Can I make this lemon cake ahead for Mother's Day?

Yes absolutely and it is one of the most make-ahead friendly celebration cakes imaginable. Bake the cake layers up to 2 days before Mother's Day, wrap tightly, and refrigerate. Make the lemon cream cheese frosting the day before and refrigerate. Assemble the complete cake the morning of Mother's Day and refrigerate until 20 minutes before serving for the most fresh and vibrant result with minimal day-of preparation.

Can I use store-bought lemon curd instead of homemade?

Yes. Good quality store-bought lemon curd works beautifully in this recipe and produces an equally delicious assembled cake. Look for a brand made with real lemon juice and eggs rather than an imitation-flavored curd for the best flavor.

What is the best way to get the lemon cakes out of the pan without breaking?

Allow the layers to cool in the pans for 10 to 15 minutes after removing from the oven. Run a thin knife gently around the inside edges of each pan to loosen the cake from the sides. Place a wire rack on top of the pan, hold firmly, and invert to release the cake layer onto the rack. Tapping the bottom of the pan gently helps release any cake that is slightly adhered.

Lemon Cake Easy Moist Layer Cake Perfect Mother's Day Recipe

Name: Lemon Cake The Most Moist and Beautiful Mother's Day Layer Cake You Will Ever Bake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 36 min
Total time: PT-497455H46M14S
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup Neutral Oil; 3 large Eggs; 1 1/3 cups Buttermilk or Whole Milk; 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Zest; 1 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice; 2 cups Granulated Sugar; 2 cups All-Purpose Flour; 1 tsp Baking Powder; 1/2 tsp Baking Soda; 1 tsp Salt; 1 cup Salted Butter softened for frosting; 8 oz Full-Fat Cream Cheese softened; 4 1/2 to 5 cups Powdered Sugar; 1 tsp Fresh Lemon Zest for frosting; 1 to 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice for frosting; 1 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste; 8 oz Good Quality Lemon Curd

Description

The most moist and beautiful Lemon Cake made with fresh lemon juice and zest in fluffy buttermilk layers filled with bright tangy lemon curd and frosted with the most velvety lemon cream cheese buttercream. A perfect Mother’s Day layer cake that is completely extraordinary in every vibrant and citrus-bright slice.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup Neutral Oil

3 large Eggs

1 1/3 cups Buttermilk or Whole Milk

2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Zest

1 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

2 cups Granulated Sugar

2 cups All-Purpose Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

1 cup Salted Butter softened for frosting

8 oz Full-Fat Cream Cheese softened

4 1/2 to 5 cups Powdered Sugar

1 tsp Fresh Lemon Zest for frosting

1 to 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice for frosting

1 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste

8 oz Good Quality Lemon Curd

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray two 9-inch or three 8-inch round pans with nonstick spray.

2. Combine oil, eggs, buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest in large bowl. Beat 2 minutes.

3. Combine sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl.

4. Fold dry ingredients into wet until just combined and smooth.

5. Divide evenly between pans.

6. Bake three 8-inch layers 20 to 26 minutes or two 9-inch layers 30 to 36 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

7. Cool completely. Optionally freeze layers 30 to 60 minutes before frosting.

8. Beat softened butter and cream cheese 4 to 5 minutes until light and fluffy.

9. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla bean paste, and lemon zest. Beat until smooth.

10. Spread lemon curd over first cake layer then top with frosting.

11. Stack layers repeating lemon curd and frosting between each.

12. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting.

13. Refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 36 minutes
Category: Dessert, Cake
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 462
Sugar: 68g
Sodium: 349mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 81g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 68mg

Keywords: lemon cake, lemon layer cake recipe, Mother's Day lemon cake, lemon curd layer cake with cream cheese frosting