Soft and Light Lemon Cake Recipe

If you love the fresh and refreshing flavor of lemon, this Soft and Light Lemon Cake is a wonderful homemade treat to try. The cake has a delicate lemon flavor, a soft texture, and a delicious sweetness that pairs beautifully with the simple lemon glaze on top.

Made with lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, natural yogurt, butter, and a little oil, this cake turns out wonderfully soft and light. The optional lemon curd or marmalade adds an extra layer of fruity flavor and makes the finished cake look even more tempting.

Ingredients

For the Lemon Cake

• 175 g sugar (¾ cup + 2 tablespoons)
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 110 g softened butter (½ cup)
• 30 ml oil (2 tablespoons)
• 2 eggs
• 80 g natural yogurt (⅓ cup)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 200 g plain flour (1⅓ cups)
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 30 ml lemon juice (2 tablespoons)

For the Lemon Glaze

• 80 g powdered sugar (⅔ cup)
• 2–3 tablespoons lemon juice or milk

Optional

• Lemon curd or marmalade

How to Make Soft Lemon Cake

Step 1: Combine the Sugar and Lemon Zest

Add 175 g sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon zest to a mixing bowl.

Rub the lemon zest into the sugar using your fingers. This helps combine the lemon zest and sugar before preparing the cake batter.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Add 110 g softened butter (½ cup) to the sugar and lemon zest mixture.

Whisk for about 2–3 minutes until the mixture becomes creamy and well combined.

Step 3: Add the Oil

Pour in 30 ml oil (2 tablespoons).

Whisk again for about 1 minute until the oil is incorporated into the mixture.

Step 4: Add the Eggs

Add 2 eggs and whisk for about 2 minutes.

Make sure the eggs are well incorporated into the mixture before moving on to the next ingredients.

Step 5: Add Yogurt and Vanilla

Add 80 g natural yogurt (⅓ cup) and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Whisk for about 1 minute, then give the mixture a good mix.

Step 6: Add the Flour and Baking Powder

Add 200 g plain flour (1⅓ cups) and 1½ teaspoons baking powder.

Fold the dry ingredients gently into the batter until combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 7: Add the Lemon Juice

Pour in 30 ml lemon juice (2 tablespoons).

Fold gently again until the lemon juice is evenly incorporated and you have a smooth cake batter.

Bake the Cake

Prepare a 20 × 20 cm (8 × 8 inch) baking pan and transfer the batter into the pan.

Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (350°F) for about 30–35 minutes.

Once baked, the cake should have a lovely appearance and a soft, tender texture.

Prepare the Lemon Glaze

While the cake is warm, prepare the simple lemon glaze.

Add 80 g powdered sugar (⅔ cup) to a bowl. Add 2–3 tablespoons lemon juice or milk and mix well.

Continue mixing until you achieve a good consistency that can easily be poured over the cake.

Finish the Cake

Pour the prepared glaze over the warm cake and spread it gently if needed.

For an optional extra layer of flavor, you can add lemon curd or marmalade.

The finished cake looks beautiful with its light glaze and has a wonderfully soft texture.

Enjoy Your Lemon Cake

This homemade lemon cake is soft, light, and delicious, with a refreshing lemon flavor in every bite. The combination of lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, yogurt, and the sweet glaze gives the cake a lovely balance of fresh and creamy flavors.

Serve it warm or allow it to cool before slicing and enjoy a delicious homemade treat with your favorite cup of tea or coffee.

Soft cake, light texture, and a delicious lemon flavor—this is a simple cake that’s hard to resist! 🍋🍰