Lemon cupcakes

Test Kitchen tips for the perfect lemon cupcakes:

• Although the smell of freshly baked cupcakes is tempting, you should give them plenty of time to cool completely before decorating. It keeps the icing smooth and prevents it from melting into the sponge.
• For an extra burst of lemon, we brush the warm cupcakes with a little sweetened lemon juice (from the other half of the lemon used for icing) before icing them. It adds even more citrus flavour and helps keep the sponge moist.
• If you want to make these look more grown-up, decorate them with a little extra lemon zest, thin strips of candied lemon peel or a sprinkle of edible flowers.
• These cupcakes freeze well without the icing, so you can bake them ahead of time. Once they've thawed, simply decorate them on the day you're serving them for the freshest finish.