Easy Lemon Cake Recipe: A Zesty Delight
Are you craving a burst of sunshine on a plate? This easy lemon cake recipe is perfect for beginner bakers and seasoned pros alike. It's bursting with fresh lemon flavor and incredibly moist, guaranteed to impress your taste buds and your guests! This recipe is optimized for search engines, focusing on keywords like "easy lemon cake recipe," "lemon cake recipe simple," "easy lemon cake," and related long-tail keywords.
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe uses readily available ingredients, making it perfect for a spontaneous baking session.
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour: Provides the structure for your cake. Using cake flour will result in a slightly more tender crumb.
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder: The leavening agent for a light and fluffy cake.
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda: Works in conjunction with the baking powder for optimal rise.
- ¼ teaspoon salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened: Provides richness and moisture.
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a tender crumb.
- 2 large eggs: Binds the ingredients together and adds richness.
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk: Adds moisture and tanginess, complementing the lemon flavor. If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest: Provides intense lemon flavor and aroma. Use a microplane zester for the finest results.
- ½ cup (120ml) fresh lemon juice: Adds another layer of zesty flavor and moisture. Freshly squeezed is always best!
Easy Lemon Cake Instructions:
This step-by-step guide will make baking this cake a breeze.
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. This ensures your cake will come out cleanly.
Step 2: Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This is best done with an electric mixer, but can be achieved with a strong arm and a whisk.
Step 4: Add Eggs
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Step 5: Alternate Wet and Dry
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined – don’t overmix.
Step 6: Lemon Zest and Juice
Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.
Step 7: Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar, make a lemon glaze, or simply enjoy as is.
Tips for the Perfect Lemon Cake:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature ingredients ensures even mixing and a better texture.
- Don't Overmix: Overmixing can lead to a tough cake. Mix until just combined.
- Fresh is Best: Freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest will deliver the most intense flavor.
- Glaze it Up: A simple lemon glaze takes this cake to the next level!
This easy lemon cake recipe is perfect for any occasion. Enjoy the zesty goodness! Remember to share your baking triumphs on social media using #easylemoncakerecipe!
