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simple lemon cake
Emma

Simple Lemon Cake

This lemon cake is simple but full of fresh lemon flavor that all of the lemon fans adore! Truly the perfect seasonal summer cake.
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Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Simple Lemon Cake
  • 2 cups cane sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tsps vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 1/2 tsps baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Lemon Glaze
  • 1 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • the zest of one lemon
  • 1 tsp salted butter, softened

Method
 

Simple Lemon Cake
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Beat sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until fluffy again.
  3. Sift the flour and baking powder together into the creamed mixture. Mix until well incorporated.
  4. Measure milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest and pour into the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Mix until smooth.
  5. Grease a 9 inch round baking pan with oil (coconut oil works great) and pour batter into the prepared pan.
  6. Bake for about 30-35 minutes (will depend on your oven, 35 minutes was perfect for me). Or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Once baked, let the cakes rest in the pans for about 10 minutes. Once they have cooled a bit, remove them and place on a cooling rack. This helps ensure your bottom cake stays intact.
Lemon Glaze
  1. In a kitchen aid or with a hand-held mixer, combine the sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
  2. Add in the softened butter and mix until smooth.
Cake Assembly
  1. Once cakes have cooled, add your first layer to a cake tier and pour some of the lemon glaze over the top. Distribute to the edge of the cake with a spoon or whatever works best for you. Let the glaze harden a bit and then add your next cake layer. Repeat the glaze process.
  2. When the glaze has had some time to settle and drip off the sides of the cake, clean the edge of the cake tier with a clean wet rag.
  3. Use seasonal flowers outside to decorate for presentation :)

Notes

This recipe makes two cake layers. If you would like a four layer cake, like the one I have pictured, simply double this recipe and the lemon glaze.