photos and tweaked the recipe slightly. These are some of my absolute favorite cupcakes I’ve ever made!!

I finally decided that I was ready to try to lose the last of my pregnancy weight.

I’ve been using one of those calorie counting apps on my phone, and it’s basically the dumbest thing ever.

EVER!!!

Key Lime Cupcakes Photo

That dumb app makes me question every tiny thing I could possibly eat.

Did you KNOW how many calories is in stuff?  A LOT, that’s what.  PLUS, it’s a lot of math, so I spend my day doing math and NOT eating.

FAIL.

The other day, Jon David was all, “Mom, these Nilla Wafers are stale,” and I was like, “they’re not stale, son…they’re Reduced Fat.”

Then he looked at them with pure contempt and replied, “Well…I feel sorry for YOU”.

Exactly.

Key Lime Cupcakes Image

I made these cupcakes the other day, so of course I had to eat one for quality control and all that.

OMG — stinking delicious.  I am not even kidding, it’s all I thought about for hours.  Finally, I ended up in the kitchen, harfing another cupcake down my face over the sink.  Then I hated myself a little, but it was so good, I really didn’t hate myself THAT much.

I wish you could write blog calories off like you can ingredients for taxes.

I don’t know if  you’re on a diet or whatever, but if you are, you need to make the darn cupcakes anyways.   They are so perfectly tangy and limey with a graham cracker base and creamy cream cheese frosting with a hint of lime added.  Seriously perfect.

 

Print
Key Lime Cupcakes

Ingredients

    Cupcakes:
  • 1 box (18.25 oz) classic white cake mix
  • 1 small box (3 oz) Lime Jell-O
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup limeade concentrate, thawed
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • Frosting:
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, slightly softened
  • 8 oz block cream cheese, slightly softened
  • 3 TBS freshly squeezed Key Lime juice
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Key Lime zest
  • Graham cracker crumbs and lime slices for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin tins with liners and set aside.
  2. Sprinkle a spoonful of graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of each liner. In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, Jell-O, eggs, vegetable oil, and limeade concentrate. Beat on low for 30 seconds. Scrape sides of bowl, increase speed to medium high, and beat for two minutes. Fill tins 2/3 full. Bake for about 15 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire racks.
  3. Prepare frosting: In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, and Key Lime juice on medium low speed until combined. With the mixer set on LOW, slowly add powdered sugar and Key Lime zest. Beat until just combined. Increase speed to high and beat for one minute. Frost cupcakes, then garnish with additional graham cracker crumbs and lime slices.
3.1

These are so great for any cookout or Spring get together. Enjoy and have a happy Monday!!

About Kristan
Hey cutie! Thanks for reading :) Let me introduce myself -- I'm Kristan (pronounced Kris-TANNE) a work-at-home mom living, baking, and online shopping in Fort Smith Arkansas. I have a 12 year-old son Jon David, a 4 year-old daughter Lucy, and a husband, Jess. I completely adore all of them 96% of the time (the rest of the time you can find me drinking my feelings with a box of Pinot). I hope you stay awhile -- I'd love to get to know you!

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50 Comments
  1. Raechel March 31, 2013 at 10:29 pm Reply

    These look amazing!! I might have to make them soon, verrry soon. Although I am also trying to loose weight lol. And I use myfitnesspal and it is rediculous to have to type in everything that you eat. They fail for me because ain’t nobody got time for that. The only upside is that I am so lazy to type it in that I just say screw it and just don’t eat it lol (even though sometimes it could be healthy!). I really love your blog :)

    • Raechel March 31, 2013 at 10:30 pm Reply

      *lose weight lol

  2. Casey March 31, 2013 at 10:58 pm Reply

    this is too crazy! I just got back from Key West on Friday and have been craving more key lime pie-flavored things since!!

  3. Elise @ Paint Chips & Frosting April 1, 2013 at 1:29 am Reply

    These are way too cute! I love those cupcake wrappers, and the way it looks with the dark green one on the inside and the light green polka dot one on the outside!

  4. Julianne @ Beyond Frosting April 1, 2013 at 1:49 am Reply

    Ohhh! These sound fantastic. I’ve always wondered about lime cupcakes. Your recipe makes total sense to me. Plus if it comes recommended from you it must be THAT good!

  5. Tahnycooks April 1, 2013 at 8:10 am Reply

    I have so much laundry to do today, but I’m thinking about ignoring it to make these delicious looking cupcakes! Thanks for sharing!

  6. dessertfortwo April 1, 2013 at 8:13 am Reply

    I’m such a sucker for anything key lime. I want these!

  7. Heather @ Sugar Dish Me April 1, 2013 at 8:30 am Reply

    I have a majorly love/hate relationship with my calorie counting app. Love that it makes me think about what I’m eating. HATE that it makes me think about what I’m eating. I just eat a cupcake, count the calories, and then walk the dog till I break even. Rinse. Repeat.

  8. [email protected] April 1, 2013 at 10:30 am Reply

    Mmmm, I bet that lime concentrate really makes these pop!

  9. Shay April 1, 2013 at 10:55 am Reply

    Are you still nursing? My baby weight stuck around till I quit nursing. As soon as I quit, it was like magic, and i lost most of it about two weeks after I quit!

    • Marie M.C. April 1, 2013 at 11:31 am Reply

      Ha! That’s what everyone told me, too. I only gained 16 pounds when pregnant. Since I was nursing, I figured I could eat anything, everything and get away with it. No such luck. I gained 18 pounds in 8 months — more than I’d gained in 40 weeks of being pregnant — and it took me THREE years to lose it. Oy.

  10. Mr. & mrs. P April 1, 2013 at 11:57 am Reply

    Beautiful cupcakes!!! Love key lime!!

  11. Carla @ Carlas Confections April 1, 2013 at 12:50 pm Reply

    Eating right is over rated. Eating these cupcakes is so much better! Ill take them all :D

  12. Melissa @ Treats With a Twist April 1, 2013 at 1:31 pm Reply

    If I can give you any piece of advise with the calorie counting and writing it down (or plugging it in in your case), is keep it at a two week MAX rule. Learn your habits after the first few days (go through and actually look at what you typed in for a three day span, and find any patterns or habits that you did well with or need to change). And after the two weeks is up, take what you’ve learned and keep making good choices without the apps. Just be mindful of the habits you learned! And if a couple months down the road, things head in the wrong direction, write it down for another 3 days just to see if you’re doing anything mindlessly that can be easily changed.
    Hope that helps. Because its easy to get carried away, and make your life one giant no-fun math problem just to make everything fit in just right (I’m speaking from personal experience).
    PS eat another cupcake. These look amazing!!

  13. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen April 1, 2013 at 2:05 pm Reply

    baaahaaahahaa Jon David cracks me up

  14. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar April 1, 2013 at 2:48 pm Reply

    This looks fabulous! Awesome idea!

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  16. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking April 1, 2013 at 3:03 pm Reply

    Love these! They look so delicious and summery!

  17. Cassie | Bake Your Day April 1, 2013 at 7:53 pm Reply

    Yeah, I don’t do those calorie counting things either. Too much work and too depressing! I love these, girl!

  18. Julie @ Table for Two April 1, 2013 at 9:02 pm Reply

    Calorie counting is SO hard!!! And I feel it isn’t really accurate cause not everything in the app has the ingredients or whatever I consume. I tried doing it a few times, lost like 6 pounds but then gained it right back after I stopped counting. I just need to learn portion control ;) it’s hard though when you put these key lime cupcakes in front of me. Key lime is one of my all time FAVORITE flavors ever. These look mouth-watering good!!

  19. ashley - baker by nature April 1, 2013 at 9:18 pm Reply

    I don’t why but this post cracked me up!I tried counter calories once and went “over” before 3 pm. Aye-ye-ye. I would definitely break any diet for one of these gorgeous cupcakes!

  20. sweetsugarbelle April 2, 2013 at 2:36 am Reply

    Um yeah. That story you just told? EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE! And the app? Like a naggy little voice telling all my friends that I did not meet my calorie goals for that day.

  21. Miss @ MIss in the Kitchen April 2, 2013 at 8:51 am Reply

    I tried one of those apps on my computer, totally hated it in five seconds. The cupcakes though, I love those!

  22. Kasha the FarmGirl April 2, 2013 at 9:48 am Reply

    Key Lime Pie is one of my most favorite things in the world! This look absolutely phenomenal.

    And I totally agree with your son about the ‘stale’ ‘Nilla Wafers ;)

  23. Brian @ A Thought For Food April 2, 2013 at 10:49 am Reply

    It’s so funny.. I think I’ve had key lime pie (or anything for that matter) once or twice in my life. I really need to get my hands on some to try my hand at this gorgeous cupcake.

  24. Carolyn April 2, 2013 at 12:41 pm Reply

    Counting off blogging calories like ingredients for taxes would be awesome! But maybe you will come over to the dark side (the low carb side) where you don’t have to eat fat free and you don’t go hungry! :) Beautiful cupcakes, though!

  25. Andrea R. April 2, 2013 at 12:46 pm Reply

    Made these last night!!! Oh my gosh, they are awesome!! Thank you so much!!

  26. Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen April 2, 2013 at 2:58 pm Reply

    Beautiful Key Lime Cupcakes, Kristan! Saw them over at Pinterest and just had to stop by and let you know how pretty they are. LOVE Key Lime anything! Hey, I’m an 80/20 girl…stay strict with carb counts and glycemic index (sugars, because I must as once being diagnosed a pre-diabetic) and allow myself a splurge now and then without hating myself. (Margarita? Yes, please!) This really does work for me. So, don’t get ticked off at yourself and just eat the diet that best suits you and your health. I’m all about freedom and despise when people dictate diets to others. Love your blog! xo

  27. Diane {Created by Diane} April 2, 2013 at 5:28 pm Reply

    these look FANTASTIC!

  28. shelly (cookies and cups) April 2, 2013 at 5:58 pm Reply

    omg, writing off blog calories like ingredients,.. my life would be perfect.
    Love key lime anything, you know that. these look amazing.

  29. Lauren April 2, 2013 at 8:14 pm Reply

    I’m assuming you’re probably talking about MyFitnessPal and I hear you… I have it too. lol I lost 80 pounds years ago (I’ve put most of it back on since… BOO!) and it was because of calorie counting and not letting myself go above a set amount of low calories per day. It was super duper difficult, but I felt great when I had lost the weight. That being said once I started letting myself eat again it all came back on, so I’m trying to learn how to eat better instead of cutting all of my calories out of the day. Your blog doesn’t help… haha I love your stuff though, so I keep coming back. Something that helps me understand my portioning better is caloriecount.com. You can put all of your information in (all of the ingredients) and it will give you every single nutritional bit of info you need, plus all of the goods and bads to the recipe (so you know where to try to tweak it to make it healthier). Maybe it’ll help you out too!

  30. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen April 3, 2013 at 12:45 am Reply

    Yes! Blog calories are part of the job, we should certainly be able to write them off.

  31. Carrian April 3, 2013 at 9:45 am Reply

    Oh man, I hate knowing how many calories are in things. It ruins everything. Here, I’ll eat the cupcakes for you

  32. kita April 4, 2013 at 9:28 am Reply

    These flavors just scream warmer weather to me. Which I need! I want a one of these little cupcakes to brighten my day.

  33. Shaina April 4, 2013 at 4:39 pm Reply

    “I wish you could write blog calories off like you can ingredients for taxes.”

    Genius.

  34. Chris April 7, 2013 at 10:19 pm Reply

    delicious! the frosting is my favorite part, so creamy and such a great surprise of lime flavor! thanks for the great post!

  35. Sue {munchkin munchies} April 7, 2013 at 11:10 pm Reply

    First Shelly’s truffles and now your cupcakes! I see key lime on the horizon:)

  36. Anita July 22, 2013 at 8:11 pm Reply

    Hi, just getting ready to make these and just noticed 1 1/3 cups of oil? Is that right? Sounds really high for cupcakes. I know you probably won’t get back with me in time so I’m going to go for it!

    • Kristan February 27, 2014 at 1:12 pm Reply

      Yes, it is the right amount!!!

  37. Anita July 22, 2013 at 8:23 pm Reply

    Ah! I can’t get myself to put that much oil in! Waiting to hear from you!!

  38. StacieM March 8, 2014 at 8:26 pm Reply

    I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard reading a post! This cracked me up. Especially the part where you stood over the sink scarfing down another cupcake. That’s so me!

  39. Kerry May 13, 2014 at 9:39 pm Reply

    OMG, As soon as I found this recipe, I made them. The batter tasted like a dream and the cake part tasted great, but mine sunk in the middle… any ideas why? I only filled cups just under 2/3rds full My classic cake mix called for 3 eggs and less oil and water. I will try this again but add the jello and limeade to the cake according to box directions… but if anyone thinks it could be something else, let me know.

    • Jen November 21, 2014 at 12:31 pm Reply

      Mine sunk in the middle too… Haven’t tasted them yet, but the batter was delish????
      I’m curious why too!

  40. keukenwerkblad April 26, 2015 at 6:15 am Reply

    Hi, I think now I have a strong hold over the topic after going through the post. The subject that you have discussed in the post is really amazing; I will surely come back for more information.

  41. Jenny Flake May 9, 2016 at 2:16 pm Reply

    These really are the perfect summer cupcake! Love!!

  42. Jess May 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm Reply

    OH these sound heavenly!! YUMMMY!!

    I would LOVE to invite you to share this with my viewers at Cooking and Crafting with J & J: http://www.pluckys-secondthought.com/cooking-crafting-j-j-link-49-48-features/

    Also, you can share this with my Recipes, Crafts, Tips and Tricks Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

  43. Roxana May 9, 2016 at 6:21 pm Reply

    Gorgeous little cupcake! I love the pictures!

  44. Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures May 10, 2016 at 7:39 am Reply

    Even on a diet, you have to treat yourself :) . These cupcakes look yummy!

  45. Cassandra Holdeman May 10, 2016 at 7:43 am Reply

    I love Key Lime so these are definitely going on the list of cupcakes to try.

  46. Carol May 18, 2016 at 6:19 am Reply

    I loved your post :D Being on a diet is the saddest thing one can do… Everything has calories, but it’s all about quality and quantity of food, and type of fats and…. Just eat as organic products as possible and enjoy every bit :)

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