Zesty Lemon Cake Recipe for Bright, Fresh Sweetness

Soft, moist, and bursting with citrusy brightness, this zesty lemon cake recipe promises to tantalize your taste buds with every delightful bite.

Bakers adore how the vibrant lemon flavor cuts through the rich, buttery base of this classic dessert.

The perfect balance of sweet and tangy creates a dessert that sings with freshness and warmth.

Each slice offers a sunshiny escape from ordinary cakes, packed with bright, aromatic notes that dance across your palate.

Whisked together with simple ingredients and baked to golden perfection, this cake becomes a crowd-pleasing treat for any occasion.

Light, refreshing, and incredibly easy to make, this lemon cake will become your new go-to dessert that everyone will be asking you to bake again and again.

Lemon Cake Ingredient Essentials

• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a soft, tender texture with a golden-brown crust.
• Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind the cake ingredients together.
• Lemon Zest: Infuses bright, citrusy flavor and aromatic notes throughout the cake.

• Melted Butter: Brings moisture, richness, and a smooth, tender crumb to the cake.
• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious richness and helps create a dense, moist texture.
• Lemon Juice: Enhances citrus flavor and provides a subtle tangy brightness.

• Flour: Provides the primary structure and foundation for the cake's texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and creates a light, airy consistency.

• Water: Creates the base for a moistening syrup that enhances cake's tenderness.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a glossy, moist surface when brushed on cake.

Lemon Cake Tools for Success

• Electric mixer or whisk: Essential for beating sugar, eggs, and creating a smooth, pale batter.
• Loaf pan (25 x 8 x 8 cm): Crucial for shaping and baking the cake perfectly.
• Grater: Needed to zest fresh lemon.
• Small saucepan: Used for preparing the syrup.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Help ensure accurate ingredient quantities.
• Cooling rack: Allows cake to cool evenly after baking.
• Pastry brush: Perfect for applying syrup to the cake.
• Knife: Helps check cake doneness and slice after cooling.
• Parchment paper: Optional but helpful for easy cake removal.

Bake Your Lemon Cake with These Steps

• Zesty Cake Preparation

Create a delightful lemon-infused cake by gathering all your favorite baking tools and ingredients. The magic begins with passion and a sprinkle of culinary excitement.

• Mixing Magic

Blend sugar, eggs, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Whip the mixture until it transforms into a pale, dreamy creation that hints at the deliciousness to come.

• Liquid Harmony

Introduce melted butter, cream, and lemon juice to your pale mixture. Gently combine these liquid treasures, creating a smooth and fragrant batter.

• Flour Power

Softly fold flour and baking powder into the wet ingredients. Be gentle and patient, allowing the batter to come together naturally without overmixing.

• Pan Preparation

Transfer the silky batter into a welcoming loaf pan. For an extra touch of magic, trace a gentle line of butter down the center.

• Oven Transformation

Slide the pan into a warm oven and let the cake bake until golden and perfectly cooked. The aroma will fill your kitchen with pure happiness.

• Syrup Shower

While the cake rests, create a simple syrup. Once baked, brush the cake generously, letting it absorb the sweet liquid.

• Cooling and Storing

Allow the cake to cool, then wrap it lovingly. This lemon wonder tastes even more incredible the next day, so patience is your secret ingredient.

How to Switch Up Your Lemon Cake

• Delicious Twists and Pro Tips
• Replace lemon zest with orange or lime zest for a different flavor profile that brings exciting tropical notes to your cake.
• Fold in chopped almonds, poppy seeds, or dried blueberries into the batter to create unexpected crunch and interesting texture variations.
• Brush additional syrup onto the cake after cooling to enhance moisture and intensify the citrusy sweetness, ensuring a luxuriously soft crumb.
• Drizzle a simple powdered sugar and lemon juice glaze over the cooled cake for an elegant finish that adds extra tangy sweetness and beautiful shine.
• Store the wrapped cake at room temperature for 3-4 days or refrigerate for up to a week, allowing flavors to develop and intensify with time.

Serving Lemon Cake for Any Occasion

• Pair with Afternoon Tea: Serve delightful slices alongside a steaming cup of Earl Grey or chamomile tea for a classic, elegant experience.
• Dress Up with Toppings: Sprinkle powdered sugar, add fresh berries, or drizzle with a light lemon glaze to elevate the cake's presentation.
• Perfect Dessert Companion: Complement the cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a refreshing and indulgent treat.
• Store and Enjoy Later: Keep the cake wrapped in plastic at room temperature for up to 3 days, allowing the flavors to develop and intensify.

Store Lemon Cake Without Losing Texture

• Refrigerate Wisely: Store the lemon cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
• Freeze for Future Enjoyment: Slice and wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze up to 3 months for a quick treat anytime.
• Room Temperature Magic: Keep the cake at room temperature for 2-3 days if covered with a clean kitchen towel or cake dome, maintaining its soft texture and lemony essence.
• Revive Leftover Slices: Gently warm refrigerated cake slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore moisture and bring back the just-baked softness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 305 kcal

Servings: 9

Bright Lemon Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Classic lemon cake delights with zesty citrus notes and moist crumb, showcasing Mediterranean baking traditions. Bakers can easily master this refreshing dessert that invites culinary exploration and brings sunshine to the table.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 large eggs (200g)
• 200g (7 oz) all-purpose flour
• 200g (7 oz) granulated sugar
• 130g (4.6 oz) melted butter
• 1 tsp (3g) baking powder
• Zest from 2 lemons
• 70g (2.5 oz) heavy cream
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 30g (1 oz) granulated sugar
• 30g (1 oz) water
• Juice from 1 lemon

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Calibrate the oven to 165°C (330°F), ensuring the rack rests centrally for uniform heat circulation.
2. Batter Foundation: Vigorously whip granulated sugar, whole eggs, and lemon zest in a spacious mixing vessel for 2 minutes until the mixture achieves a pale, frothy transformation.
3. Liquid Integration: Incorporate melted butter, heavy cream, and lemon juice into the egg mixture, whisking for an additional minute to create a seamless, silky emulsion.
4. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Gently fold sifted flour and baking powder into the liquid base, maintaining a delicate texture while eliminating any flour clusters.
5. Pan Arrangement: Meticulously transfer the velvety batter into a pre-prepared loaf pan, either greased and floured or lined with parchment, optionally creating a butter line through the center for enhanced golden crust.
6. Baking Process: Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a knife that emerges completely clean.
7. Syrup Application: Concurrently prepare the syrup in a compact saucepan, bringing to a quick boil and reducing slightly, then immediately brush over the freshly baked cake while both cake and syrup remain hot.
8. Cooling and Resting: Position the cake on a cooling rack, allowing it to absorb the syrup for 20 minutes, then wrap warmly in plastic to seal in moisture.
9. Flavor Development: Let the cake rest overnight to amplify its flavor profile and texture, ensuring a more refined culinary experience.

Notes

• Precise Oven Placement: Center rack ensures uniform heat distribution, preventing uneven baking and promoting a consistent golden crust.
• Whipping Technique Matters: Blend sugar, eggs, and zest vigorously for 2 minutes to create a light, airy base that guarantees a soft, tender cake texture.
• Moisture Preservation Trick: Wrap the cake while warm in plastic wrap to seal in natural moisture, enhancing its softness and preventing dryness.
• Flavor Enhancement Tip: Let the cake rest overnight to allow syrup absorption and develop deeper, more complex lemon notes, transforming a good cake into an exceptional dessert.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 305
• Sugar: 36g
• Sodium: 50mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 43g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 105mg