• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinner Recipes
    • Delicious Dessert Recipes
    • Sweet Baked Goods
    • Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes
      • Instant Pot Recipes
      • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Homemade Syrups, Condiments, Sauces, etc.
  • Cocktails
    • Gin
    • Vodka
    • Tequila
    • Whiskey/Bourbon
    • Brandy/Pisco
  • Holiday Recipes
    • Christmas Recipes
    • Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Halloween Recipes
    • Patriotic Recipes
    • Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Easter Recipes
    • St. Patrick's Day Recipes
  • Easy recipes, cocktail inspiration, and a little bit of fun!
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index

EmilyFabulous

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes

    Lilac Cupcakes with Lilac Buttercream Frosting

    Published: Apr 28, 2021 · Modified: Feb 28, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 42 Comments

    These Lilac Cupcakes with Lilac Buttercream have a subtle floral flavor and aroma that makes the most beautiful and delicious treat. Make homemade lilac syrup and lilac sugar from fresh edible lilac flowers to get the flavor in these cupcakes.

    a lilac cupcake with lilac buttercream frosting and fresh lilac flowers as garnish
    Jump to Recipe
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!

    Lilacs are such a beautiful and aromatic flower. And guess what? They are edible! The minute I discovered that you could eat these special little flowers my first thought was to make Lilac Cupcakes with Lilac Buttercream. These little baked goods taste as good as they sound using fresh lilac flowers. The flavor is subtle and the purple color of the frosting creates a beautiful presentation perfect for any occasion.

    This recipe is a small batch recipe meant to only make about 10-12 cupcakes. I always find this is perfect for my house (mostly for me so I don't eat them all 😂). If you want more cupcakes, feel free to double this recipe and you are good to go.

    lilac cupcakes with fresh lilac flowers on top

    Ingredients Needed to Make Lilac Cupcakes

    • all-purpose flour
    • baking powder
    • salt
    • unsalted butter
    • lilac sugar (recipe below)
    • lemon zest
    • egg
    • lilac syrup (recipe below)
    • milk
    • powdered confectioners sugar
    • vanilla extract
    • purple food coloring (or red and blue)
    • fresh lilac flowers for garnish
    a lilac cupcake on a pink platter

    How to Make Cupcakes with Edible Flowers

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare the cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
    2. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a mixer or a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Mix in the egg, lemon zest, and lilac syrup.
    3. Add half of the dry ingredients and mix them into the sugar mixture using a spatula or spoon. Add half of the milk and combine. Repeat until all of the ingredients have been mixed in.
    4. Fill liners with batter and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
    lilac cupcakes with lilac buttercream frosting swirled on top

    How to Make Lilac Buttercream Frosting

    In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, whip the butter until light and fluffy. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and mix in completely. Put in the vanilla, milk, and lilac syrup and combine. Add the rest of the powdered sugar and continue beating until the frosting is smooth. Add purple food coloring and mix in completely.

    How to Make Lilac Syrup

    You can check out my post for the complete recipe to make Lilac Simple Syrup. You will need 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of fresh lilac flowers that have been rinsed and de-stemmed. Bring the ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan, remove from the heat and allow the mixture to steep and cool for 2-3 hours. Once cool, add purple food coloring and store it in a sealable container.

    lilac syrup and fresh lilac flowers on a table

    How to Make Lilac Sugar

    You can make your own lilac sugar in a small coffee/nut grinder, food processor, or blender. Place ¼ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon fresh lilac flowers in the grinder. Pulse about 6-8 times just until combined. Place the lilac sugar in an airtight container until you are ready to use it. You can store the sugar for several weeks in a sealed container.

    • lilacs and sugar in a grinder
      fresh lilac flowers and sugar in a grinder
    • lilac sugar in a grinder
      lilac sugar in a grinder

    Other Delicious Dessert Recipes to Check Out

    • Pink Grapefruit Dessert Bars
    • Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • S’more Meringue Cups
    • Instant Pot Strawberry Cheesecake
    • Gluten-Free Skillet Cookie
    lilac cupcake on a pink platter

    Lilac Cupcakes and Lilac Buttercream Frosting

    These Lilac Cupcakes and Lilac Buttercream frosting are beautiful to make and even more delicious to eat!
    5 from 23 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Cooling Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 10 cupcakes
    Calories: 312kcal
    Author: EmilyFabulous

    Equipment

    • stand mixer or hand mixer
    • cupcake pan
    • cupcake liners
    • piping bag and tip
    • medium mixing bowl
    • large mixing bowl
    • silicone or rubber spatula
    • small saucepan for syrup
    • small coffee/nut grinder, food processor, or blender for lilac sugar

    Ingredients

    Lilac Cupcakes

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 3 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temp
    • ¾ cup lilac sugar (see notes)
    • 1 large egg, room temp
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
    • 2 tablespoon lilac syrup (see notes)
    • ½ cup milk, room temp

    Lilac Frosting

    • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp (2 sticks)
    • 4 cups powdered confectioners sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 4 tablespoon lilac syrup (see notes)
    • 2-3 tablespoon milk
    • purple food coloring (or red and blue)
    • fresh lilac flowers for decoration

    Instructions

    Lilac Cupcakes

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare the cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
      cupcake pan with cupcakes liners
    • Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a mixer or a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Add the egg, lemon zest, and lilac syrup and mix in.
      dry ingredients for lilac cupcakes
    • Add half of the dry ingredients and mix into the sugar mixture using a spatula or spoon (you don't want to overmix the flour!). Add half of the milk and combine. Repeat until all of the ingredients have been mixed in.
      lilac cupcake batter
    • Fill liners with batter and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overbake. Allow the cupcake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then place them on a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
      baked lilac cupcakes

    Lilac Frosting

    • In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, whip the butter until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
      creamed butter for frosting
    • Add 2 cups of powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and mix in completely. Put in the vanilla, milk, and lilac syrup and combine. Add the rest of the powdered sugar and continue beating until the frosting is smooth. Add the food coloring and mix in completely.
      lilac buttercream frosting
    • Frost the cooled cupcakes using a piping bag and tip of choice (I used Wilton 2D). Add fresh lilac flowers on top of each cupcake for aroma and decoration. Enjoy immediately.

    Notes

    • Ensure you use only lilac flowers that have not been sprayed with chemicals. Rinse the flowers and remove them from the stem before eating or using them in these recipes.
    • Make your own lilac sugar in your coffee grinder! Place ¼ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lilac flowers in your coffee grinder. Pulse until combined. Place in an airtight container until ready to use. 
    • Make your own lilac syrup by steeping lilac flowers in a simple syrup. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 1 cup lilac flowers in a small saucepan. Being to a boil and remove from the heat. Allow the syrup to steep and cool for 2-3 hours. Strain the flowers from the syrup, add purple food coloring, and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.2g | Protein: 1.9g | Fat: 18.1g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 29.7g | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    lilac cupcake with frosting and fresh lilac flowers on top
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!

    Did you Make These Lilac Cupcakes with Lilac Buttercream Frosting?

    If you make these Lilac Cupcakes and Frosting, don't forget to leave a comment below. You can also tag me on Instagram and Facebook to show me what you make!

    Do you want more delicious recipes in your inbox? Sign up for my email so you never miss a recipe. And follow me on Pinterest so you can save everything for later!

    More Recipes

    • passion fruit margaritas
      Passionfruit Margarita
    • almond milk orgeat syrup
      Almond Milk Orgeat Syrup
    • air fryer bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers
      Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
    • hibiscus cupcake with a dried hibiscus flower on top
      Hibiscus Cupcakes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. duniakagyan says

      November 17, 2022 at 5:21 am

      These look delicious! I will definitely try it.

      Reply
    2. Linda says

      May 23, 2021 at 9:06 pm

      The frosting recipe says to add milk, but it is not listed in the ingredients. Just wondering how much?

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 23, 2021 at 10:13 pm

        Hi Linda, sorry about that. 2-3 tbsp of milk for the frosting. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says

      May 03, 2021 at 10:41 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is making me want to find a lilac tree somewhere to make it! Lilacs are my favourite type of trees and I am so intrigued by the syrup and sugar you've created. YUM!!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 03, 2021 at 11:34 pm

        Lilacs bloom super early here in the Pacific Northwest but I hope you find a tree soon. They are just so lovely on their own and fun to work with in the kitchen.

        Reply
    4. Mihaela|https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says

      May 03, 2021 at 7:53 am

      5 stars
      Lilac is my favourite spring flower, and I had no idea it was edible! These must be the most beautiful cupcakes I've seen!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 03, 2021 at 3:34 pm

        I LOVE the way lilacs smell so I had to find out if I could get that fragrance in the kitchen and you can!!

        Reply
    5. Michelle says

      May 02, 2021 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      These are so pretty! I think I'm going to make them for my sister's bridal shower.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 4:38 pm

        Great idea, these will be a hit at the shower!

        Reply
    6. Inga says

      May 02, 2021 at 10:31 am

      5 stars
      These look so beautiful! I love the color and the fresh flowers on top 🙂

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 4:39 pm

        Thanks, Inga. Fresh flowers make everything better 😊.

        Reply
    7. Jeannie says

      May 02, 2021 at 1:33 am

      5 stars
      so beatiful cupcakes! how to eat 😋😋 interesting addition of lilac flowers

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 3:20 am

        Thank you!! 😊

        Reply
    8. Cooking with Carbs says

      May 02, 2021 at 12:30 am

      5 stars
      These look so amazing! I love making cupcakes with buttercream icing, but I've never used lilacs before. I love the idea that you're using these edible flowers to add to the flavor and aroma. I'll have to try this soon!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 3:21 am

        Cooking and baking with edible flowers is fo fun...and delicious!

        Reply
    9. Jamie says

      May 01, 2021 at 8:17 pm

      5 stars
      These are so delicious and beautiful! Love the color!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 3:21 am

        Thanks, Jamie!

        Reply
    10. Nora says

      May 01, 2021 at 8:14 pm

      5 stars
      What a lovely recipe! And those cupcakes are sooo beautiful! Can’t wait to try your recipe out! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 3:21 am

        You are really going to like this one, Nora.

        Reply
    11. Sue says

      May 01, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      These cupcakes are as delicious to the eyes as they are to the mouth!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 3:22 am

        I totally agree 💯!

        Reply
    12. Julia says

      May 01, 2021 at 6:58 pm

      5 stars
      I love this idea. I've never tried anything flavoured with lilac before. They're not in flower here yet but it could be that my neighbour's shrub is in jeopardy. They look so pretty.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 02, 2021 at 3:22 am

        Lol! I bet if you make your neighbor some of these cupcakes they won’t mind at all 🤣

        Reply
    13. Kristina says

      May 01, 2021 at 10:50 am

      5 stars
      These look perfect for Mother’s Day!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 01, 2021 at 4:09 pm

        What a great idea! I'm not sure why I didn't think of that but you are right, these would be perfect for Mother's Day!🌸

        Reply
    14. Chef Dennis says

      May 01, 2021 at 12:19 am

      5 stars
      I am craving for these cupcakes right now!

      Reply
    15. Alexandra says

      April 30, 2021 at 11:21 pm

      5 stars
      These are absolutely gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        May 01, 2021 at 1:43 am

        Thank you 😊

        Reply
    16. Tyanne says

      April 30, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      I had no idea about lilac flavoring before! Super great idea.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        April 30, 2021 at 7:00 pm

        Thank you, Tyanne! There are actually a lot of edible flowers out there that make delicious things in the kitchen!

        Reply
    17. Jessica Formicola says

      April 30, 2021 at 6:32 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVE the smell of lilacs, but I've never thought to bake with them! These cupcakes look amazing and I can't wait to make a batch this weekend!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        April 30, 2021 at 6:35 pm

        Lilacs smell so amazing, just imagine what your kitchen will smell like when making these 😁!

        Reply
    18. Shinta says

      April 30, 2021 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      They look stunning! I have bookmarked them for my kid's bday party this month! Will let you know how they turned out

      Reply
      • Emily says

        April 30, 2021 at 6:35 pm

        I can't wait to hear all about it, enjoy!

        Reply
    19. Kyndra Holley says

      April 30, 2021 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      These are gorgeous! The perfect spring inspired sweet treat!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        April 30, 2021 at 6:36 pm

        Thanks, Kyndra!

        Reply
    20. Jar of Lemons says

      April 30, 2021 at 5:10 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful dessert recipe!

      Reply
    21. Leslie says

      April 30, 2021 at 4:40 pm

      5 stars
      I love that every small step in this recipe is what truly makes it special! Taking the time to make everything homemade is such a treat!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        April 30, 2021 at 4:59 pm

        Thank you, Leslie. Sometimes it's the little details that make all the difference 😊.

        Reply
    22. Nathan says

      April 30, 2021 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      These look absolutely delicious! I definitely haven't had anything flavored with lilac before but I love how beautiful these cupcakes are. Can't wait to give them a try!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        April 30, 2021 at 4:41 pm

        Thanks, Nathan. It's always fun to experiment with new flavors...especially in cupcake form 😂!

        Reply
    23. Angela says

      April 30, 2021 at 4:01 pm

      5 stars
      What an amazing springtime treat!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Emily! I'm excited to share my passions, experiments, and fun with you. I love to cook, bake, create recipes, mix cocktails and try new things!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • poolish-pizza-dough-round
      Poolish Pizza Dough
    • apple-cider-martinis-ginger-liqueur-and-vodka
      Apple Cider Martini
    • stack of pink crumbl copycat cookies
      Crumbl Cookie Copycat Recipe
    • homemade vanilla vodka in a bottle
      Vanilla Vodka Recipe
    Caraway Home Copper Pot and Pan Set
    March Sale at Caraway Home - Get up to a $100 Gift Card with Your Purchase!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About

    COPYRIGHT © 2023 EMILY FABULOUS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT