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Lemon Cake

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Yield: 14 servings
This homemade lemon cake is loaded with real lemon flavor. Moist and tender lemon cake layers flavored with fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, iced with lemon cream cheese frosting! If you love lemon desserts, this is a must try cake recipe!

Equipment

  • 3 7-inch cake pans
  • Stand mixer or electric hand mixer

Ingredients 

Lemon Cake

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest approximately 2 lemons
  • ½ cup lemon juice freshly squeezed, approximately 2-3 lemons
  • ¾ cup milk room temperature

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
  • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 7 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

Lemon Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare three 7-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and parchment paper circles.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream room temperature unsalted butter, granulated sugar and vegetable oil for a few minutes until pale and creamy.
  • Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed in between each addition until well combined.
  • Add vanilla extract and lemon zest and continue to mix on low.
  • Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are combined with the butter mixture.
  • Pour in half of the lemon juice and half of the milk. Mix on low speed until combined and smooth.
  • Add another ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix on low until combined. Add the remaining lemon juice and milk and mix until smooth.
  • Add the remaining flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix an additional few seconds until the cake batter is smooth.
  • Portion the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Use a kitchen scale to create even layers.
  • Bake the cake layers in the oven for approximately 25-28 minutes until the tops of the cakes bounce back when gently touched.
  • Remove the cake pans from the oven. Allow the cake layers to cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes. Remove the cake layers from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine unsalted butter and cream cheese. Whip for 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed until smooth.
  • Add in the powdered sugar in two batches, mixing on low speed in between each addition until the powdered sugar is fully combined with the butter mixture.
  • Add in the salt, lemon zest, and lemon lemon juice. Mix on low and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Whip the frosting for an additional 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed until smooth, light, and fluffy.

Assembling the Lemon Cake

  • Level the cake layers with a serrated knife.
  • Place one lemon cake layer on a round cake board. Add desired amount of frosting to the top of the layer and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Repeat this process with the second cake layer.
  • Add the final layer to the top of the cake. Be sure the bottom of the cake layer is facing up.
  • With an offset spatula, add a crumb coat, a thin layer of frosting to the top and sides of the cake. Use a cake scraper to remove excess frosting and to smooth the sides. Chill the cake for 20 minutes.
  • Add a generous layer of frosting to the chilled cake with an offset spatula. Use a cake scraper to remove excess frosting and smooth the sides of the cake. Chill for an additional 20 minutes.
  • Use a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M piping tip to create swirls of lemon cream cheese frosting around the top edges of the cake. If desired, add lemon slices or candied lemon for decoration.

Notes

Lemon cake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Serve the cake at room temperature.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

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