Best 5 Great Lemon Cake Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our Great Lemon Cake, a timeless classic that captivates taste buds with its perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. This crowd-pleasing dessert features a moist and fluffy cake base infused with the vibrant zest and juice of fresh lemons, resulting in a burst of citrusy goodness in every bite. Paired with a luscious lemon glaze that adds an extra layer of flavor and shine, this cake is sure to be the star of any occasion.

Accompanying the Great Lemon Cake recipe, we present a collection of delectable variations that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. For those who enjoy a rich and creamy texture, the Lemon Cream Cheese Cake offers a delightful combination of tangy lemon and smooth cream cheese, creating a velvety symphony of flavors. If you prefer a lighter and airier treat, the Lemon Angel Food Cake is a heavenly choice, boasting a tender and airy crumb that melts in your mouth. For a gluten-free indulgence, the Gluten-Free Lemon Cake provides a delicious alternative without compromising on taste or texture.

Lemon lovers will rejoice in the zesty goodness of the Lemon Bars, featuring a shortbread crust topped with a tangy lemon filling, creating a perfect balance of flavors and textures. And for a refreshing twist, the Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins offer a delightful burst of citrus and the subtle crunch of poppy seeds, making them ideal for breakfast or a quick snack. Each recipe is meticulously crafted with step-by-step instructions, ensuring that bakers of all skill levels can achieve perfect results.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

LEMON CAKE



Lemon Cake image

Get Ina Garten's Lemon Cake recipe from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network. The lemon comes twofold: in the cake and in the glaze, which keeps everything moist.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 2 (8-inch) loaves

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup grated lemon zest (6 to 8 large lemons)
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. You may also line the bottom with parchment paper, if desired.
  • Cream the butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.
  • Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely.
  • For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 400 calorie, Fat 13 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Cholesterol 86 milligrams, Sodium 235 milligrams, Carbohydrate 66 grams, Fiber 1 grams, Protein 5 grams, Sugar 47 grams

LEMON CAKE FROM SCRATCH



Lemon Cake From Scratch image

Super yummy, light lemon taste. A different thing to try is to put the cake mixture into large muffin tins to make a bunch of little cakes, you just need to reduce the baking time. Let cake cool before frosting or glaze while still slightly warm.

Provided by BakersDozen

Categories     Desserts     Fruit Dessert Recipes     Lemon Dessert Recipes

Time 1h10m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 ½ cups white sugar
2 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup low-fat buttermilk

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour two 8-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour.
  • Whisk flour, lemon zest, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl.
  • Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time, into creamed butter mixture on low speed, beating well after each addition before adding the next. Beat lemon juice into butter mixture. Beat flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, into butter mixture until batter is just combined. Divide batter between the prepared cake pans.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cake pulls away from sides of pan, 32 to 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of pan and invert cake onto a wire rack to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 216.8 calories, Carbohydrate 27.9 g, Cholesterol 74.2 mg, Fat 10.6 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 3.2 g, SaturatedFat 6.3 g, Sodium 182.6 mg, Sugar 15.7 g

LEMON CAKE



Lemon Cake image

This cheery lemon cake is perfect for festive occasions. Top it off with our Whipped Frosting that's the perfect light and fluffy complement to this moist cake.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pans
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs plus 3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 lemon, thinly sliced and seeded
Whipped Frosting

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.
  • In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined.
  • Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans, 32 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack.
  • While cakes are baking, bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Add lemon slices and simmer 25 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer lemon slices to a waxed-paper-lined plate. Stir remaining 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice into syrup.
  • Using a toothpick, poke holes in warm cakes on rack. Brush with lemon syrup. Let cool completely. Prepare frosting, substituting 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice for vanilla extract. Frost cooled cakes and top with candied lemon slices.

GREAT-GRANDMA'S LEMON CAKE



Great-Grandma's Lemon Cake image

"Baking and giving" is a hobby of mine, and I love to bake my gifts by using old-fashioned recipes like this one, which was my great-grandmother's. There aren't too many shortcuts in these directions, but I enjoy aspect of "measuring and mixing"! This is one of my favorites, copied down from my mother's old cookbook.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h25m

Yield 2 cakes (24 servings).

Number Of Ingredients 9

5 large eggs, separated
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups sugar
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon zest
3 tablespoons lemon juice
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk
Confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored. Add to creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in lemon zest and juice. Combine flour and baking soda; add alternately with milk. In another bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter., Pour into two well-greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Bake at 325° for 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Dust tops with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 262 calories, Fat 9g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 66mg cholesterol, Sodium 122mg sodium, Carbohydrate 42g carbohydrate (25g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

GREAT LEMON CAKE



Great Lemon Cake image

Make and share this Great Lemon Cake recipe from Food.com.

Provided by spacholl

Categories     Dessert

Time 50m

Yield 1 cake, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 (3 ounce) box gelatin (lemon-flavored )
4 eggs
3/4 cup salad oil
3/4 cup water
2 lemons
2 cups powdered sugar

Steps:

  • With electric mixer at medium speed, beat the cake mix, gelatin, eggs, salad oil and water for 4 minutes.
  • Pour batter into a 9-inch by 13-inch pan.Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.
  • While stillwarm, punch holes with large fork over entire cake.
  • Topping: Finely grate the rind from the 2 lemons,then squeeze out the juice from both.
  • Put the powdered sugar in a small bowl and mix well withthe lemon rind and juice.
  • Pour over entire surfaceof cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 431.3, Fat 20.1, SaturatedFat 3.1, Cholesterol 62.9, Sodium 318.6, Carbohydrate 54.2, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 38.3, Protein 10.1

Tips for Baking a Perfect Lemon Cake:

  • Use fresh lemons. Fresh lemon zest and juice will give your cake the best flavor.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will help to incorporate air into the cake, making it lighter and more tender.
  • Gradually add the eggs, one at a time. This will help to prevent the cake from curdling.
  • Do not overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
  • Bake the cake in a preheated oven. This will help to ensure that the cake bakes evenly.
  • Let the cake cool completely before frosting it. This will help to prevent the frosting from melting.
  • Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the cake for up to 2 months.

Conclusion:

Lemon cake is a classic dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its bright citrus flavor and light, fluffy texture, it is sure to please everyone. If you follow the tips above, you will be able to bake a perfect lemon cake every time. So next time you are looking for a delicious and easy-to-make dessert, give this lemon cake recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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