If you can’t get enough lime flavor, this recipe is for you. These are lime flavored cupcakes filled with lime fluff and topped with lime buttercream. It doesn’t get more light, airy and decadent than this! Use key limes for this recipe instead of regular limes because they’re sweeter and better suited for baking.

These fluffy cupcakes, full of fresh lime flavor, bring a burst of citrusy joy that’s sure to put a smile on your face and have you dreaming of palm trees and sandy shores. Lime cupcakes aren’t just for summer, they’re also the perfect green color for St. Patrick’s Day or for adding a touch of green to your Christmas potluck dessert table.

You might also love this recipe for Lemon Poke Cake, check it out next!

Step 1: Bake Lime Cupcakes

Use one box of white cake mix. Add three eggs, ⅓ cup of vegetable oil, and ¼ cup of fresh key lime juice, ¾ cup of water and the zest of 1-3 key limes depending on how strong you’d like the key lime flavor to be. It’s a good idea not to grate too much of the white part (lime pith) because it will taste more bitter than the green outer layer.

Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients in a medium bowl and mix them until they’re smooth. You can use a spoon or ice cream scoop to fill your paper liners and set them in muffin cups or a cupcake pan. Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full.

Bake the lime cupcakes at 350 Fahrenheit for 16 minutes or until they spring back when lightly touched. Let them cool on a wire rack.

Step 2: Make Lime Fluff Cupcake Filling

Mix one 3 oz box of Lime Jello (85 grams) with ¼ cup of boiling water until all the crystals are dissolved. Then add ⅓ cup of ice cubes (or ¼ cup of cold water) and stir. Set aside your Jello mixture until it’s cooled to room temperature.

Take two cups of vanilla fat-free yogurt, and whisk it using an electric mixer or for 2-5 minutes at a medium-high speed until it’s increased in size and starting to look bubbly. If you use other types of yogurt, it may end up being quite a bit thicker.

Add the room-temperature Jello mixture to the vanilla yogurt and whisk it together for another 5-7 minutes until it’s full of airy bubbles.

Refrigerate the lime fluff mixture for 2 hours until it’s cooled and set completely.

Step 3: Make Lime Buttercream Frosting

In a large bowl, put 4 cups of powdered sugar, one cup of room temperature unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, the zest and juice of one lime and mix them together with a hand mixer or stand mixer until your buttercream frosting is smooth. If you need more liquid, you can add 1 tablespoon of milk or heavy cream. If your tangy lime buttercream frosting is too liquidy, add more powdered sugar. Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Cold butter will be too hard to blend. Start at a low speed until all your ingredients are incorporated, then switch to a medium speed.

Take ¼ cup of your lime buttercream and add green food coloring to it. Then put a Wilton 4B open star piping tip inside a piping bag and add a streak of green frosting to the inside. Fill the rest of your piping bag with white frosting. This will give your icing a streak of green when you start decorating.

If you’d like to try another great frosting recipe, I highly recommend this Italian meringue buttercream recipe from chef Lindsey.

Step 4: Fill and Decorate your Lime Cupcakes

Once your cupcakes have completely cooled to room temperature, use a sharp knife to cut a small hole in the top of each cupcake.

Put a spoonful of the cooled lime fluff into a piping bag and cut off the tip. Pipe lime fluff into the hole in the cupcake.

Pipe lime buttercream on top of your cupcake and then top it with a sliver of lime wedge as a garnish. Keep your cupcakes in the fridge until about an hour before you’re ready to serve them.

Lime Cupcake Tips

How do you get the lime buttercream frosting in a nice high swirl?

Add a bit of frosting to the center of your cupcake to cover the lime fluff hole. Then start piping frosting around the edge of the cupcake, working your way up and into the center.

If you don’t have a bump of frosting in the center, your cupcake frosting will lay flat across the top.

Can I use a different type of yogurt for the lime fluff filling?

I used fat-free vanilla yogurt in my lime fluff filling because it’s nice and runny. If you use a different type of yogurt, it may turn out thicker.

Can I make lime-fluff-filled cupcakes ahead of time?

Yes, if you’re trying to save time the day-of your special occasion. Lime fluff-filled cupcakes will stay good in the fridge for about 24-48 hours.

Alternatively, you can make your cupcakes ahead of time and freeze them until you’re ready to fill and decorate them. Frozen lime cupcakes will stay fresh in an airtight container in your freezer for at least 2 weeks.

What else can I use as decoration?

If you’d like something other than a lime slice on top, you can try a pinch of key lime zest, green sprinkles, or even a pinch of shredded coconut.

What can I substitute for lime fluff filling?

You could use lime curd instead of lime fluff in the center of this key lime cupcakes recipe. If you’d like to make this recipe easier, you can leave out the filling entirely.

What type of sugar do I use to make buttercream frosting?

Use powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar to make lime buttercream frosting. Do not use granulated sugar.

Final Thoughts on Lime Buttercream Cupcakes with Lime Fluff Filling

These little bundles of joy are filled to the brim with a lime fluff that’s so divine, you’ll swear it came straight from citrus paradise. They are the ultimate ode to the zestier side of life. With every bite, you’re transported to a sunny beach, savoring the vibrant flavors of freshly squeezed limes. If you like this recipe, you might also love these lemon ricotta cookies with some sweet lemon icing. For another perfect dessert option, check out this recipe crème brûlée!

Whip up a batch of these tantalizing treats, and share the love with friends and family. Save this recipe for your Pinterest so you can find it later! Your taste buds will thank you.