Best Lemon Buttermilk Cake
The Best Lemon Buttermilk Cake Recipe ever! This simple southern lemon layer cake is soft and moist with a tangy-sweet frosting.
The Best Lemon Cake Recipe
Ok guys, so here’s my disclaimer… When I share a classic recipe like this, I see no point in adding another recipe to the chasm of the online world, unless I can state with some authority that it is the best I’ve ever made and tasted.
Therefore I’m very excited to share this lemon layer cake with you today.
It’s moist, pillowy, and ultra tangy, just as a perfect lemon cake should be.
Southern Lemon Cake
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.
Good Southern Cakes Are:
- Delicate in texture. The kind you have to be careful about flipping out of the pan, so they don’t fall apart.
- Ultra moist. 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.
- Very 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.
So What Makes This The Best Lemon Layer Cake?
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 is very moist and tender, due to the addition of buttermilk. Plus, the moisture in the frosting protects the cake layers from drying out.
- It is in fact sugary-sweet. However, the lemon flavor balances the sweetness, so it doesn’t come off 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.
How To Make The Best Lemon Buttermilk Cake Recipe
Don’t be intimidated by the number of steps in this lemon cake recipe.
You can totally do this!
In fact, in the recipe below I actually added steps, just to make sure you didn’t misunderstand an instruction and make a mistake.
The Key Factors In Making This The Best Lemon Cake You’ve Ever Tasted Are:
- Prep your pans. Make sure to grease your pans and add a circle of parchment paper in the bottom of each pan. This will guarantee the cakes come out in one piece.
- Cream the butter and sugar long enough. This is a step rookie bakers often skip. When you beat softened butter and sugar together on high speed, it fluffs the butter for a light airy cake texture and breaks down the sugar crystals. To do this properly, it usually takes a full 3-5 minutes. If you skip this step, your cake will be dense, instead of pillowy.
- Measure properly. Think of cooking as art, and baking as science. If you are heavy-handed with your measuring, or don’t add enough of an ingredient, the chemical reaction in your oven will be different than mine. Be exact. And don’t forget to sift, or at least stir, your flour before measuring.
- Scrape the bowl. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the mixing bowl in between steps, so all the ingredients are incorporated evenly.
- Don’t overbeat the batter. It’s easy to turn on the mixer, then go about doing other things, forgetting about the batter. However, cake batter can be overmixed! This leads to a tough texture or even a cake that sinks in the middle. Mix the batter until smooth, and no longer. Once all the ingredients are incorporated… TURN THE MIXER OFF.
- Don’t disturb the baking cake. Leave it alone guys! Don’t open the oven door fifteen times while it’s baking. I would even suggest you walk lightly through your kitchen while the cake is baking. It needs consistent heat, and no movement to rise properly. Opening the oven door and banging around the kitchen can cause your cake to collapse in the center before it’s fully baked. If you can be patient you will be thrilled with the results.
- Cool completely. Don’t rush the cake frosting. Make sure to give your cake ample time to cool. Even a little warmth will make the frosting slump down the sides as you try to smooth it.
Get the Full (Printable) Best Lemon Buttermilk Cake Recipe Below!
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How well does this cake keep?
You can let it sit out 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 in 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.
More Classic Southern Desserts:
- 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)
Best Lemon Buttermilk Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake –
- 2 ¾ cups cake flour, sifted (or 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour + ¼ cup cornstarch)
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- Zest of 1 lemon (save juice for frosting)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 3-5 drops yellow food coloring *optional
- 1 ¼ cup whole-fat buttermilk
For the Frosting –
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened (3 sticks)
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 5-7 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray or grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Cut out 9-inch parchment paper circles, and press down in the bottom of each pan. (Trace the pan for perfect circles.)
- For the Cake: In the bowl on an electric stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. (Cream: Beat on high approximately 3-5 minutes to break down the sugar crystals.)
- In a separate bowl, mix the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Once the butter and sugar are well creamed. Scrape the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula. Then turn the mixer on low and beat in the eggs, oil, lemon zest, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and yellow food coloring.
- Scrape the bowl again. Turn the mixer back on low and alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk until both are well combined. Once the batter is smooth, turn the mixer off immediately.
- Pour the batter evenly into the two prepared pans. Bake on the middle rack, undisturbed for 30 minutes.
- If the center of the cakes are puffed up, check the cake by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, take them out of the oven. If the toothpick has batter on it, bake another 5-10 minutes and recheck.
- Allow the cakes to cool 10 minutes in the pans. Then carefully flip them out on a cooling rack. Remove the parchment paper and cool completely.
- For the Frosting: Once the cakes are room temperature, place the butter in a clean stand mixer bowl. Beat until fluffy. Then scrape the bowl and turn on low. Mix in the buttermilk and lemon juice. Then add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating to incorporate.
- After adding 5 cups of powdered sugar, turn the mixer up to beat out any clumps. Check the consistency of the frosting. If it is too loose, add another 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- To Assemble:Move one cake to a cake stand or platter. Scoop about 2 cups frosting onto the cake. Use a large flat spatula to spread the frosting out evenly.
- Set the second cake on top of the frosting, being careful to center the cake. Gently press the cake a little to level the top. Then scoop all remaining frosting on top of the cake. Use the spatula to work the frosting over the top and down the sides.
- Turn the cake stand to smooth out the sides with the flat edge of the spatula. Once you are satisfied with the sides, use the spatula to make swooping marks on the top of the cake. Use a wet paper towel to clean up the cake stand.
- Cover and keep at room temperature for up to 4 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. When ready to serve, make sure the cake is at room temperature… All classic layer cakes taste best at room temperature!
Video
Notes
- Spread a thin “crumb coat” layer of frosting over the cake to catch and seal in the crumbs. Then spread on the final “pretty” layer of frosting on top.
- Or you can wrap the cakes in separate pieces of plastic and freeze them. Then a few hours later, you can unwrap, level, and frost the cake with a lot of added stability. Just be sure to do this at least 6 hours before serving so the cake layers have time to thaw.
What are the cup and tablespoon equivalent in grams uk measurements please
Hi Patricia,
We have a metric measurement option in the recipe form at the bottom of each post. It automatically converts the ingredient measurements for us… I’ve heard from a few readers that it is pretty accurate. Hope this helps!
This cake looks so elegant and delicious. I bet that icing is the best ever.
Great : This cake tasted delicious, I added a few drops of Lorann oil. Thanks
This formula is peeerrrfectt! Made it more occasions up until this point. I love the character and surface. Besides, the frosting sets wonderful with the cake.
This cake was incredible!!! The buttermilk kept the texture so moist and the lemon popped!
LOVE this recipe. There wasn’t a single leftover piece at my father’s birthday, which my family noted rarely (if ever!) happens to a birthday cake. I can’t wait to make it again!
One user error: the icing was super thin and runny. I came to the comment section trying to figure out what I did wrong, but no one else seemed to have the same problem. It tasted *amazing* but looked a little… off.
I am first time baker , I made this for new year 2022! Instructions were easy to follow and precise. The cake turned out very well , the flavors and moist was just right..
I made few changes , replaced vanilla extract instead of lemon extract , used only 4 cups of sugar for fostering , butter milk substitute – equal quantity of milk and few lemon drops.
Like it!! Made for Mother’s Day for my garden man’s wife. Thank you so much. This is my very first lemon cake.
Hi!
Will adding a little more lemon extract make the lemon flavor taste too artificial? The first time I made this cake it was delicious but almost needed slightly more lemon flavor.
Thank you!!
Hi Rachel,
You can certainly add more extract if you like. It’s hard to say exactly how much will push the flavor of the line, but I would start with adding another 1/2 teaspoon.
This formula is peeerrrfectt! Made it more occasions up until this point. I love the character and surface. Besides, the frosting sets wonderful with the cake.
I really want to try this recipe, however I don’t see measurements in weight/grams which is the best/accurate way to make a cake. It’s looks like it would be very moist, I really wish you had the updated measuring system option.
Hi Terri!
Our recipe form has a button you can press to convert the recipes to metric measurements. :)
Great!! Thanks for sharing….
This recipe is peeerrrfectt! Made it more times so far. I love the flavor and texture. Furthermore, the frosting pairs lovely with the cake.
I do add an extra teaspoon of lemon extract (because that’s my business and I’m addicted to lemon flavor).
If anyone is having troubles I suggested you just re attempt it.
I love lemon cake!!! I have for years tried to find a recipe that I loved. Well, this one hit the nail on the head. Thank you so much.
My husband does wholistic (the whole body) health. So I made a few changes:
1. I used all organic ingredients.
2. I used a glass pyrex dish, lined it with parchment paper and baked for 45-50 minutes
3. Instead of lemon zest, I used an extra 1/2 tsp of lemon extract
4. I used raw sugar
5. I used salted butter
Thank you so much for my base. I am so excited.
sound is very good!!!!!! thanks for sharing
Great : This cake tasted delicious, I added a few drops of Lorann oil. Thanks
This cake tasted delicious, I added a few drops of Lorann oil. Thanks
Delicious! I added a layer of blueberry sauce filling in between the two layers instead of the frosting and it was amazing.
Hello,
This cake looks great and I’m encouraged by the rave reviews. I’m hoping to use it for cupcakes this weekend, but the party is 4th of July themed and I’d like to make the batter itself red white and blue. I know I could use a plain vanilla or yellow butter cake more readily, but those can be so boring. Will the extra stirring needed to dye the batter impact the texture too much?