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Home » Dessert » Easy Lemon Cake Recipe

Easy Lemon Cake Recipe

May 7, 2020 By Lisa 16 Comments

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This lemon cake is perfectly lemony, tender, and is so refreshing! It’s always nice to have an easy lemon cake recipe in your go-to recipes!

Pin now and save for later!

Lemon cake with slice cut

Delicious and easy to make! Let me know how you enjoyed it!

Lemon and summer are just a perfect pair. I love how refreshing anything lemon is and I’ve kind of been on a lemon kick lately.

Other Lemon Recipes:

  • Lemon Cake Cookies
  • Homemade Lemonade
  • The BEST Lemon Bars

Everyone knows I am not ashamed to use a box cake mix every now and then if I doctor it up.

HOWEVER, it is nice to have from scratch recipe at hand because sometimes you just want to make cake with a little extra love.

This lemon cake took a little while to get just right but it is so worth it.

It has the PERFECT crumb and stays so moist. Plus, top it off  with the lemon frosting and dang- you have a delicious dessert.

Lemon cake flat lay

The perfect lemon cake!

How to make lemon cake:

  • Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt- set aside
  • In a mixer whip the butter until nice and fluffy then mix in the sugar.
  • Mix in the eggs one at a time then mix in the zest, lemon juice, buttermilk, and vanilla extract
  • Bake until edges are golden and a toothpick stuck int the middle comes out clean
  • Allow to cool then frost

Lemon Glaze or Lemon Frosting?

I am not a huge fan of lemon glaze- it just tastes too much like wet powdered sugar to me.  However, there is nothing wrong if that’s what you want! Just mix together 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbs lemon juice.

Lemon Frosting is my favorite though and if you have the ingredients, I highly recommend it. It’s richer, creamier, and just adds that extra lemon flavor that we all love- and is the perfect compliment to this moist lemon cake recipe.

My biggest dilemma was whether my homemade lemon cake should be in baked in a loaf pan or in a cake pan. I thought the loaf pan was more traditional and loved how it turned out.

That being said you can definitely make this into a traditional round cake.

Process Shots of Making Lemon Bread

This lemon cake comes together really fast!

Watch how to make this lemon cake here:

How to make this in to a round cake:

This recipe will make one 9-inch cake. Check for doneness around 20-25 minutes.

If you double the recipe (which is totally fine to do!) it will make two 9-inch round cakes OR three 6-inch round cakes. Check for doneness around 20-30 minutes.

How much juice in in a lemon?

I can get 3-4 tbs of lemon juice from a lemon typically. So, two to three lemons are perfect for this recipe.

Fresh or store-bought lemon juice?

I have nothing against using store-bought lemon juice- I use it all the time in recipes. However, I love using zest in this recipe so I was going to buy lemons anyways- turns out I just needed 3 lemons for all the juice and zest!

How to soften cold butter without leaving it out for hours?

I always forget to set my butter out to soften- so I simply cube up a stick of butter and microwave it for 15-30 seconds on 30% power. Comes out nice and soft and not melted!

Close up of lemon cake texture

The tender crumb on this lemon cake is so delicious!

How to make buttermilk if you don’t have any:

Combine 1 cup milk in a bowl, with 1 tbs lemon juice OR white vinegar. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until it starts to curdle. Use in recipe!

Since you don’t need a full cup of buttermilk you can combine 1/3 milk with 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar and use that entire amount in place for the 6tbs called for in the recipe.

Why use buttermilk in baked goods?

The acid in buttermilk helps to create a softer texture in cakes.

Lemon cake from scratch is so easy and so delicious and you need to make it right away!

For more from scratch recipes check out:

  • Homemade Chocolate Cake
  • Homemade German Chocolate Cake
  • Homemade Orange Cupcakes
  • The BEST from scratch Brownies
  • Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Easy Chocolate Cookies
  • Orange Buttermilk Scones
  • Orange Cranberry Muffins
Lemon Cake Pin

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Lemon Cake featured image

Easy Lemon Cake Recipe

Author: Lisa
This lemon cake is perfectly lemony, tender, and is so refreshing! It’s always nice to have an easy lemon cake recipe in go to recipes!
4.34 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 slices or 12 larger slices

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 cups flour
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature (1 stick)*
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • Zest from 2 lemons
  • 2 tbs lemon juice
  • 6 tbs buttermilk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Lemon Frosting*

  • ½ cup butter softened*
  • 2 tbs lemon juice
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbs heavy cream
  • Lemon zest optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and flour* a loaf pan*. (8.5x 4.25x2.5)
  • In a medium bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. (1.5 cups flour, ¼ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt)
    Mix together dry ingredients
  • In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream together butter with sugar until fluffy. (1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar)
    Whip Butter and sugar
  • Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is fully incorporated. Then stir in the lemon zest, 2 tbs lemon juice, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. (2 large eggs, zest from 2 lemons, 2 tbs lemon juice, 6 tbs buttermilk, ½ tsp vanilla extract)
    Add in all the wet ingredients
  • Stir in the flour mixture until combined. Pour into prepared loaf pan.
    Add flour mixture
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    Batter in bread loaf
  • Allow to cool before frosting.
    Close up of lemon cake texture

How to make lemon frosting:

  • Whip butter until fluffy, then mix in the lemon juice, vanilla, salt. (1/2 cup softened butter, 2 tbs lemon juice, 1 ½ tsp vanilla, pinch of salt)
  • Alternate mixing in the heavy cream and powdered sugar (3 cups powdered sugar, 3 tbs heavy cream).
  • Frost the cake and then sprinkle with lemon zest
    Lemon cake with slice cut

Notes

Tips and Tricks
*You can swipe the sides and bottom of the pan with butter or shortening and then dust with flour or use a baking spray with flour in it- I like Baker’s Joy spray found in the baking isle.
*Cold butter can be softened in the microwave by heating for 15-30 seconds on 30% power.
*You can also bake this in one 9-inch cake pan for 25 minutes or until done. Then top with a lemon frosting, vanilla buttercream, almond buttercream, or a chocolate frosting!
*You can easily double this recipe for 2 loaves or 2 9-inch cakes.
*If you’d prefer a glaze simply combine 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 tbs lemon juice.
* The frosting recipe is supposed to be slightly looser than a stiff buttercream- if you would like the frosting to be a little stiffer simply stir in a little more powdered sugar.

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 24mgFiber: 1gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 290IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg
Keyword easy lemon cake recipe, Lemon Cake, lemon cake from scratch, lemon cake recipe
Did you make this recipe?Tag me on Instagram at @atablefullofjoy

Recipe and pictures updated on 5/7/2020

Filed Under: Baking Recipes, Dessert, Featured, Party Food, Recipe, Summer Food Tagged With: cake, Lemon

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Danielle

    July 15, 2018 at 8:28 pm

    5 stars
    These look so tasty! Such a lovely idea for cakes!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      July 16, 2018 at 12:56 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Caroline

    July 15, 2018 at 8:53 pm

    I’m a big lemon fan, especially lemon curd so sold on that part. The decoration is such a fun idea.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      July 16, 2018 at 12:56 pm

      Awesome! Yes I’m a huge fan of lemon curd too!

      Reply
  3. Brian Jones

    July 15, 2018 at 11:51 pm

    5 stars
    They sound so tasty, fun decoration too, I love it!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      July 16, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Jacqueline

    July 16, 2018 at 4:02 am

    These mini lemon cakes look so cute and I’m sure they taste wonderful! Def one to try!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      July 16, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Nathan Wyper

    July 16, 2018 at 4:52 am

    These look like great fun to make, Need to give them a go!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      July 16, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      Thanks! They are super fun!

      Reply
  6. Uniquehaze

    May 10, 2020 at 7:47 am

    5 stars
    These were so good great and easy ingredients. I love lemons

    Reply
    • Lisa

      May 12, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  7. Suzanne

    May 12, 2020 at 1:10 pm

    This looks so good! Is this frosting good with other kinds of flavorings?

    Reply
    • Lisa

      May 12, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      Yep! It’s based off my standard vanilla buttercream– I’ve used it for almond buttercream on my Easter Cake, and Brown Sugar Buttercream for my Sweet Potato Cupcakes, I also have a delicious Chocolate Buttercream and Cream Cheese Frosting! But if you swap out the lemon juice for lime juice that would be tasty- or use any number of extracts!

      Reply
  8. Vanessa

    May 12, 2020 at 1:11 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?

    Reply
    • Lisa

      May 12, 2020 at 6:06 pm

      Yep- should keep at least a week if refrigerated- and if you can keep from eating up in that time (I know I can’t :P)!

      Reply

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