Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe
This Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe is the dreamy centerpiece your dessert table has been waiting for. Picture a moist, buttery crumb delicately scented with lemon, layered with silky lemon curd and crowned in clouds of whipped cream. With each bite, you get a perfect balance of sweet, tart, creamy, and tangy—the kind of cake that feels like a burst of sunshine. Whether you’re new to baking or a seasoned pro, this recipe makes it easy to create a showstopping treat that will have everyone begging for seconds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe lies in its straightforward ingredients, many of which you likely already have in your kitchen. Each one is chosen to create a cake that’s supremely moist with a vibrant citrus flavor and luscious texture.
- All-purpose flour: This forms the soft, sturdy base of your cake, providing just the right amount of structure for an airy crumb.
- Baking powder: It ensures a fluffy rise and keeps your cake from turning out dense.
- Salt: A pinch enhances every other flavor, balancing the sweetness and lemony tang.
- Unsalted butter, softened: Room temperature butter blends smoothly with the sugar, lending richness and tenderness.
- Granulated sugar: Gives the cake its sweet balance while helping to create the perfect texture.
- Large eggs: They provide structure, moisture, and help emulsify the cake batter for a plush finish.
- Vanilla extract: A dash adds warmth and rounds out the citrus.
- Whole milk: Moistens the batter and ensures a soft, melt-in-your-mouth bite.
- Fresh lemon juice: Delivers the cake’s signature bright, fresh flavor.
- Lemon zest: Packs an extra punch of fragrant lemon essence—don’t skip it!
- Lemon curd (store-bought or homemade): Silky and tart, it creates a luscious layer sandwiched within the cake.
- Heavy whipping cream: Whips up light and billowy to top everything off beautifully.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the whipped cream without making it grainy.
- Fresh berries and lemon slices (optional): For garnish, they add color, freshness, and a pretty finish to your cake.
How to Make Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Pan & Preheat the Oven
Let’s start right: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan. This ensures your cake releases beautifully, and the even temperature helps it bake up golden and light.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This simple step prevents clumps and spreads that lift and structure through every slice of your Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture looks pale and fluffy—don’t rush this part! The air you whip in here is key for a tender crumb.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Flavors
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each to keep the batter silky. Next, stir in the vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. The kitchen will smell fantastic as zest unlocks that citrus oil right into the batter.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry
Now, add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with whole milk, beginning and ending with the flour. This keeps your batter smooth, minimizing overmixing and resulting in the signature lightness of this Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Pour the finished batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack until completely cool—patience pays off here!
Step 7: Layer with Lemon Curd
Once the cake is cool, slice it horizontally to create two even layers. Spread a generous amount of lemon curd over the bottom half, then gently place the top layer back on. The curd adds a glorious burst of citrus in every bite.
Step 8: Whip and Spread the Cream
In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form—it should look cloudlike and feel light. Spread this creamy topping all over the top layer of your cake, creating pillowy swirls.
Step 9: Add Garnishes
If you like, scatter fresh berries and lemon slices over the whipped cream. They create an inviting, sunny look and a pop of fresh flavor.
How to Serve Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe
Garnishes
The simplest finishing touch for your cake? A scattering of fresh berries (like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries) and a few elegant lemon slices. Their brightness accents the creamy lemon layers underneath, and they instantly make your Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe look bakery-worthy.
Side Dishes
This cake pairs beautifully with an iced mint tea, or a pitcher of lightly sweetened lemonade. For something decadent, serve slices with tangy crème fraîche or small bowls of whipped ricotta for guests to add on the side.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re feeling festive, slice the cake into small squares for a dessert platter, or serve with sparklers for a birthday celebration. You can even make mini versions in ramekins for an elegant brunch. The Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe is so versatile—it always turns heads!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, store slices of cake in an airtight container in the fridge. The whipped cream and lemon curd keep the cake moist and luscious for up to three days, making it fabulous for make-ahead entertaining or sneaking a slice for breakfast.
Freezing
You can freeze unassembled cake layers (wrapped tightly in plastic wrap) for up to two months. For the best results, add the lemon curd and whipped cream just before serving rather than before freezing, preserving the signature freshness of your Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe.
Reheating
This cake is at its best served cold or at room temperature, so there’s no need to reheat. If you’d like to warm up just the cake layer (without cream or curd), a few seconds in the microwave will bring it back to life.
FAQs
Can I use store-bought lemon curd for this recipe?
Absolutely! Store-bought lemon curd works wonderfully and saves you an extra step. Go for a quality brand for the brightest, zestiest flavor—homemade is optional, but not required for this Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe to shine.
Can I make this cake gluten-free?
Yes, you can substitute your favorite 1-for-1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. The rest of the recipe remains the same, though the texture may be a little more delicate.
How do I get my whipped cream to hold its shape?
For whipped cream that lasts, start with very cold cream and bowl. Whip until soft peaks form and don’t overmix. If you know your Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe will sit out for a while, you can add a tablespoon of instant vanilla pudding mix for extra stability.
What should I do if I don’t have an 8-inch round pan?
You can use a 9-inch round pan, but your layers will be slightly thinner and may bake a few minutes faster. Keep an eye on doneness with the toothpick test as the baking time will be slightly reduced.
Can I double this recipe for a larger crowd?
Definitely! Double the ingredients and use two cake pans for a stunning layered result. Just make sure to rotate the pans halfway through baking for even rise, and add a bit more lemon curd for extra wow factor.
Final Thoughts
If you love bright, sunny flavors and decadent homemade treats, this Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe is guaranteed to become a new favorite. Give it a try and watch as every slice disappears in record time—you might even find yourself baking it for every special occasion (or just because). Enjoy every tangy, creamy, lemony bite!
Print
Luscious Lemon Curd Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the delightful flavors of this luscious lemon curd cake, a perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes that will brighten any occasion.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Additional:
- 1 cup lemon curd (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Fresh berries and lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease/flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, and zest.
- Combine: Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk in three parts, mixing until just combined.
- Bake: Pour batter into pan, bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool and assemble: Cool cake, slice horizontally, spread lemon curd, stack layers, whip cream, and garnish.
Notes
- For enhanced flavor, brush cake layers with lemon syrup before adding the curd.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
