Lemon Ginger Cake with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe 🍋🍰
Overview:
This delightful Lemon Ginger Cake with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting is a true delight, combining the zesty freshness of lemon with the warmth of ginger in a moist, tender buttermilk cake. Topped with a luscious lemon-cream cheese frosting, it’s the perfect dessert for any occasion, whether it’s a weeknight treat or a special celebration.
Nutritional Information:
- Calories: 9680.4
- Fat: 458g
- Saturated Fat: 281.2g
- Cholesterol: 2055.4mg
- Sodium: 4370.6mg
- Carbohydrates: 1328.1g
- Fiber: 8.9g
- Sugar: 979.9g
- Protein: 96.9g
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 11 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 3 lemons
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 3/4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with waxed paper, then butter the paper. |
| 2 | Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the sugar and butter until well blended and creamy. |
| 3 | Incorporate Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, until fully incorporated. |
| 4 | Add Lemon and Vanilla: Mix in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Don’t worry if the mixture looks slightly curdled at this stage. |
| 5 | Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, sift together the cake flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. |
| 6 | Alternate Mixing: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk in three additions, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. |
| 7 | Divide Batter: Divide the batter equally between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula. |
| 8 | Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. |
| 9 | Cool: Transfer the pans to wire racks and let cool for 10 minutes. Then, run a knife around the edges of the pans to loosen the cakes and carefully turn them out onto the racks to cool completely. |
| 10 | Prepare Frosting: While the cakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. Using an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until smooth. |
| 11 | Add Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy. |
| 12 | Assemble Cake: Place one cake layer on a serving platter and spread a generous cup of frosting over the top. Place the second cake layer on top and frost the sides and top of the cake with the remaining frosting, creating decorative swirls with an icing spatula. |
| 13 | Final Touches: Sprinkle the top of the cake with the remaining lemon zest for a vibrant finish. |
| 14 | Serve or Store: This cake can be served immediately or stored for later. If storing, cover it with a cake dome and refrigerate for up to two days. Before serving, let the cake stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes to soften slightly. Enjoy! |
Tips:
- For extra lemon flavor, you can add a tablespoon of lemon extract to the cake batter.
- Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature for smoother blending and better texture.
- Don’t overmix the batter once you’ve added the dry ingredients; this can lead to a tough cake.
- To ensure even baking, rotate your cake pans halfway through the baking time.
This Lemon Ginger Cake with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting is sure to become a favorite in your dessert repertoire, with its perfect balance of flavors and moist, tender crumb. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just craving a slice of something sweet, this cake is sure to delight!
