Lemon Cake Slice with Frosting (Print Version)

A moist and zesty lemon cake slice crowned with luscious lemon cream cheese frosting—ideal for teatime or dessert.

# What You Need:

→ Lemon Cake

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 1/4 cup whole milk
06 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
08 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

11 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
13 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
15 - 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
16 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - Pinch of salt

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with milk, mixing until just combined.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, approximately 1 hour.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
10 - Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
11 - Once the cake is cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top using an offset spatula or butter knife.
12 - Cut into 8 equal slices and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tangy lemon flavor perfectly balances the sweetness, creating that magical moment when your taste buds can't decide if they're experiencing dessert or sunshine.
  • The cream cheese frosting has this silky, cloud-like texture that somehow makes ordinary afternoons feel like celebrations.
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter after adding flour will develop too much gluten, resulting in a tough cake instead of a tender crumb, so fold gently just until combined.
  • Room temperature ingredients really do make a difference, I once tried to rush the process with cold eggs and ended up with a curdled-looking batter that never quite recovered.
03 -
  • When measuring your flour, spoon it lightly into the measuring cup and level with a knife rather than scooping directly with the measuring cup, which can compact the flour and lead to a dense cake.
  • For the most intense lemon flavor, rub the zest into the sugar with your fingertips before creaming with butter, releasing the essential oils trapped in the zest.

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