Soft & Moist Lemon Loaf Cake

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Love cakes but find them a little too rich for your liking? You are not the only one! Do you love cakes but find them a little too rich for your liking? You are not the only one! While chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, or even carrot cakes are incredibly delicious, they can sometimes feel a bit too rich or heavy.

On the other hand, The Lemon loaf cake recipe brings a whole new flavor and refreshing vibe that sets it apart from others. Light, airy, and bursting with a citrusy taste, lemon cakes help create a delightful contrast to your taste buds.

So, what’s the secret behind this unique charm of a moist lemon loaf cake recipe? It’s all about the baking magic!

The journey begins with creaming the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Vegetable oil is used in this recipe to maintain the airy texture so the cake stays light even after it cools. The addition of yogurt and lemon zest helps keep it moist and refreshing.

For the finishing touches, you need to master the art of whipping eggs, as it’s essential for creating that soft and airy texture that makes lemon cake such a unique treat.

Tips To Make The Best Lemon Loaf Cake

Perfect as a refresher after meals or a standalone dessert, the lemon loaf cake is surprisingly easy to make with a few key steps. And today’s recipe is all about guiding you through those steps so you can enjoy a deliciously soft and moist lemon cake without going to any pastry shop!

Here are some tips for you to make the perfect lemon loaf cake:

Before preparing the batter for the cake, make sure all the ingredients such as butter, egg and yogurt are all at room temperature. Mixing the batter perfectly so that it’s creamy and smooth is a crucial step in baking any loaf cake. And using room temperature ingredients helps blend the ingredients more easily.

Lemon Loaf Cake Recipe Ingredients on a surface — Lemon Loaf Cake Recipe Ingredients

Once you add the flour to the batter, be careful not to overmix, as it may lead to a dense cake that may sink after baking. Also, check the expiry date of the baking powder you are using to ensure it’s fresh and effective, so your cake rises perfectly.

If the oven is too hot or the cake is placed in a high position inside the oven, the top of the cake might get cracked or become too browned for your liking. To prevent that, follow the guidelines written in this recipe and bake at the correct temperature. Place the cake in the center of the oven to ensure even heat and use an oven thermometer to check for the cake’s doneness.

It’s tempting to open the oven door and peek at your cake to see how deliciously it’s turning out! However, opening the door too early may cause the cake to sink in the middle. It’s best to avoid the urge to check until the cake is fully baked.

To know when your cake is nearly done, look through the oven glass and see if the edge has turned golden brown. You can use your sense of smell to notice that delicious aroma filling your kitchen, indicating when the cake is made.

Creative Presentation Ideas For Easy Lemon Loaf Recipe

The Lemon cake tastes incredibly delicious; why not add a touch of decoration to make it look as good as it tastes?

Here are some ideas you can use to give your cake a stunning makeover:

Toppings

If you prefer a simple look for your lemon cake, sprinkle some powdered sugar on the top. The cake will have a classic look with a hint of added sweetness!

Spread a smooth lemon glaze or cream cheese frosting over the cake for a rich and elegant look. This adds a glossy top layer to the cake and creates a creamy texture, contrasting the lemon’s tangy flavor. You can also add whipped cream on top to give the cake a festive look.

Decorative elements

To add a personalized touch to your favorite lemon cake, try using some extra elements and make the lemon cake look and taste even better!

Thin candied lemon slices, for instance, add a pop of color to the dessert and give it a fresh, citrusy finish. For special occasions like birthdays, garden parties, or seasonal celebrations, you can add edible flowers on top to make it look like an aesthetic and nature-inspired dessert.

Recipe Card

Soft & Moist Lemon Loaf Cake

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Print Rate Pin

Lemon cake recipe is much more than your regular dessert – it’s happiness in every slice! Follow my recipe to enjoy a soft and moist lemon loaf cake

Ingredients

Butter (For Greasing)
½ cup / 114 g Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature)
1 cup / 200 g Sugar
1 tbsp / 6 g Lemon Zest
4 tbsp / 60 ml Vegetable Oil
3 large-size Eggs
½ cup / 123 g Yogurt
1 tsp / 5 ml Vanilla Essence
3 tbsp / 45 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
1 / 187 g and 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
½ tsp / 3 g Salt
1 tsp / 4 g Baking Powder

For Lemon Glaze

1 cup / 120 g Powdered Sugar
3 tbsp / 60 ml Lemon Juice

Equipments

Instructions

Prepare The Pan

Take a 9×5 inch loaf pan and grease it with butter. Use a brush to ensure the butter coats every corner of the pan.
Line the pan with parchment paper to cover two sides of the pan and press on it to make it settle inside. Brush the paper with more butter to make the base for the second layer of parchment paper.
Add another sheet of parchment paper to cover the opposite side of the pan, crossing the first piece to fully line the pan.

Mix Butter, Sugar, and Lemon Zest

Take a mixing bowl and add ½ cup of unsalted butter at room temperature.
Add 1 cup of sugar to the butter in the bowl.
Grate a fresh lemon peel and add 1 tbsp of lemon zest to the mixture. Using a spatula, mix the ingredients to infuse the lemon oil from the zest.

Add Wet Ingredients

Pour 4 tbsp of vegetable oil into the bowl and fold the mixture to combine everything.
Crack 3 large-sized eggs, one at a time. After each egg, whisk the batter to mix it with other ingredients.
Add ½ cup of yogurt along with 1 tsp of vanilla essence.
Squeeze 3 tbsp of fresh lemon juice over the mixture.
Mix everything together with a whisker.

Sift Dry Ingredients and Combine

Place a fine mesh sieve over the mixing bowl and add 1 and ½ cups of all-purpose flour.
Sprinkle ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp baking powder over the flour.
Gently shake the sieve so the dry ingredients fall into the wet mixture.
Use the spatula to fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until everything is combined.

Bake and Cool

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Use a spatula to level the top of the batter.
Lightly tap the pan to get rid of any trapped air bubbles in the batter.
Preheat the oven and place the pan inside the oven at 320 degrees Fahrenheit or 160 degrees Celsius for 45-50 minutes.
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool.
Place the pan on a flat surface and gently peel off the parchment paper to release the cake.

Glaze The Cake and Enjoy!

In a small mixing bowl, add 1 cup of powdered sugar to it.
Squeeze 3 tbsp of lemon juice into the bowl.
Whisk the ingredients together until it’s creamy and smooth.
Pour the lemon glaze over the cooled cake and spread it using a spoon.
Grate some lemon peel on top of the glazed cake for the final touch.
Once the glaze has set, slice the cake, take a bite, and enjoy the deliciousness of a lemon loaf cake!

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Nutrition Facts (Click to view) Hide

Nutrition Facts

*This calculation is done by assumption calculated by an API. Please use our nutrition information just to get an idea about the recipe, consult a nutritionist if you need exact nutrition information.

Tried this recipe?

Lemon loaf cake is the ultimate treat to have when you are craving dessert but don’t want something overly sweet. On a hot summer day or after a hearty meal, lemon flavor cake is the perfect dessert to refresh your mood. The zesty, citrusy flavor of the lemon feels almost like an ice cream treat that melts away any lingering tiredness you have gathered throughout the day.

So, hurry up and bake this delicious dessert that packs happiness in every crumb!

Recipe FAQs

Lemon cake becomes dense when mixing isn’t done correctly. For a light and fluffy texture, make sure to cream the butter and sugar together to incorporate air inside the batter.

If the lemon cake is dry after baking, you can try fixing it up by spreading a lemon glaze or lemon syrup over the cake to moisten it.

Lemon cake stays fresh for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If refrigerated, it can stay fresh for up to a week.

Cakes may become crumbly if they don’t have the required amount of fat or oil in them. Make sure to follow the measurements of the recipe and avoid overbaking as they may lead to a crumbly cake.