Description
Lemonade Layer Cake is a moist, vibrant citrus dessert made with lemon-infused layers and creamy lemon cream cheese frosting. Perfect for birthdays, barbecues, or any celebration. Easy to bake, bright in flavor, and beautiful to serve!
Ingredients
For the Cake:
8 oz cream cheese, softened (226g)
1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened (168g)
2 cups sugar (400g)
4 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups cake flour (342g)
2 teaspoons baking powder (8g)
½ teaspoon baking soda (3g)
½ teaspoon salt (3g)
½ cup milk (175g)
½ cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
¼ cup vegetable oil (54g)
Zest from 1 lemon (optional)
1 tablespoon lemon extract
Yellow food coloring gel (optional)
For the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:
3 sticks unsalted butter, softened (339g)
16 oz cream cheese (two 8 oz packages)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon salt
7 cups powdered sugar (805g)
Yellow coloring gel (optional)
Optional Glaze:
Extra lemonade concentrate, for brushing layers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine milk, oil, thawed lemonade concentrate, lemon extract, and zest.
- In a stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese on medium until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat for 2-3 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing until yolks disappear. Add yellow coloring gel if using.
- Alternate adding dry and wet mixtures to the batter, starting and ending with the dry. Mix just until combined.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans for 5-10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
To make cake flour: Measure 3 cups all-purpose flour, remove 6 tbsp, and replace with 6 tbsp cornstarch. Whisk well.
Use room temperature ingredients for best results.
This recipe makes approximately 8 cups of batter and can also be used for cupcakes.
Chill frosting briefly if it gets too soft during decorating.
- Prep Time: 20 min + Time (Cooling/Decorating): 1 h 30 m
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American