Zesty Lemon Curd Cake with Dreamy Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Soft, tender layers of cake dance with the bright zesty notes of homemade lemon curd in this irresistible lemon curd cake.

Summer memories burst through each delectable slice, bringing sunshine to your dessert table.

The cream cheese frosting adds a luxurious, silky finish that perfectly balances the tangy lemon flavor.

Creamy, rich, and beautifully balanced, this cake promises to be the star of any gathering.

Each forkful tells a story of careful baking and pure culinary joy.

The gentle sweetness and vibrant citrus notes create a harmonious dessert that will leave everyone asking for seconds.

Prepare to fall in love with a cake that’s both elegant and comforting.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 320 kcal

Servings: 13

Lemon Curd Cake Ingredient Breakdown

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, smooth foundation for frosting with creamy texture and subtle sweetness.
• Cream Cheese: Delivers tangy, velvety consistency and adds luxurious depth to frosting.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates silky smooth texture and balanced sweetness, ensuring perfect frosting consistency.
• Heavy Cream: Helps adjust frosting thickness and adds luscious, light creaminess.

• Vanilla Extract: Infuses warm, aromatic essence that elevates overall cake frosting flavor profile.

Baking Tools for Lemon Curd Cake

• Stand mixer or electric hand mixer: Perfect for whipping up smooth, creamy frosting and cake batter.
• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining ingredients and mixing cake batter.
• 9-inch cake pan: Provides the ideal size and shape for baking your lemon curd cake.
• Spatula: Helps spread frosting evenly and transfer lemon curd into cake holes.
• Fork or skewer: Creates precise holes for infusing the cake with lemon curd.
• Cooling rack: Allows cake to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Serving plate: Presents your beautiful cake for a stunning dessert display.

How to Make Lemon Curd Cake from Scratch

• Cake Cooling Station

After baking, let your cake rest peacefully in its pan, allowing it to cool down completely. This patience ensures your cake maintains its perfect structure and doesn’t crumble during transfer.

• Cake Release Technique

Gently ease the cake from its pan onto a beautiful serving plate or sturdy cooling rack. Treat it like a delicate treasure, supporting its edges as you transfer.

• Flavor Infusion Moment

Grab a fork or skewer and create a charming landscape of tiny holes across the cake’s surface. These little pathways will welcome the zesty lemon curd, transforming your dessert into a flavor adventure.

• Lemon Curd Magic

Lovingly spoon luscious lemon curd into each carefully crafted hole. Watch as the bright, tangy liquid seeps deep into the cake, creating pockets of citrusy happiness.

• Frosting Finesse

Once the cake has reached a serene cool temperature, blanket it with a generous layer of smooth, creamy frosting. Use a spatula to create elegant swirls and peaks that invite eager taste buds.

• Decorative Touches

Dot the frosted masterpiece with playful dollops of extra lemon curd, creating a beautiful contrast of colors and promising bursts of intense flavor.

• Celebration Slice

Cut into your creation and serve, knowing you’ve crafted a dessert that tells a story of love, patience, and delightful citrus joy.

Flavorful Tips for Lemon Curd Cake

• Poke cake technique allows lemon curd to penetrate deeply, creating incredibly moist and flavor-packed slices that melt in your mouth.
• Always cool cake completely before adding curd and frosting to prevent melting and ensure smooth, professional-looking decoration.
• Warm lemon curd slightly before spooning into cake holes to help it flow more easily and distribute evenly throughout the cake.
• Sprinkle fresh lemon zest or candied lemon peels on top for extra texture and a bright, citrusy visual appeal that elevates the entire dessert.
• Prepare lemon curd and cake layers in advance, storing separately in the refrigerator, then assemble just before serving to maintain maximum freshness and flavor intensity.

Presentation Ideas for Lemon Curd Cake

• Sweet Tea Party Companion: Pair your lemon curd cake with hot Earl Grey tea, creating a classic British-inspired afternoon treat that balances the cake's tangy sweetness.
• Citrus Fresh Garnish: Sprinkle thin lemon zest curls or tiny fresh mint leaves on top of each slice to enhance visual appeal and add a bright, refreshing flavor dimension.
• Whipped Cream Dream: Add a delicate dollop of soft vanilla whipped cream beside each cake slice, offering a cool, creamy contrast to the zesty lemon curd and providing a luxurious touch to your dessert presentation.
• Elegant Plating Technique: Serve individual slices on white porcelain plates with a light dusting of powdered sugar, creating an elegant and professional dessert experience that looks as delightful as it tastes.

Storing and Enjoying Leftover Lemon Curd Cake

• Cake Freshness Haven: Store cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, keeping it moist and delicious.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Wrap cake loosely in plastic wrap or place in sealed container to maintain texture and prevent drying out when refrigerated.
• Freezing Magic: Slice cake before freezing, wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator for best results.
• Flavor Enhancement Tip: Let cake sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore softness and maximize lemon curd's tangy taste profile.

Heavenly Lemon Curd Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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4.7 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Silky smooth lemon curd cake with cream cheese frosting delivers zesty citrus notes balanced by rich, tangy cream cheese. Fresh ingredients and careful technique ensure delightful results you can confidently create at home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3.5 to 4 cups (420 to 480 grams) powdered sugar
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 8 tablespoons (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 mL) heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Cooling: Allow the freshly baked cake to cool completely within the baking pan, ensuring temperature equilibrium and structural stability.
2. Transferring: Delicately relocate the cooled cake onto a decorative serving platter, maintaining its structural integrity.
3. Preparing: Puncture the cake’s surface with a fork or skewer, creating uniform perforations approximately 1/2 inch deep to enhance lemon curd absorption.
4. Infusing: Meticulously fill each perforation with vibrant lemon curd, allowing the citrusy essence to penetrate and elevate the cake’s flavor profile.
5. Frosting: Apply a smooth, comprehensive layer of frosting across the entire cake surface using an offset spatula, ensuring consistent coverage.
6. Garnishing: Artfully distribute additional lemon curd dollops atop the frosted cake, creating an visually appealing and appetizing presentation.
7. Serving: Slice the cake into precise wedges, revealing its intricate layers and inviting guests to indulge in this delectable dessert.

Notes

• Cooling Technique: Allow the cake to cool completely inside the baking pan to prevent structural breakdown and ensure stable texture.
• Perforation Method: Use a clean fork or skewer to create uniform 1/2-inch deep holes, enabling maximum lemon curd absorption and flavor distribution.
• Curd Infusion Strategy: Methodically fill each perforation with lemon curd, allowing the citrus mixture to penetrate deep into the cake’s interior for enhanced taste.
• Decorative Finishing: Apply frosting smoothly with an offset spatula and garnish with strategic lemon curd dollops to create an elegant and appetizing presentation.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 32 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg