Why We Love This Lemon Buttermilk Cake Recipe
When I first moved to the south, I did not realize there is a difference between a southern cake… And all other cakes. In fact, I might go as far as to say I never truly had a mind-blowing cake until I moved to North Carolina. For those of you living anywhere else in the country (or world) a southern cake has nothing to do with the style or flavor of the cake. Instead, it has everything to do with the overall texture, moistness, and sweetness. I have eaten more than my fair share of cakes in my lifetime, and this one checks off all the boxes, plus some!
It is super soft and light with a fine, delicate crumb. It’s the kind you have to be careful about flipping out of the pan so that it doesn’t fall apart. It is very moist and tender due to the addition of buttermilk. There is nothing “bready” about a southern cake. If you press down on a piece with your fingers, you can almost squeeze out the butter or oil. Plus, the moisture in the frosting prevents the cake layers from drying out. It is, in fact, sugary-sweet. Although I tend to like desserts to be not too sweet, I make an exception when it comes to cake. The best cakes I’ve ever eaten have been powerfully sweet. However, the lemon flavor balances the sweetness, so it doesn’t come off as being too overpowering.
Speaking of the lemon flavor, it is derived from three places… Lemon zest, lemon juice, and lemon extract. Therefore, it offers both a bright, fresh lemon flavor and a deeper underlying lemon essence.
Ingredients You Need
For the cake –
Cake flour – or 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour + ¼ cup cornstarch Baking powder – for the most soft and fluff cake Baking soda Salt – brings out the flavor of the cake Sugar Unsalted butter – softened to room temperature Eggs – room temperature Vegetable oil Lemon zest and juice – use fresh zest and juice Vanilla extract – use high-quality real vanilla extract Lemon extract Food coloring – optional, but brings out the natural yellow color of the lemon Buttermilk – or 1 cup buttermilk = 1 tablespoon of vinegar and enough milk added to equal 1 cup
For the Frosting –
Butter Buttermilk Lemon juice Powdered sugar
How to Make This Lemon Cake Recipe
Recipe Variations
Raspberry swirl – For a burst of fruity flavor, fold in a cup of fresh or frozen raspberries into half of the batter. Layer the raspberry batter and plain batter in the prepared pans. Lavender lemon: Add a touch of floral notes by incorporating a teaspoon of dried lavender into the cake batter. Coconut flakes – For a tropical touch, fold in a cup of shredded coconut. Lemon curd filling: Fill the layers of the cake with lemon curd for a burst of tartness.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
I’ve also included pro frosting tips to make this the easiest and most beautiful cake you’ve ever baked! Learn How To Make Buttermilk Here. If you are new to baking, check out our 100 Best Baking Tips Tutorial.
How well does this cake keep?
You can let it sit out for 3 days at room temperature, or it will last 7-10 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to wrap it well.
Can I freeze this cake?
Wrap the cake well with a layer of plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 6 months. Then thaw at room temperature. To preserve the best possible appearance on the outside, you can “flash freeze” the cake, unwrapped, for about an hour so the frosting hardens. Then wrap well and freeze.
What if I want to make these into cupcakes
For cupcakes, I would increase the heat to 375 (for a higher dome) and bake for about 15-18 minutes. This recipe would make about 18-24 cupcakes.
Can I make this in a 9×13 pan?
Yes, you can! Bake it at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
Can I add poppy seeds?
You sure could! I would start by adding 1 tablespoon of poppyseed to the batter and then add more as needed.
My cake came out spongy and rubbery. Any idea what I may have done wrong?
It sounds like you might have overmixed the cake batter. It’s important to stop mixing the batter once the ingredients are fully combined.
Looking for More Classic Southern Desserts? Be Sure to Try:
Strawberry Yogurt Bundt Cake Perfect Carrot Cake Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting Hummingbird Cupcakes Chocolate Mint Texas Sheet Cake Vegan Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Recipe Fluffy Divinity Candy Recipe Scottish Shortbread (Easy Shortbread Cookie Recipe) The Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe Linzer Cookies (Cut Out Cookies Recipe)
Share This Recipe With Friends!
