Luscious Lemon Layer Cake Recipes

LUSCIOUS LEMON MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Mix the cake according to the recipe, adding the zest to the dry ingredients and the lemon extract with the vanilla.
• Divide the batter between two 8" pans lined with a parchment round or buttered and floured. Bake as instructed in the recipe. Wrap the cooled layers and chill until firm (I like to bake the cake a day ahead)
• When you're ready to assemble the cake, trim the browned edges and domed top off both cakes. Split each cake horizontally so you have a total of 4 cake layers. See how to prep the layers here. Have your syrup and buttercream ready before you begin making the Lemon Mousse.
• Place the Limoncello (or cold water) and lemon extract into a microwave safe bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid in an even layer. Whisk briefly to combine and set aside to bloom. Whip the cream with the powdered sugar and set aside.
• Place the 1 1/4 cups lemon curd in a large mixing bowl and use a spatula to smooth out the curd to break up any lumps. Fold 1/3 of the the cream into the lemon curd until no lumps of curd remain. Fold in the remaining cream until it's about 1/2 way incorporated.
• Heat the bloomed gelatin in the microwave in 10 second increments until it's hot to the touch. Working quickly, add a 1/2 cup of the mousse to the warmed gelatin. Whisk immediately until completely incorporated. Pour the gelatin mixture back into the mousse. Immediately whisk until the mousse is smooth and the gelatin is evenly incorporated. If the mousse is very soft, refrigerate briefly to let it thicken before assembling the cake.
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a star tip with buttercream (or use a disposable bag with the tip cut).
• Set one layer of the cake, flat side down, onto a cardboard cake round or a serving plate. Brush the layer generously with the Limoncello syrup. Pipe a ring of buttercream around the edge of the layer to form a "dam" for the mousse. Scoop half the lemon mousse onto the layer and smooth until even.
• Gently place the second cake layer onto the mousse, careful not to squish the mousse layer. Brush the layer with syrup and pipe a dam of buttercream. Set aside a 1/2 cup of the lemon curd and scoop the rest onto the layer. Smooth the curd until even (be careful not too press hard or you might squish the mousse layer beneath).
• Place the 3rd cake layer, brush with syrup and pipe a dam. Fill with the remaining lemon mousse. Top with the 4th layer, brush with syrup. Set the cake into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to set the buttercream "dams" and the mousse.
• Ice the cake with a thin crumb coat of buttercream. Refrigerate the cake for at least an hour to set the buttercream and allow the mousse time to gel. Ice the cake with a final coating of buttercream.
• Use a piping bag fitted with a star tip to pipe a border around the top of the cake. Spread the last 1/2 cup of curd onto the cake. Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours to make sure the filling is completely set, preferably over night.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator 1/2 hour before serving.

LUCIOUS LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• Grease three 9-inch pans. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together.
• Use a fork to combine the eggs, buttermilk, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and lemon extract together in a bowl or 2 cup liquid measuring cup. Set aside.
• In another mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Add ⅓ of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix in until just combined. Add in half of the milk mixture and combine. Add in another ⅓ of the dry ingredients until combined followed by the remainder of the buttermilk mixture. Add in the remainder of the dry ingredients and mix with the hand mixer until just combined, using a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom to make sure everything is mixed in. Gently fold in lemon zest.
• Divide the batter among the three prepared pans. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit in pans for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before layering and frosting.
• In a large mixing bowl use a hand mixer to beat together butter and cream cheese until creamy, about 2 minutes.
• Mix in lemon juice, vanilla extract, and lemon extract until just combined,
• Slowly mix in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Use to frost completely cooled cake.

LEMON LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease parchment., Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon zest and juice. In a small bowl, mix sour cream and milk. In another bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream mixture., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 24-28 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool slightly., For syrup, in a small saucepan, combine sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Cool completely., For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth; beat in confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and salt until blended., Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Brush layers with warm syrup; cool completely., Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting. If desired, top with lemon slices or edible flowers. Refrigerate leftovers.

LEMON LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• 1. To make the lemon cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans. Dust the pans with flour and tap out the excess.
• 2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir together the dry ingredients with a whisk. Set aside.
• 3. In an electric stand mixer, using the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the butter on medium speed for about 30 seconds, or until creamy. Gradually add the sugar, increase the speed to medium-high, and continue to beat until the mixture is light, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• 4. Add the whole eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and lemon zest. Reduce the speed to low and gradually beat in he lemon juice (the batter will appear curdled at this point smooth out after you add the dry ingredients). Beat in the dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for another 10 seconds. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans.
• 5. Bake the cakes for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 20 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the rakcs and cool completely.
• 6. To make the lemon filling, in a medium nonreactive saucepan, whisk together the yolks and sugar until combined. Whisk in the lemon juice, butter, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the mixture turns opaque, thickens, and coats the back of the spoon. Do not let the filling boil, or it will curdle. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Stir in the lemon zest and allow the filling to cool.
• 7.Cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly onto the surface, and refrigerate for 1 hour, or until chilled.
• 8. In a clean bowl of the electric mixer, using the whisk attachment or beaters, beat the heavy cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Remove the lemon filling from the refrigerator and whisk until smooth. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the filling. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the filling until ready to assemble the cake.
• 9. To make the lemon frosting, in the large bowl of the electric mixer, using the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar on low speed. Add the cream, lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon zest. Increase the speed to medium-high, and beat for about 3 minutes, or until the frosting is light and fluffy.
• 10. To assemble the cake, place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Pile the lemon filling onto the center using a small offset metal spatula, and spread it into an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge of the cake layer. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the lemon frosting. (If some of the filling oozes out from the middle, just blend it with the frosting around the sides of the cake.) Serve the cake immediately, or refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving.

LUSCIOUS LAYERED LEMON CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake in 2 (9-inch) round pans as directed on package, blending dry drink mix and lemon zest into batter before pouring into prepared pans. Cool in pans 10 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Add boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add chocolate; stir until melted. Stir in milk and lemon juice. Refrigerate 15 min. or until thickened but not set. Gently stir in COOL WHIP.
• Cut each cake layer horizontally into 2 layers. Stack on plate, spreading COOL WHIP mixture between layers and on top of cake.

LUSCIOUS LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the cake mix according to the box, and bake as directed in 2 round pans.
• Remove from the pans to cool.
• Put the cakes back in pans, and poke cakes all over with a fork.
• Mix the boiling water with the Jell-O until dissolved.
• Pour half over each layer, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
• TO MAKE THE FROSTING: Pour milk into a bowl.
• Add pudding mix and powdered sugar.
• Blend with a wire whisk.
• Stir in the Cool Whip until completely combined.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• To frost, dip one cake pan in hot water for about 10 seconds.
• Unmold it onto serving plate.
• Spread with about 1 cup of frosting.
• Top with second layer, then frost top and sides of cake.
• Keep cake refrigerated until ready to serve.