Ridiculously Easy Lemon Buttermilk Cake

With a triple dose of lemon (in the cake, glaze and icing), this Ridiculously Easy Lemon Buttermilk Cake is also ridiculously delicious, definitely a lemon lover's dream come true!

It seems the lemon is a universally beloved flavor that's in season all year long. This Ridiculously Easy Lemon Buttermilk Cake boasts a triple dose of vibrant lemon flavor - there's lemon zest in the cake, a light lemon glaze that's brushed on the cake after it emerges from the oven and, the crowning glory... a creamy, dreamy lemon buttercream.

The wonderful thing about this Lemon Buttermilk Cake is that it comes together quickly with just one bowl and no mixer necessary. The glaze and buttercream are also super simple and don't require a mixer or any fancy equipment.

An old friend

If you read through this Lemon Buttermilk Cake recipe you might feel like it's vaguely familiar. If you've made our Vanilla Malt Cake with Robin's Egg Buttercream, it's the same wonderful recipe just dressed up with new clothes... lemon clothes! I love this buttermilk cake recipe, adapted from the cookbook, Snacking Cakes, by Yossy Arefi. It comes together quickly and requires only a bowl, a measuring up and a whisk.

It's a super versatile cake recipe that can go in so many directions. This time I added fresh lemon zest to the cake batter, a  lemon glaze that's brushed on after baking and a fabulous lemon buttercream that seals the deal!

Don't be surprised if you see it again in the future - with a brand-new personality!

Edible flowers

Edible flowers are a fun and beautiful way to decorate cakes, tarts,  salads, soups, appetizers... They make everything look really special, even if you're like me and don't have any fancy decorating skills! There are lots of edible flowers to choose from. You may have some growing in your own yard. Here's a list of the more common ones, courtesy of Gardener's Supply:

• Alliums. Chives, leeks and garlic are all delicious in green salads, potato and pasta salads and dips. Remove the central stem from the flower cluster to release the separate florets.
• Nasturtiums. Blossoms have a peppery flavor like watercress. All colors and varieties are tasty in salads or as garnishes. Leaves can be eaten, too.
• Marigolds. Use the tiny flowers of signet marigolds, such as Lemon Gem and Tangerine Gem. Their blossoms have a citrus taste.
• Pansies and Johnny jump-ups. These flowers have a wintergreen flavor and are pretty on cakes and other desserts. Glaze with warmed jelly for a jeweled look.
• Calendula. An easy and prolific edible flower that's easy to grow from seed right in the garden. Separate the petals from the center of the flower and sprinkle the petals into salads. Colors range from pure yellow to orange and red. Remove spent flowers and the plants will bloom continuously from early summer into late fall.
• Anise hyssop. If you like anise, this is the edible flower for you. Separate the florets and add them to sweet or savory dishes. Or use the full flowers to garnish a cheese plate.
• Honeysuckle. The blossoms make a pretty addition to salads. Don't use the berries; they're poisonous.
• Scarlet runner beans. Mix these bright-red flowers into salads, or with steamed veggies.
• Borage. This fuzzy-leaved herb has sky-blue flowers with a light cucumber taste. Add to fruit salads, green salads or freeze in ice cubes for cold drinks.
• Bee balm. This member of the mint family has minty-tasting flowers. Colors range from bright red to purple and pink.
• Chamomile. English chamomile has small, daisy-like flowers with an apple-like flavor. If you're allergic to ragweed, you might want to avoid chamomile.
• Daylily. Daylily buds and flowers taste a bit like asparagus. They can be used as a garnish or can be stuffed or made into fritters. Good in stir-frys, too.
• Mint. Like bee balm, all flowers of the mint family are edible and have a pleasant taste. Try lemon balm or spearmint in iced tea.
• Squash blossoms. Use these as you would daylilies (see above).

Even if you're not going to eat the flowers (we usually don't unless they're in a salad or used as a pretty garnish for a soup) make sure that the ones you choose are edible. You don't want flowers up against your food that could release harmful toxins. Some of the prettiest flowers are quite dangerous if ingested. For example, I absolutely love Lily of the Valley but the flowers, fruit, and leaves are all poisonous and can cause nausea, vomiting and cardiac issues. The same is true for the pretty buttercup which can result in severe irritation of the digestive tract, abdominal pain...

One other caution - avoid flowers that may have been sprayed with an insecticide, fungicide or herbicide. Because most edible flowers are easy to grow yourself, this doesn't have to be a problem.

All this to say, use edible flowers with great abandon but make sure you're using the right ones!

Celebrate a special occasion or make an ordinary day a celebration!

This would be a wonderful cake to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. I served it for our Easter celebration and everyone love it! The cake also travels well so it would be great for picnics and potlucks. And if you have a friend who needs a little encouragement or TLC, this Lemon Buttermilk Cake is perfect!

It's also a great cake to make an ordinary day special since it only takes a few minutes to put together and the results are moist, tender and lemony delicious!

Make this cake!

Whenever or for whoever you decide to serve this Lemon Buttermilk Cake, put it on your must-bake list then pour glasses of cold milk or fix you and a friend a cup of tea.

I promise no one will be disappointed and you will definitely make a delicious memory!

Café Tips for making this Ridiculously Easy Lemon Buttermilk Cake

• This recipe calls for an 8-inch round cake pan with sides that are at least 2 inches tall. If your pan has less than 2-inch tall sides, use a 9-inch pan. The finished cake will be a bit lower.
• I love this textured 8-inch cake pan. I've had mine for years and it's held up well.
• No buttermilk? No problem! You can make your own substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Fill the cup with milk up to the 1-cup line and give it a good stir. Wait 5 minutes then stir again - that's it! The milk will thicken just a bit over the 5 minutes.
• Just a note to be aware of - you can use an 8-inch square cake pan but be aware that the cake won't be as tall. The bottom surface area of an 8-inch round pan is 50 square inches whereas the bottom surface area of an 8-inch square pan is 64 square inches,
• Many cakes will mound a bit in the center while baking, this Lemon Buttermilk Cake included. It's because the outer edges start baking sooner than the rest of the cake causing the edges to set before the cake has fully risen. As the cake finished baking the center will dome. The cake will be flipped over after it's baked with the bottom becoming the top, so it's not a big deal. But, if you prefer a perfectly level cake, these velcro cake strips (which are wrapped around the pan before baking) work really well! They can be used for 8 or 9-inch cake pans and can be reused over and over.
• The best way to determine if a cake is done is to use an instant thermometer. The internal temp in the center of the cake should read 200-210˚F. Instant thermometers are super useful in the kitchen and are reasonably priced.
• This Lemon Buttermilk Cake can be made without the icing. It's delicious on its own which is a great option if you're watching your sugar and simply prefer less sweet desserts.
• I like using a large cake spatula to transfer my cakes from the cooling rack to a platter or cake stand.
• For those of you living outside of the U.S., half-and-half is a convenience product that's often used here in coffee. It's simply a combination of half milk and half cream.

Thought for the  day:

What we're listening to for inspiration:

Behold Our God

If you enjoy this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It’s so helpful to other readers to hear your results, adaptations, and ideas for variations.

5 from 4 votes

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Ridiculously Easy Lemon Buttermilk Cake

With a triple dose of lemon (in the cake, glaze and icing), this Ridiculously Easy Lemon Buttermilk Cake is also ridiculously delicious, definitely a lemon lover's dream come true!

Author: Chris Scheuer

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Lemon Buttermilk Cake

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

Servings: 12

Calories: 336 kcal

Ingredients

For the cake:

• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• finely grated zest from 1 medium lemon
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup melted butter
• ¼ cup neutral flavored oil sunflower, safflower, grape seed, avocado, canola…
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour

For the lemon glaze:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

For the lemon buttercream:

• 6 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar maybe a bit more
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon half and half or milk, maybe a bit more
• ½ teaaspoon vanilla extract

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the prep:

1. Preheat the oven to 325˚F with a rack in the center of the oven. Spray an 8-inch round cake pan (with sides that are at least 2 inches tall) generously with baking spray and rub to coat the inner surface well. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set aside. (if your round pam does not have sides that are at least 2 inches tall, use 9-inch pans instead.)
2. Set a cooling rack over a piece of parchment paper and set it aside.

For the cake:

1. In a medium-large bowl, combine the sugar and the lemon zest. With your fingers or a silicone spatula, rub the zest into the sugar until well melded. Take a sniff, you have released the amazing-smelling lemon oils from the zest! Add the egg and whisk for 30-45 seconds until well combined and a little frothy. The yellow color should get a little lighter as you whisk.

2. Add the buttermilk, melted butter, oil and vanilla and whisk until combined. Add baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk again until smooth and lump-free.
3. Lastly add the flour and whisk just until smooth. The batter will be fairly thin.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, tap the pan gently on the counter to release any air bubbles, and smooth the top of the batter with a knife or offset spatula. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. The best way to test doneness is with an instant thermometer. The cake is done when the temperature reads 200-210˚F.
5. While the cake is baking, make the glaze (directions below).
6. Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes then turn it out onto a cooling rack and peel off the parchment paper. The bottom of the cake will now become the top. Brush the cake all over with the lemon glaze. Use all of the glaze. some of it will drip onto the parchment paper but most of it will sink in. Cool completely before topping with the buttercream.

For the lemon glaze:

1. Combine all of the glaze ingredients in a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl and whisk vigorously to combine. If the glaze is still lumpy, place the cup (or bowl) in the microwave and heat on high power for 20-30 seconds. Whisk again until smooth. Set aside.

For the lemon buttercream:

1. Place the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a paper towel and cook on high power for 30-45 seconds or until melted.

2. Add the powdered sugar, lemon juice and half-and-half and whisk until smooth and creamy. You want a nice spreadable consistency - if the icing seems too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar and whisk well. If it’s too thick, add more half and half (or milk), just a little splash at a time and whisk until smooth.

3. Plop the icing onto the center of the cake and spread it to the edges, swirling it with a knife or the back of a teaspoon for a pretty presentation.

Recipe Notes

See Café Tips above in the post for more detailed instructions and tips to ensure success.

If you prefer to use Metric measurements there is a button in each of our recipes, right above the word “Instructions”. Just click that button to toggle to grams, milliliters, etc. If you ever come across one of our recipes that doesn't have the Metric conversion (some of the older recipes may not), feel free to leave a comment and I will add it.

Adapted from Snacking Cakes by Yossi Arefi

Calories 336kcal

Fat 15g

Saturated fat 7g

Trans fat 0.4g

Polyunsaturated fat 2g

Monounsaturated fat 6g

Cholesterol 42mg

Sodium 244mg

Potassium 66mg

Carbohydrates 49g

Fiber 0.4g

Sugar 38g

Protein 3g

Vitamin A 320%

Vitamin C 3%

Calcium 26%

Iron 1%