Description
Lemon Buttermilk Sheet Cake is a deliciously moist cake that’s often made for large gatherings due to its simplicity and large serving size. The combination of buttermilk and lemon creates a cake that’s incredibly light and tender, while the zesty lemon glaze adds the perfect touch of citrusy sweetness. This cake is perfect for any season, but it truly shines in the spring, when lemons are in season and their vibrant flavor can be showcased beautifully.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2½ cups cake flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- Zest of 3 lemons
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 3 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
Glaze:
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp buttermilk
- Reserved lemon sugar (from zest and sugar mixture)
Instructions
- Prep the oven Preheat to 325°F (160°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Make lemon sugar Rub lemon zest into granulated sugar until fragrant. Reserve ¼ cup for topping.
- Mix dry ingredients Whisk together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix wet ingredients Combine buttermilk, lemon juice, and vanilla in a measuring cup.
- Cream butter and sugar Beat butter with remaining lemon sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and yolk one at a time.
- Combine Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until smooth.
- Bake Pour batter into pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25–35 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Glaze while warm Whisk glaze ingredients until smooth. Spread over warm cake and sprinkle with reserved lemon sugar.
- Cool and serve Let cake cool completely (at least 2 hours). Slice and enjoy!
Notes
This Lemon Buttermilk Sheet Cake is light, moist, and full of zesty flavor—perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or a simple afternoon treat. It’s easy to make, feeds a crowd, and pairs beautifully with a cup of tea or coffee.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/15 of cake)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: Moderate
Keywords: Lemon Cake, Buttermilk Cake Recipe, Lemon Glaze Cake, Lemon Buttermilk Cake