Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together with the paddle attachment. Add the eggs one at a time. Mix thoroughly after each addition. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and a few drops of yellow food coloring, if desired. Combine.

Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Do not over mix! 

Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 13-15 minutes or until baked all the way through. Let cupcakes rest in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat until smooth. Gradually add the butter 2 Tablespoons at a time, and continue beating until smooth and well blended.

Add powdered sugar and vanilla all at once. Blend until combined and smooth. (Don't beat too long or the frosting will be too soft to pipe. If this happens, place the frosting in the refrigerator or freezer until it firms back up.) 

Melt the white candy melts according to the package directions. Pour into a zip-top plastic bag and seal shut. Cut off the corner, then pipe wings onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet. 

Pipe a nice round button (to support the wing in the frosting), then the bottom feathers (about 4 points), and a half circle for the top of the wing. (I found it easier to do the right side of the wings, flip my cookie sheet and pipe the left side upside-down, because it was a little awkward to pipe to my left. Do what is most comfortable for you.) 

Place wings in the refrigerator until set. (Each wing was about 2 1/2 inches long. Make sure you have at least 60 wings. Extras are nice in case some break. Refer to the last image of this post for a visual.)

Place gold sprinkles in a large bowl. Fill a piping bag with an open coupler and the cream cheese frosting. 

Pipe a dome on top of each cupcake by squeezing your piping bag close to the cupcake, directly in the center. Squeeze until the frosting almost reaches the edges, and fills out, into a nice round shape. (You can rotate/lift your wrist in the direction you need more frosting to fill the top of the cupcake completely. Wet your finger with some water to flatten any sharp tips of frosting.)

Immediately sprinkle the gold sprinkles over the frosting and on the sides until covered. Shake off any excess sprinkles. Repeat with each cupcake.

Place a left and right wing into the frosting of each cupcake. Serve to guests and enjoy!