This zesty lemon cake is packed with fresh, citrusy flavours and will make a perfect treat to any party! Soft, airy sponge topped with lemony icing and candied lemon peel.
Hello friends!
Happy new week! With temperatures warming up nicely, extended daylight, new season of Game of Thrones and Easter holidays, I feel like there is A LOT to celebrate! And what a better way to do it, than with irresistible cake?!?
Easy zesty lemon cake
I have come across this recipe in the latest issue of BBC Good Food Magazine, and immediately fell in love with it! It just screams Spring, and it’s so perfectly suited for this time of the year! What’s really great about it is how easy and simple it is to make. Again, just like with my Carrot Cake, no need for any fancy equipment or ingredients. Just few simple pantry staples and some fresh lemons. It’s ALL about these beautiful, fresh zesty lemons!!!
What do I need to make zesty lemon cake?
Obviously LEMONS! I’m using these beautiful Italian Sorrento lemons, which I’m completely obsessed with. If you can get your hands on these beauties, then I strongly recommend using them. They are much more fragrant and particularity juicy, in comparison with common lemons. Their taste and smell is so much much stronger and more citrusy, I promise you gonna love them too!
Other than gorgeous lemons, the basic ingredients needed to make this fantastic cake include: unsalted butter, golden caster sugar, eggs, Greek yogurt, baking powder and self-raising flour. Icing is very traditional, made with icing sugar and lemon juice. Last but not least, candied lemon peel is used to finish it off and to decorate the cake with.
That last ingredient, candied lemon peel, is totally optional, but once again, I STRONGLY recommend sticking to it. It adds even more glorious citrus flavour to the cake, taking it to the next level! It is made by simply peeling the lemon skin and cutting it into a very thin matchsticks, then simmering it in a sugar syrup. Totally wort that extra effort!!!
How to make zesty lemon cake?
Before you start making the cake, make sure that all of the ingredients are at the room temperature. It’s very important, otherwise they will not mix well and you will end up wit lumpy batter and unsuccessful bake.
Start with greasing an 18cm loose-bottom cake tin with some butter. Line the bottom of it with baking parchment, to ensure the cake doesn’t get stuck to it. Preheat the oven to 170 C (150C for fan assisted ovens).
Add softened, unsalted butter into the bowl of an electric mixer, and beat it together with golden caster sugar, until pale and fluffy. Next, start adding the eggs, one at the time, beating well after each egg. Don’t worry if the mixture splits just a bit, it should even out at the next stage.
After you’ve added lemon zest, gently fold in the flour, baking powder and salt. Finish off with folding the Greek yogurt. I recommend using a wooden spoon or spatula for folding the flour and yogurt. Once again, it’s important not to over-mix the ingredients. Remember- mixing the batter ‘until just combined’ means that you should stop mixing as soon as you can’t see the ingredient that you just added!
Spoon the mixture into prepared baking tin and bake it for 50-55 minutes or until the top is golden brown and firm to the touch. Allow the cake to cool completely before decorating it.
Finishing touches- the icing on the cake
When you are ready to decorate the cake, beat the icing sugar with enough lemon juice to create thick icing. It shouldn’t be too runny, but runny enough to drip of the spoon. I’ve ended up adding about 4 tbsp of lemon juice to mine, but this amount may vary for different types of icing sugar. It is always better to add tiny amounts of lemon juice, gradually, because sometimes just few drops can make it or break it.
Transfer the icing into a small jug and pour it into the middle of the cake. It should naturally start spilling and covering the whole surface, but you may want to help it a bit by lifting the cake and tilting it slightly backwards, forwards and to the sides to create an even coverage. Allow the icing to drip on sides a bit, it adds an extra ‘wow factor’ into the cake!
Zesty lemon cake- what can go wrong?
Although this is a very easy recipe, there is a couple of things to be aware of. As mentioned before, it is really important that the ingredients are at room temperature. Make sure to take your butter, eggs and yogurt out of the fridge prior to making the cake. Allow them to come to the room temperature, which should take about 15- 20 minutes.
If the cake has risen and split/ cracked on top, simply level it with serrated knife. That is exactly what I did with mine. Cut off the ‘dome’, flip the cake upside down and pour the icing over it. Nobody will ever know!
As always, thanks for reading today’s post! I also want to wish you a great Easter holidays, filled with lots of chocolate and cake! I will be taking a small break over this time, so no new post next Monday! Regular business will resume from 29th of April…
In a meantime, you can follow me along on my Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
- 175 g unsalted butter (softened)
- 175 g golden caster sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3 large unwaxed lemons (zested, plus additional 4-5 tbsp juice)
- 250 g self-raising flour (see recipe notes)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 100 g Greek yogurt
- 400 g icing sugar
- 2 large lemons (peel only)
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 200 ml water
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Heat the oven to 170C (150C fan). Grease a deep, loose-bottomed 18cm cake tin and line the base of it with baking parchment.
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Beat the butter and caster sugar together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at the time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the lemon zest. Fold in the 250g of flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp of salt and 100g Greek yogurt. Mix until the ingredients are JUST combined.
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Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the centre of the oven for 50-55 minutes, until golden brown on top and firm to the touch. Cool the cake in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack completely.
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Sieve 400g of icing sugar into a bowl and beat in enough of the lemon juice to create a thick icing. Set the cake on a cake stand or a plate and spoon over the icing, allowing it to drip down the sides a little.
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Peel large, wide strips from 2 large lemons using a vegetable peeler. Remove any white pith with a sharp knife, then julienne the peel into very thin matchsticks. In a small saucepan, add the granulated sugar and water and set it over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the lemon peel and simmer gently for 15 minutes then scoop the peel with slotted spoon and set on a paper towel to cool. Use to decorate the cake with it.
- To substitute self-raising flour, you can instead add 2 teaspoons of baking powder to each cup (150g) of all-purpose (plain flour)
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Saw it on Instagram yesterday and fell in love! This cake is so beautiful, Anna. Such a masterpiece! 🙂 I need to make a vegan version of it. Sending you much love, Ela
Aww Ela, you’re so kind! It makes me so happy to read your lovely comment, and I can’t wait to see your vegan version of this cake! Sending big hugs! Have a great start of the week! xx
I am such a lemon lover. This dessert is a great way to celebrate spring. I think it is the best way to end the EASTER dinner.
I couldn’t agree more Gloria! Lemons are one of my favourite ingredients to cook with, and they are essential in any kitchen in my opinion! So happy to hear that you like this recipe, thank you!
I realize the taste would be compromised as butter is BEST…but if we weren’t quick on our feet and forgot to take out butter to come to room temperature, will this cake still WORK with oil?
Thanks.
God Bless.
Happy Easter.
Hi Monika, thanks for your comment and for stopping by. I honestly cannot guarantee that the the recipe will work with oil instead of butter, it may alter the texture and the taste of the bake. But I would love to know if you try making it with oil and what sort of the results you’ve had with that!
This is such a beautiful looking cake! I love lemon desserts and this would be a hit with my family!
Hi Anne, thank you so much! Lemon flavoured desserts are always well received with my family too! Glad you like this recipe!
Wow this cake looks so elegant (also thanks to your beautiful photographs!). And I appreciate your note about substitutes if you don’t have self rising flour which I don’t usually have on hand. Can’t wait to try this!
Thank you so much Kate, so glad to hear that you like the photos and the tips about the SR flour! Would love to know how did you like the cake once you’ve tried it!
I adore anything with lemon flavors, especially desserts. Lemon cakes are fantastic any time of year. I’ve yet to meet anyone who says they don’t like a lemon flavored dessert. We have a gathering coming up in two weeks and I know this cake would be a huge hit. Great recipe.
Hey Marisa, thanks so much for stopping by and your lovely comment. I’m also yet to meet a person who doesn’t enjoy lemon flavoured desserts! They are always a hit with friends and family. I hope you will try this recipe soon!
For someone who is a sour/tart lover We are always making lemon desserts. This lemon cake looks amazing and The photos are great!
Thanks so much Analida! So happy to hear that you like the recipe and the photos!
I love lemon in desserts. It’s so refreshing.
Couldn’t agree more! Lemon adds perfect balance to sweet bakes!
Your photos are amazing Anna! And the cake looks so fluffy and light. I love baking with Greek yogurt since I always have some in my fridge and it’s so much healthier. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe!
Aww Ana, thanks so much for your sweet comment! So happy that you like it! And pleasure all mine, I hope you will try this recipe soon! Big hug!
All the lemon photos are absolutely stunning! They’ve really put me in a spring mood. It actually still feels wintery here, but when spring actually arrives, I’ll be celebrating with this lovely cake!
Hi Leanne! I’m glad they’ve made you feel all Spring-like! That’s exactly the emotion I was trying to capture! Hope you will enjoy the lovely spring weather in no time!
Your pictures alone have my mouth totally watering! I’m so ready for light, summery flavors (and, of course, warm weather)! This would be perfect the perfect addition to any sort of outdoor party!
Thank you Amy! It’s one of those bakes that is suited for any gathering really, and I’m glad to hear that you also think so!
Yummmm!! This cake looks so good – perfect for Spring! My dad loves lemon so I am pinning this one for his birthday cake this year! Thanks for the great recipe!
Pleasure all mine Kylie! I hope your dad will enjoy this lemon cake as much as I do! Hugs!
Lemon is my favorite flavoring. It works for savory too, but anytime I’m wondering how to make a dessert special, lemon comes to mind. Very excited to try this recipe!
Hey Charity, thanks so much for your comment! Yes, lemons are so essential in cooking for me too, whether it’s in sweet or savoury dishes, it balances the flavours out so nicely! Glad you will be trying this recipe!
Zesty lemon cake, sounds so delicious, perfect to celebrate spring and your light airy photography goes so well with this cake.
Thank you Jagruti! Yes, this cake is a perfect bake to welcome the new season with! Glad you like the photos too!
This cake looks so beautiful and delicious, Anna! I’m so in love with the pictures! So gorgeous!
Such a perfect dessert!
Lots of love,
Bianca <3
Hey Bianca, thanks so much! I’m so happy to hear that! Lemon cake is always a winner and a crowd pleaser! Big hug! x