Lemon Butter Cake Recipe is a moist, soft cake with rich butter and bright lemon flavor. This delicious lemon butter cake recipe balances sweetness and citrus tang, making each slice flavourful and tender.
I made this Lemon Butter Cake Recipe because I was inspired by a bakery video showing a golden, zesty cake. The main speciality of this lemon butter cake recipe is its creamy texture and fresh lemon taste from zest and juice.
I will now show step by step how to make this Lemon Butter Cake Recipe, from mixing ingredients to baking and serving.
Secrets To Perfect Lemon Butter Cake Recipe
Secrets to a perfect Lemon Butter Cake Recipe start with using room temperature butter and eggs to create a smooth, airy batter. Freshly grated lemon zest and freshly squeezed juice enhance the bright citrus flavor.
Be careful not to over mix the batter once flour is added, keeping the cake tender. Mayonnaise adds extra moisture, making the texture soft and rich.
Preheating the oven ensures even baking, and testing the cake with a toothpick guarantees it is cooked through. Cooling slightly before slicing prevents crumbling and preserves the buttery, lemony taste.

How To Prepare Lemon Butter Cake Recipe?
To make this Lemon Butter Cake Recipe turn out perfectly, follow each step carefully. Clear instructions and simple kitchen tools make the process easier, though not all are necessary.
Fresh lemon juice and zest blend with butter for a moist, flavourful cake. Even with basic equipment, you’ll enjoy a delicious, tender dessert.
Recipe Overview
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Yield: 10 servings
Kitchen Utensils
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk or electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Zester or grater
- Lemon juicer
- Spatula
- 9-inch round cake pan
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 190 g all purpose flour
- 225 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 30 g mayonnaise
- 250 g granulated sugar
- Zest of 3 lemons
- Juice of 3 lemons
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 g baking powder
- 2.5 g baking soda
- 2.5 g salt
Instructions
1. Prepare the oven and pan
Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a 9-inch cake pan with butter and sprinkle a little flour over it, or place a piece of parchment paper inside.
2. Prepare the wet mixture
Beat butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Stir in mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
3. Prepare the dry mixture
Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Gently fold these ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just enough to combine everything evenly.
4. Bake the cake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, checking by inserting a toothpick into the center, it should come out clean.
5. Cool and serve
Allow the cake to rest in the pan for about 10 minutes. Move it to a wire rack and wait until it is completely cool. Cut into slices and serve. Optional: sprinkle with powdered sugar for decoration.
Notes: Room temperature butter and eggs help create a smooth batter. Mayonnaise adds extra moisture and tenderness to the cake. Adjust lemon juice and zest according to your taste preference.
Nutrition Facts Of Lemon Butter Cake Recipe
| Nutrition | Amounts |
|---|---|
| Calories | 360 kcal |
| Protein | 5 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Sugars | 30 g |
Why Peoples Like Lemon Butter Cake Recipe?
People like Lemon Butter Cake Recipe because it offers a perfect balance of rich, buttery flavor and bright, tangy lemon.
The cake is soft, moist, and tender, making it enjoyable to eat alone or with tea or coffee. The fresh lemon zest and juice give a refreshing aroma and lively taste those appeals to many palates.
Its slightly sweet, buttery texture combined with citrus notes creates a comforting yet elegant dessert. Many also enjoy it because it looks golden and inviting, making it feel homemade and special.
Why My Recipe Works
My Lemon Butter Cake Recipe works because it carefully balances flavor, texture, and moisture. Using room temperature butter and eggs creates a smooth, airy batter, while mayonnaise adds extra moisture that keeps the cake soft and tender.
Fresh lemon zest and juice give a bright, natural citrus flavor that lifts the richness of the butter. Proper mixing ensures the ingredients are evenly combined without overworking the batter, preventing toughness.
Baking at the correct temperature allows the cake to rise evenly and develop a golden crust, while cooling slightly before slicing preserves it’s moist, buttery, and flavourful texture.
My Favorite Ways To Serve It Up
My favourite ways to serve Lemon Butter Cake Recipe highlight its buttery, citrus flavor in simple yet delicious ways. I love enjoying it plain, slightly warm, so the soft texture and bright lemon taste come through fully.
A light dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of sweetness and makes it look inviting. Fresh berries, like strawberries or blueberries, pair beautifully with the tangy lemon, adding colour and freshness.
For special occasions, I slice the cake and layer it with lemon curd or cream cheese frosting, creating a more indulgent treat.
Professional Baking Tips
1. Make sure butter and eggs are at room temperature. Softened butter blends better with sugar, creating a light, airy batter that gives the cake a tender texture.
2. Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Avoid packing it, or the cake can turn dense.
3. Use freshly grated lemon zest and freshly squeezed juice. Bottled juice or pre grated zest can weaken the bright, citrus taste.
4. Once the dry ingredients are added, fold gently. Over mixing develops gluten, making the cake tough instead of soft.
5. Always preheat the oven fully before baking. A stable temperature ensures the cake rises evenly and cooks through properly.
6. Let the cake cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then move it to a wire rack. Cutting too soon can cause crumbling and affect texture.
Nutritional Benefits
Lemon Butter Cake Recipe offers a mix of energy, vitamins, and minerals, though it is best enjoyed in moderation. The eggs provide high-quality protein and essential amino acids, supporting muscle and tissue health.
Butter contributes fat soluble vitamins, such as A, D, and E, which help with vision, immunity, and cell function. Lemons add vitamin C and antioxidants, which support the immune system and help, fight free radicals.
While the cake contains sugar and fat, which provide quick energy, its nutrient content from eggs, butter, and lemon gives small but meaningful health benefits alongside its delicious flavor.
Variations
◆ Lemon Poppy Seed Cake – Add 1–2 tablespoons of poppy seeds to the batter for a subtle crunch and nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with lemon.
◆ Lemon Blueberry Cake – Fold in fresh or frozen blueberries before baking. The juicy berries create bursts of sweetness and complement the tart lemon taste.
◆ Lemon Almond Cake – Replace a portion of the flour with finely ground almonds and add almond extract. This gives a nutty richness and slightly denser texture.
◆ Lemon Glazed Cake – After baking, pour a simple lemon glaze made of powdered sugar and lemon juice over the cake. It enhances sweetness and intensifies the lemon flavor.
◆ Lemon Yogurt Cake – Substitute part of the butter or mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. This variation produces extra moistness, a subtle tang, and a lighter texture.
Additions For Extra delicious ideas
➤ Cream Cheese Swirl – Mix softened cream cheese with a little sugar and swirl it into the batter before baking for a creamy, tangy layer.
➤ Lemon Glaze or Syrup – Brush simple lemon syrup (lemon juice and sugar) over the warm cake to intensify the citrus flavor and keep it moist.
➤ White Chocolate Chips – Fold in white chocolate chips for bursts of sweet, creamy flavor that pair well with lemon.
➤ Toasted Nuts – Add chopped toasted almonds or pecans on top or in the batter for a crunchy texture contrast.
➤ Coconut Flakes – Sprinkle unsweetened or lightly toasted coconut over the batter or glaze for a tropical twist and extra texture.
Storage Instructions
To keep Lemon Butter Cake Recipe fresh and moist, store it properly at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Once the cake has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
At room temperature, it will stay fresh for about 2–3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate the cake for up to a week, making sure it is well covered to avoid absorbing other odors.
You can also freeze slices for up to 2 months by wrapping them individually in plastic and then placing them in a freezer safe bag.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Makes Lemon Butter Cake Taste So Lemony?
The bright citrus flavor comes from fresh lemon zest and lemon juice. Zest contains natural citrus oils that give strong lemon taste. Bottled juice or essence won’t deliver the same intensity.
Why Did My Lemon Butter Cake Sink In The Center?
A cake can collapse if too much leavening is used, the oven temperature isn’t right, or the batter is over mixers. Making sure baking powder/soda is fresh and mixing gently helps prevent this.
How Do I Know When The Cake Is Fully Baked?
Insert a toothpick in the center of the cake if it comes out clean or with a few crumbs, the cake is done. Under cooked center often means it needs a few more minutes in the oven.
Can I Use Bottled Lemon Juice Instead Of Fresh Lemons?
You can, but fresh lemons give much better citrus flavor. Fresh zest has aromatic oils essential for authentic lemon cake taste.
What If I Don’t Have Baking Powder?
Baking powder provides lift. Substituting only baking soda without proper acidity can affect texture and rise, resulting in a dense or under baked cake.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed making this Lemon Butter Cake Recipe, and the results were truly rewarding. The cake came out soft, moist, and full of fresh lemon flavor that everyone loved.
My family and guests were impressed and enjoyed every slice, which made me feel very happy and proud of my baking.
The Lemon Butter Cake Recipe was easy to follow, and achieving such a delicious result gave me a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
I hope that anyone who tries this Lemon Butter Cake Recipe will also experience the same joy, satisfaction, and delicious success that I enjoyed so much.
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Lemon Butter Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk or electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Zester or grater
- Lemon juicer
- Spatula
- 9-inch round cake pan
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 190 g all purpose flour
- 225 g unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 30 g mayonnaise
- 250 g granulated sugar
- Zest of 3 lemons
- Juice of 3 lemons
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 g baking powder
- 2.5 g baking soda
- 2.5 g salt
Instructions
Prepare the oven and pan
- Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a 9-inch cake pan with butter and sprinkle a little flour over it, or place a piece of parchment paper inside.
Prepare the wet mixture
- Beat butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Stir in mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
Prepare the dry mixture
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Gently fold these ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just enough to combine everything evenly.
Bake the cake
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, checking by inserting a toothpick into the center, it should come out clean.
Cool and serve
- Allow the cake to rest in the pan for about 10 minutes. Move it to a wire rack and wait until it is completely cool. Cut into slices and serve. Optional: sprinkle with powdered sugar for decoration.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 360 kcal | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 18 g | Carbohydrates: 45 g | Sugars: 30 g
Hi, I’m Samia! I’ve spent the past five years creating recipes that are both delicious and unique. Cooking is my passion, and I love exploring different cuisines, blending flavors, and turning everyday meals into something memorable. From quick weeknight dinners to festive feasts, I aim to make every dish special. I’d love for you to join me on this culinary journey together we’ll explore simple, easy-to-follow recipes and tips that make cooking fun, inspiring, and full of joy!