Sweet & Tangy Strawberry Lemon Cake Recipe to Brighten Any Day

Every baker knows a delightful strawberry lemon cake can brighten even the gloomiest afternoon.

Sweet and tangy flavors dance perfectly in this incredible dessert.

Bright citrus notes complement the luscious strawberry undertones, creating a memorable treat.

Seasonal ingredients blend harmoniously to craft something truly special.

Fresh strawberries and zesty lemons make this recipe pop with vibrant colors and incredible taste.

Summer celebrations call for something extraordinary that impresses everyone around the table.

Baking this cake will become your new favorite weekend adventure.

Helpful Advice For Strawberry Lemon Cake

• Fold Gently: Add diced strawberries with a light touch to prevent crushing and maintain their delicate texture throughout the cake batter.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, eggs, and buttermilk are at room temperature for smoother mixing and a more uniform cake texture.
• Zest Powerfully: Use fresh lemon zest directly from the lemon to maximize bright, citrusy flavor and aromatic notes in the cake.
• Prevent Sinking Strawberries: Toss diced strawberries in a tablespoon of flour before folding into the batter to prevent them from sinking during baking.
• Cool Completely: Allow cake layers to cool entirely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure a perfectly smooth, stable decorative finish.

Best Storage Tips For Strawberry Lemon Cake

• Preserve the freshness of your strawberry lemon cake by storing it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Keep the cake covered with plastic wrap or in a cake carrier to prevent drying out.
• Refrigerate the cake if you want to extend its shelf life to 5-7 days, but always bring it to room temperature before serving to restore its soft texture and vibrant flavors.
• For longer storage, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months.
• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before enjoying.

Tasty Matches For Strawberry Lemon Cake

• Sip Strawberry Spritzer: Craft a light, refreshing strawberry spritzer with fresh strawberry puree, sparkling water, and a hint of lemon to complement the cake's fruity and tangy profile.
• Pair Creamy Mascarpone Delight: Serve a small dollop of mascarpone cream alongside the cake, enhancing the dessert's richness and providing a smooth, elegant contrast to the bright strawberry-lemon flavors.
• Match Chilled White Wine: Select a crisp, slightly sweet Moscato or Riesling that echoes the cake's fruity notes and cuts through its sweetness, creating a delightful dessert experience.
• Enjoy Vanilla Bean Gelato: Add a scoop of smooth vanilla bean gelato to balance the cake's intense flavors, offering a cool, creamy counterpoint that elevates the entire dessert.

New Versions Of Strawberry Lemon Cake To Try

• Berry Bliss Cake: Swap strawberries for mixed berries like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, creating a vibrant and colorful cake with complex fruity flavors.
• Tropical Sunshine Cake: Replace lemon with orange zest and juice, then fold in diced mangoes for a sunny, tropical-inspired dessert that brings warmth to your table.
• Lavender Lemon Dream: Infuse the cake batter with dried lavender flowers and reduce lemon zest, offering a sophisticated and delicate floral undertone to the classic recipe.
• Almond Citrus Sensation: Add ground almonds to the flour mixture and incorporate almond extract alongside lemon, creating a nutty and bright cake with enhanced depth of flavor.

Questions On Strawberry Lemon Cake Answered

• What makes this strawberry lemon cake special?

This cake combines the bright, tangy flavors of lemon with sweet, juicy strawberries. The fresh fruit in the batter and frosting creates a vibrant, refreshing dessert that’s perfect for spring and summer gatherings.

• Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones?

Fresh strawberries work best for this recipe. Frozen strawberries can add extra moisture and make the cake batter too wet. If you must use frozen, thaw and drain them completely before adding to the batter.

• How do I prevent the strawberries from sinking in the cake?

Toss the diced strawberries in a little flour before folding them into the batter. This helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking.

• Is it necessary to use buttermilk in this recipe?

Buttermilk adds moisture and helps create a tender crumb. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.

Why Strawberry Lemon Cake Is A Favorite

• Effortless Summer Delight: This strawberry lemon cake brings sunshine to your table with minimal kitchen hassle, perfect for home bakers wanting a refreshing dessert without complicated techniques.
• Quick Weekend Crowd-Pleaser: Ready in under an hour, this cake serves multiple people and creates instant happiness with its vibrant flavor combination of tangy lemon and sweet strawberries.
• Versatile Celebration Centerpiece: Whether for a birthday, brunch, or casual gathering, this cake adapts beautifully to different occasions, making it a go-to recipe for spontaneous entertaining and planned events.
• Kid and Adult-Friendly Treat: The bright, approachable flavors appeal to all ages, transforming a simple cake into a universally loved dessert that brings families and friends together around the table.

Strawberry Lemon Cake Ingredient Guide

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the cake, creating a soft and tender texture.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential leavening agents that help the cake rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps create a tender crumb. Use unsalted, room temperature butter.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps with moisture and texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure. Use large, fresh eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the cake's flavor. Pure vanilla is best.
• Buttermilk: Creates a moist cake with slight tanginess. Can substitute with milk and lemon juice.

• Fresh Strawberries: Adds natural sweetness and bright flavor. Choose ripe, red strawberries.
• Lemon Zest: Provides intense citrus aroma and brightness.
• Lemon Juice: Adds tangy flavor and helps activate leavening agents.

• Cream Cheese: Creates a rich, tangy base for the frosting. Use full-fat, softened cream cheese.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps stabilize the frosting.
• Strawberry Puree: Infuses natural strawberry flavor into the frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity.

Strawberry Lemon Cake Instructions Made Simple

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank up your oven to a cozy 350F (175C). Grab two round cake pans and give them a quick spray with cooking oil. Line the bottom with parchment paper for easy cake removal.

• Cooking spray
• Parchment paper

Step 2: Create the Dry Magic

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients until they’re perfectly blended.

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

Step 3: Cream the Sweet Base

Grab a large mixing bowl and beat butter and sugar until they transform into a light, fluffy cloud. This is where the magic begins!

• Butter
• Sugar

Step 4: Bring in the Flavor Boosters

Add eggs one by one, giving each a good mix. Then toss in vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice to wake up those taste buds.

• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Lemon zest
• Lemon juice

Step 5: Blend the Batter

Alternate between adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to your mixture. Start and end with dry ingredients. Mix gently – we want a smooth, happy batter.

• Dry ingredient mixture
• Buttermilk

Step 6: Fold in the Fruity Surprise

Carefully fold diced strawberries into the batter. Be gentle – we want strawberry pieces, not strawberry mush!

• Diced strawberries

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pans. Slide into the oven and bake for 28-32 minutes. The cake is ready when a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 8: Cool Down

Let the cakes rest in their pans for 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 9: Whip Up the Dreamy Frosting

Beat cream cheese and butter until silky smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, creating a fluffy cloud of sweetness.

• Cream cheese
• Butter
• Powdered sugar

Step 10: Add Fruity Zing

Mix in strawberry puree, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until your frosting sings with flavor.

• Strawberry puree
• Lemon juice
• Vanilla extract

Step 11: Build Your Masterpiece

Place the first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous layer of frosting. Add the second cake layer and frost the entire cake with love.

Step 12: Garnish and Celebrate

Decorate with fresh strawberries, sprinkle some lemon zest, or add a dollop of whipped cream. Your strawberry lemon cake is ready to steal the show!

Strawberry Lemon Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Luscious strawberry lemon cake whisks summer’s sweetest flavors into a delightful dessert that dances between tangy and sweet. Rich layers of zesty citrus and ripe strawberries invite you to savor each heavenly bite of this irresistible treat.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1.75 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar, let sit for 5 minutes)
• 1 cup diced fresh strawberries (tossed in 1 tablespoon flour to prevent sinking)

Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
• 0.5 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 3.5 cups powdered sugar
• 0.25 cup fresh strawberry puree (blended strawberries, strained to remove seeds if desired)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Fresh sliced strawberries
• Lemon zest
• Whipped cream

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Instructions

1. Craft the foundational cake mixture by blending dry ingredients in a medium mixing vessel, ensuring even distribution of flour, lemon-friendly leavening agents, and seasoning crystals.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until the texture transforms into a light, airy consistency, developing a pale and voluminous texture.
3. Incorporate eggs individually, thoroughly integrating each before adding the next, then fold in aromatic lemon essence and citrus zest to enhance the flavor profile.
4. Gradually introduce the powdery mixture and buttermilk to the wet ingredients, alternating between the two while maintaining a gentle stirring technique to preserve the batter’s delicate structure.
5. Tenderly fold diced strawberries throughout the mixture, ensuring even distribution without compromising the batter’s airiness.
6. Prepare circular baking vessels by coating with protective parchment and lightly greasing to prevent potential adhesion.
7. Distribute the fragrant batter evenly between the prepared pans, creating symmetrical layers for consistent baking.
8. Position the pans in a preheated thermal environment set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing the cakes to transform for approximately 30 minutes until a probing utensil emerges cleanly.
9. Allow the baked layers to rest briefly within their vessels, then transfer to a cooling platform to reach ambient temperature.
10. Construct the vibrant frosting by whipping cream cheese and butter until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
11. Gradually integrate powdered sweetener, creating a luxurious, cloud-like mixture that holds its shape beautifully.
12. Infuse the frosting with concentrated strawberry essence, bright citrus notes, and aromatic vanilla extract.
13. Assemble the cake by positioning the initial layer on a decorative serving platform, spreading a generous frosting layer.
14. Carefully position the second cake layer, enrobing the entire creation with the remaining strawberry-lemon frosting.
15. Embellish with fresh strawberry segments, delicate lemon zest curls, or optional billowy whipped cream for a stunning presentation.

Notes

• Gently fold strawberries into the batter at the last moment to prevent color bleeding and maintain their texture throughout the cake.
• Room temperature ingredients ensure smoother mixing and a more even cake texture, so take butter, eggs, and buttermilk out 30 minutes before baking.
• Strain excess liquid from strawberry puree to prevent frosting from becoming too runny and maintain the perfect spreading consistency.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend and add an extra teaspoon of baking powder to maintain lightness.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 390
• Sugar: 34 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 53 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg