Lemon Cake Recipe

Who says life gives you lemons? Turn them into Easy Lemon Cake – Zesty & Delicious!! 🍋✨

This lemon cake recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, with a moist crumb and a bright lemon glaze. Whether you’re a baking newbie or a dessert pro, this easy lemon cake will be your new go-to. Plus, it’s ready in under an hour!

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Cake

✔️ Soft, moist, and bursting with lemon flavor
✔️ Simple ingredients, no fancy tools needed
✔️ Perfect for birthdays, tea time, or a sunny day pick-me-up
✔️ Topped with a sweet-tart lemon glaze

Quick Recipe Infos:

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Servings: 8 slices

Nutrition Facts (Per Slice)

• Calories: 320
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 50g
• Protein: 4g

Lemon Cake Ingredients

For the Cake

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tbsp lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt

For the Lemon Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Essential Kitchen Tools

1. 9-inch Round Cake Pan
2. Parchment Paper: To line the loaf pan. This ensures the cake doesn’t stick and makes for easy removal.
3. Medium/Large Mixing Bowl: For whisking together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt).
4. Large Mixing Bowl: For creaming the butter and sugar, and for combining all the wet and dry ingredients.
5. Electric Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: Highly recommended for creaming the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, which is key for the cake’s texture. (You can do this by hand with a whisk, but it will take much more time and effort).
6. Zester or Fine Grater: Essential for zesting the two lemons without getting the bitter white pith.
7. Juicer or Reamer: To freshly squeeze the juice from the lemons for both the cake batter and the glaze.
8. Whisk: For combining the dry ingredients evenly.
9. Spatula: A rubber spatula is perfect for scraping down the sides of the bowl and ensuring everything is well incorporated, and for folding in the flour mixture.
10. Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurately measuring all your ingredients.
11. Wire Cooling Rack: To cool the cake after it comes out of the oven. This prevents the bottom from getting soggy.
12. Small Bowl or Liquid Measuring Cup: For mixing the simple lemon glaze.
13. Pastry Brush (optional but helpful): For brushing the lemon syrup onto the warm cake, ensuring it soaks in evenly.

How to Make Lemon Cake – Step by Step

1️⃣ Preheat & Prep

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.

2️⃣ Mix Dry Ingredients

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3️⃣ Cream Butter & Sugar

• In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.

4️⃣ Add Lemon Goodness

• Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice.

5️⃣ Combine Wet & Dry

• Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined, don’t overmix!

6️⃣ Bake to Perfection

• Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7️⃣ Cool & Glaze

• Let the cake cool for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan.
• Whisk together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the cooled cake.

Pro Tips for the Best Lemon Cake

🍋 Use fresh lemon juice, bottled just isn’t the same!
🍋 Don’t skip the zest, it packs extra citrus flavor.
🍋 Let the cake cool before glazing, or it’ll melt right off!

Final Thoughts

This easy lemon cake recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, light, fluffy, and full of sunshine! 🌞 Perfect for dessert, brunch, or anytime you need a little sweetness.

Pin this recipe for later! 📌 And if your cake disappears too fast… well, we warned you. 😉

Continue to Content

Lemon Cake

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

A dreamy balance of fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth crumb and zingy citrus punch. Each slice is moist, buttery, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor, while the sweet-tart glaze adds a luscious, glossy finish. One forkful and you’ll be hooked—this cake is irresistibly tender, bright, and downright addictive. Perfect for when you crave something light yet indulgent… and totally worth every crumb! 😋

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Ingredients

For the Cake

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tbsp lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt

For the Lemon Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

1️⃣ Prep – Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch pan.

2️⃣ Dry Mix – Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt.

3️⃣ Wet Mix – Beat butter + sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.

4️⃣ Zest It Up – Mix in lemon zest & juice.

5️⃣ Combine – Alternate adding dry mix & milk to wet ingredients.

6️⃣ Bake – Pour into pan. Bake 30-35 mins until golden.

7️⃣ Glaze – Cool 10 mins, then drizzle with lemon glaze.

Notes

For extra moisture, brush warm cake with lemon syrup before glazing! 🍋

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 320Total Fat: 12gCarbohydrates: 50gSugar: 35gProtein: 4g