Ultimate Lemon Cake Recipes

LEMON POKE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine yellow cake mix, water, vegetable oil, eggs and lemon extract or fresh lemon juice. Mix until just combined. Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cake passes the toothpick test.
• Remove cake from the oven and poke with the end of a wooden spoon or a straw while still hot. Make many holes. The more holes, the more space for the delicious pudding to hide.
• Allow the cake to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile whisk together instant lemon pudding mix with milk. It will be liquidy, but will start to thicken as you whisk. It will take about 2 minutes. When you start to feel resistance allow to stand for 1 minute. Don't wait until it sets too long or it will be too thick to sink down into your holes.
• Pour pudding mix over cake, patting down into the holes. Use a toothpick and prick more holes into the cake and pudding. Tap the whole dish several times to allow the pudding to settle into the cake.
• Chill for a minimum of 30 minutes, but wait to frost until cake is cooled or else the frosting will melt.
• When ready to frost, prepare whipped lemon frosting whip cream in a large bowl until it starts to stiffen. Add powdered sugar.
• Fold in lemon extract or fresh lemon juice.
• Cover and chill for 30 minutes before serving.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!

LEMON CAKE

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.

ULTIMATE LEMON POUND CAKE

Steps:

• FOR THE CAKE: Making sure there is a rack in the middle of the oven, preheat oven to 300 degrees F, then butter & flour a 10" (12-cup) Bundt pan.
• Sift flour, baking powder & salt together TWICE.
• In a large bowl & with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter until light & fluffy.
• Gradually beat in 1 3/4 cups of sugar, about 3 tablespoons at a time, & continue beating until light & fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Reduce speed to low & add flour mixture alternately with the milk, in batches, beginning & ending with the flour.
• Stir in 1 tablespoon of the zest & both extracts.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan & smooth top with a rubber spatula, & bake for 1 1/2 hours or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove from oven & let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
• FOR THE HOT SYRUP TOPPING: Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons lemon zest & lemon juice to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved.
• Turn cake out onto the rack & IMMEDIATELY brush the hot syrup over the hot cake.
• Let brushed cake cool to room temperature, then cut into wedges & ENJOY!

LEMON CAKE FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Grease and flour two 8 inch pans ( my pans are 2 inches deep). You could also divide the batter between three 8 inch pans for slightly thinner layers which allows for an additional layer of filling.
• In a medium sized bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and zest of 2 lemons. Whisk to blend and set aside.
• In another bowl, add the milk, vegetable oil and lemon juice, and lemon extract. Whisk to blend and set aside.
• In the bowl of your mixer, beat the softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the sugar and mix on medium speed 3 to 5 minutes until it is lightened in color and fluffy.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until the yellow of the yolk disappears.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture and the milk mixture alternately. Begin and end with the flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of milk). Slightly increase the speed and mix until combined and smooth, do not mix above medium speed or over mix.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans, smoothing the tops with the back of a spoon. Bake at 350 degrees. If baking three 8 inch pans, bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. For two 8 inch pans, bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with only a few crumbs attached. Let the cakes cool in the pans 10 minutes then turn out.
• Combine sugar, cornstarch and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil (3-4 minutes).
• Boil, stirring, for 1 minute more.. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Spoon about 1/2 cup of the hot mixture into a small bowl with egg yolks and stir quickly until combined. Continue stirring, while pouring the egg mixture back into the saucepan.
• Return pan to medium heat and cook, stirring, until the curd is thickened and lemon colored (1-2 min). Remove from heat and stir in the butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest.-- Let the lemon curd cool, then press plastic wrap onto the surface, this will prevent a skin from forming on the top. Refrigerate.
• This will fill a 2-3 layer 8 or 9 inch cake with some leftover. The recipe can be halved.
• I have refrigerated the lemon curd for a week and it was fine....I'm not sure how long it will keep beyond that. Makes 1 1/4 cups
• Cut butter into 1/2 inch slices and add to the bowl of your mixer, beat until smooth.
• Cut the cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, beating until blended.
• Add the lemon juice and lemon zest. 1 teaspoon lemon extract, optional for a stronger lemon flavor.
• Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until well blended.
• For the cake pictured in this post, we piped a dam of lemon cream cheese frosting about 1/4 inch inside the edge of the first layer.
• We spread a thin layer of lemon curd frosting, piped and spread a layer of lemon cream cheese frosting on top of it, and added the top cake layer. We thinly crumb coated the cake with our lemon cream cheese frosting before piping large rosettes all over the cake (use a 2D or 1M tip).

17 EASY WAYS TO USE LEMON CAKE MIX

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a lemon cake mix treat in 30 minutes or less!

LEMON LAYER CAKE WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients just until combined. With the mixer still running on low, add the milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice and mix just until combined. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be a little thick.
• Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Bake for around 21-26 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling. The baked cakes are fluffy, but they are not thick- about 1 - 1.5 inches.
• In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until completely smooth and combined. Add confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Add more confectioners' sugar if frosting is too thin, more lemon juice if frosting is too thick, or add a pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet. (I always add a pinch of salt!)
• Using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops of the cakes to create a flat surface. Discard (or crumble over ice cream!). Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand, cake turntable, or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with about 1 cup of frosting. Top with 2nd cake layer and evenly cover the top with about 1 cup of frosting. Top with the third cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides. I like to top mine with homemade whipped cream (I used Wilton 8B piping tip).
• Refrigerate for at least 30-45 minutes before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.

MOIST LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease and flour a Bundt pan. In a Mixmaster, mix all the ingredients on low until blended. Then beat for three minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into Bundt pan. Tilt pan and swirl batter around the outside rim about one inch above the batter. This helps the cake bake higher and flatter. Bake at 350 degrees F just until cake tester comes out clean (appx 60 minutes). Be careful not to overbake.
• GLAZE: Combine juice and sugar and mix well with a wire whisk or fork. I mix it in a large glass measuring cup that has a spout. It makes the next step easier. While the cake is still in the pan and hot, poke deep (not to the bottom) holes into the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon or anything that is round and about 1/3- inch in diameter. Make the holes starting about 1- inch from the edge and about 1- inch apart. Make about three rows of holes that zig zag so they are not in straight lines. Pour about 1 scant cup of the glaze SLOWLY into the holes and over the cake. Let the cake sit for about 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto a cake plate and tap the top and sides, or shake gently to loosen. Let it sit for a few minutes and the cake should easily release. Drizzle the rest of the glaze on top.

ULTIMATE LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and lemon juice. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing until blended.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• To make the hot lemon glaze: In a saucepan, combine 3 cups confectioners' sugar and 1/2 cup lemon juice. Bring mixture to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Keep mixture warm until ready to use.
• To make the Icing Glaze: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1 1/2 cups of confectioners' sugar. If mixture is too thin, add more sugar until desired consistency is reached.
• Assemble the cake: Pour 3/4 of hot lemon glaze over warm cake while it's in the pan. Let cake cool for 60 minutes, then remove from pan. Reheat the remaining hot lemon glaze to the boiling point, then brush glaze onto the top and sides with a pastry brush. Using a fork, drizzle Icing Glaze over cake. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.