Description
This 15-Minute Lemon Cake is soft, moist, tender, and packed with bright fresh lemon flavor. It comes together quickly with simple ingredients, making it a wonderful everyday dessert for coffee breaks, afternoon tea, brunch, or whenever you’re craving homemade lemon cake.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper if desired.
2. Finely zest the lemon, then juice it.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until the batter is smooth and combined. Do not overmix.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top.
7. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the cake is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
8. Let the cake cool in the pan for several minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool further.
9. Dust with powdered sugar or serve with a simple lemon glaze if desired.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice and finely grated lemon zest for the brightest lemon flavor.
Zest the lemon before juicing it.
Measure the flour carefully to avoid a dense or dry cake.
Mix the batter only until the flour is incorporated.
Check the cake toward the lower end of the baking time so it does not overbake.
Allow the cake to cool before adding a glaze.
Store the cooled cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For longer storage, refrigerate the cake in a covered container or freeze individual slices without glaze.
Serve with powdered sugar, lemon glaze, fresh berries, Greek yogurt, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cake, Lemon Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 47mg