Fresh Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is made with fresh lemon zest and lemon juice. This cake has the perfect texture, and screams spring and summer.
Once in a blue moon I will enjoy cake that isn't dripping with chocolate frosting, and decked out in a smooth chocolate cake batter.
I'm a chocolate fan. I prefer chocolate desserts over any other, most days of the week. It's just who I am.
However, when it comes to cake, I do make exceptions, and this Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is definitely an exception I'll make.
I've had this cake on my to-do list for a long time now. However, sometimes things change, and other recipes slip in. I get caught up in all my faster savory meals, and quicker treats, and things like this lemon cake gets pushed back.
That's what happened with this one. I wanted to make it last year, but then fall and winter came, and I just wasn't in the spring and summer lemon mood.
The months flew by, and before I knew it, it was February, and I still hadn't made this cake.
Que a family gathering to get this one back into my radar! I pulled this recipe up because Zack's grandmother was going back to Indiana in March, and I needed a dessert.
I made the recipe as is, because that's how I try out all of the new recipes. The family raved about how good it was! I wasn't hooked. I love lemon, and the frosting wasn't near lemony enough for me, and the texture was like angel food cake. Something that I wasn't fond of.
I made this recipe again about a month ago, and made slight changes to the original for a more than perfect texture, and a burst of perfectly perfect lemon flavor.
It was a hit. Zack and the girls said this was far superior than the original! So finally, after wanting to make and share this with all of you, it's ready!
Serving ideas:
Easter - Mother's Day - Bridal Shower - Baby Shower - Birthdays
Do I have to use buttermilk?
Yes! This recipe needs the buttermilk in it. I haven't tried making my own with lemon juice and milk, so for the perfect turn out, just go ahead and buy the real thing!
What other flavor of frosting can I use?
Go with a traditional vanilla buttercream. I have a really yummy recipe here.
How do I prevent my cake from sticking to the pans?
Using your cake pans as a template, lay one on top of a piece of parchment paper. Trace around it, cut out, and place in the bottom of the pan. Spray with non stick cooking spray like normal. Your cake layers will just slide right out!
Here are some other cake recipes I think you'll enjoy:
- Strawberry Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cake
- Fresh Orange Cake
- 4th of July Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cake
Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Fresh Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is made with fresh lemon zest and lemon juice. This cake has the perfect texture, and screams spring and summer.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups flour
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk, room temperature
- 4 egg whites, room temperature
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- pinch salt
- 2 ¾ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-inch cake pans. I also line the bottom of my cake pans with parchment paper, and butter that as well.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large measuring cup (4 cup size) or small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg whites. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl attached to your stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, beat together the lemon zest and sugar for one minute.
- Add the butter, and beat for a full 3 minutes on medium, until it's thoroughly mixed and light in color. Add the lemon extract.
- Turn the mixer to low, and pour in one third of the dry ingredients, followed by one third of the buttermilk and egg white mix. Repeat until all have been added and incorporated. Beat for 2 minutes, but no more.
- Divide the batter between the two pans evenly and tap the bottoms of the pans on to the counter top to help even the tops out. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pans before removing the cakes to the cooling racks. Allow the cakes to completely cool on the cooling racks before frosting.
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the cream cheese and the butter together for 3 to 4 minutes, until no lumps remain. Add the lemon juice, zest, and extract. Slowly add the powdered sugar, while the mixer is on low. Sometimes I will turn mine off to keep the powdered sugar from flying. (even on low it can make a huge mess) Once incorporated, mix in the salt. You can do a taste test at this point. If you want more lemon flavor, add another teaspoon of lemon extract. Just remember, the more liquid you add, the more powdered sugar you will need to off set to get the right consistency you are looking for.
- Last, place the bottom layer of the cake on a cake stand, and plop some frosting down for the filling. If your cakes didn't bake level, use a large serrated knife to level the tops. I like to do this with a bread knife when needed. Once you have the filling on the bottom layer, add the top layer, and begin frosting!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 377Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 353mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 1gSugar: 39gProtein: 4g
robin rue says
Oh wow, this cake sounds amazing. that frosting, too! YUM. This is exactly the kind of dessert I love to serve at summer cookouts.
Terri Steffes says
Lemon cake is one of my all time favorites. I love the cream cheese frosting and it must have zest! I can't wait to give it a try!
Jeanine says
Yum. lemon is one of my all time favorites. I would love to make this, I think it would be a huge hit in my house. Looks so good.
Cassie says
This cake looks amazing! I love the combination of lemon cake and lemon cream cheese frosting. Can't wait to try!
Theresa says
This sounds really tasty and fresh for summer. Thanks for the dessert inspiration.
Angela Tolsma says
This sounds amazing! I am also a huge lover of chocolate and usually always make chocolately things. However lemon is my second weakness and sometimes the occasion calls for lemon!
Karen says
I have to admit - I started drooling as soon as I read the title of this post! I am not a chocolate person, and all about vanilla and other lighter flavors. I am also putting this on my list of things to bake (hopefully soon) as it looks incredible!
Marcie says
Yummy yum yum! This cake looks amazing! And the lemon zest makes it sound unbelievable! I wish I was eating it right now!
Heather says
This look amazing! I love lemon desserts - I didn't when I was younger, but now I love them! I am definitely going to try this.
reesa says
I just love how beautifully your cake is frosted! I am a big fan of the lemon flavor in baked goods!!
Rhian Westbury says
I have to make this as lemon cake is my absolute favourite and I love the idea of cream cheese frosting x
Dawn McAlexander says
This lemon cake looks so amazing. I would love to try it. Lemon cake is always delicious. I love the way this one looks.
Cindy Ingalls says
This cake looks so divine. I love anything with cream cheese frosting, so this recipe is calling my name. The lemon flavor is perfect for summer time.
Charlotte says
This looks delicious! I can never get my frosting firm enough so I will have to check out this recipe and see how I get on! can't beat a decent lemon cake
Jennifer Pilgrim says
Really well written recipe with great pics to go with it! I want to put this cream cheese frosting on everything.
Elizabeth O. says
I love that citrus flavor in baked goods especially cakes and cupcakes! I think it's perfect for the summer as well. Thanks for sharing the recipe, it looks so good and I can't wait to make it. I'm sure it goes well with a cup of my favorite tea!
Kristin says
Oh my does that lemon cake look absolutely delish! What a perfect summer dessert it would make!
katriza says
Wow this looks delicious! My father in law loves lemon cake! Definitely going to try this for Fathers Day!
Heather says
Oh, this looks awesome! We love a light dessert for the summer and could make this with lemons from my in-laws' tree!
Brittany says
Wow this looks so good! I've been all about citrus everything the last few weeks so this looks great! I would love to try it out as a treatt for the weekend!
Courtneylynne says
Omg can we say yum?!?! I just love lemon cake. I haven't had lemon cake in awhile so I will have to give this a try!
Glenda says
Wow, this looks so delicious! I love cream cheese frosting but I never tried it with lemon cake before.
Amber Nelson says
That looks so delicious. I love lemon and that cream cheese frosting is to die for! Yum!
Jean says
Like you, I'm a total chocoholic, but I also love lemon too! So tasty, especially this time of year. This cake looks great and I must put it on my list of recipes to try 🙂
Krystle Cook says
I love lemon icing but I have never had lemon cake. I would love to give this a try together!
HilLesha O'Nan says
This looks and sounds delicious in every sense of the word. I'll definitely have to try it sometime. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Misty Nelson Dawn says
Omg, this absolutely looks delicious and I love the perfect combination of Lemon and cream cheese, Such an Inspiring dessert