This Classic Lemon Drizzle cake is an absolute must make! The softest, most tender lemon zest packed cake is then covered in a mixture of lemon juice and sugar to create the most amazing lemon lover’s loaf cake!
Is it just me or are lemons from Costco on steroids? They are HUGE.
I mean, I know Costco is for bulk buying, but the pack I just got? The lemons are almost the size of my entire hand. And let me tell you, I do not have delicate lady hands. I inherited my Dad’s big, square hands. #randomfactalert – I can span over an octave on a piano (not that I can actually play it…)
Mind you, at almost 6ft tall, I would look ridiculous with small hands.
Anyway. Lemons. Love them? Hate them? Feel so-so about them?
Today’s recipe is most definitely for the lemon lover’s out there! It’s an absolute classic that I truly believe everyone should make at least once in their life!
There’s the zest of two large (I mean standard large, not Costco-steroid-large) lemons in the cake itself and then I made a glorious tart, yet sweet lemon juice mixture to pour all over the cake.
I know you hate the word so I apologise, but moist. This cake is just so moist, it’s unbelievable.
Pouring the drizzle over the cake whilst it’s still warm just takes this cake to another level! The cake really does absorb it all like a sponge. And then the top.
Oh Lord, it gets sticky, sweet, tart, lemony, DIVINE.
I just wanted to face-plant the whole thing.
For something which tastes so insanely delicious, it’s also ridiculously easy to make! It’s basically a plain loaf cake with lemon.
I bet you already have allllll the ingredients in the kitchen right now.
Which means you can run out and go make this cake now because it is make-it-then-devour-it-whilst-it’s-molten-hot good.
Do you get the sense that I’m a little lemon crazy?
I just can’t get enough! The fresh, tart, sour fruit brings dishes to life. And who doesn’t love their bright yellow hue?!
I’m obsessed. I want to eat all the lemon things. If I’d have kept this cake in the house longer than 24 hours, I think it’s highly likely I would be in a lemon and sugar induced coma.
Luckily for my waist (and my blood pressure), whilst keeping three slices for us, OH took it to work and it disappeared seriously quickly!
OH didn’t even get a slice! But he had one when he got home and he loved it too! It’s a new favourite for him! Which is also a win for me, since half the time he doesn’t “do cake”.
I’m off to create more lemon goodness, but you should definitely go and make this cake. Like yesterday. 😉
Classic Lemon Drizzle Cake
Ingredients
- For the cake:
- 2 sticks (226g) unsalted butter/margarine
- 1 cup (200g) caster sugar
- Zest of 2 large lemons
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups (350g) plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt, ONLY if you're using unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk
- For the lemon drizzle:
- Juice of 2 large lemons; this was around 120ml juice for me
- 1/2 cup (100g) caster sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160C/325F and grease and line a 2lb loaf tin.
- Place butter/marg, sugar and lemon zest into a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes on med-high speed.
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until well incorporated, scraping down sides as necessary.
- Add in the flour, baking powder and salt, if using, and mix on low until it starts to incorporate. Then stop mixing and add in the milk and mix on a medium speed until well combined and smooth.
- Tip the batter into your lined loaf tin and smooth until level with a spatula/wooden spoon.
- Place in the oven for 65-75 minutes, until risen, golden and an inserted skewer into the centre comes out clean.
- Whilst the cake is baking, place 1/2 cup sugar and lemon juice into a jug and place it by the side of your oven to warm slightly. (If you can, if not, microwave it for 30 seconds just before pouring).
- Once the cake is baked, remove from the oven and use a skewer to poke holes all over the top of the cake (push the skewer all the way in). Then slowly pour your lemon juice and sugar mix all over the cake, allowing it to absorb before adding more - you don't want to pour quickly and for it all to flood out!!
- Leave to cool in the tin completely before transferring to a cutting board to slice into 12-14 slices.
- Cake will keep in an airtight container, at room temperature, for 4 days.
Recipe Notes
Recipe by Annie of Annie's Noms
Annie is a self-taught baker, recipe developer and food photographer. She has a slight obsession with tennis, motorsport, makeup, handbags and sunglasses! 
Hi Annie, If I don’t have lemons, can I used bottled lemon juice?
Hi Naz, for the juice and sugar drizzle it’s fine to use bottled lemon juice, but the cake really needs lemon zest. I’ve found Lemon juice in cake batters can make them liable to splitting and I haven’t made this cake with lemon juice, so can’t say whether it would work or not.
Bring on all things LEMON! This cake is seriously stunning and holy cow, I can plainly see how ultra-moist and soft it is!
Annie, this looks absolutely divine. I’ve been on a lemon blueberry kick lately! But seriously, I love the lemon flavor with just about everything! What a treat to find your recipe at #FoodieFriDIY…I’m so glad you shared it! Sending lots of foodie love your way! Happy Friday!
It’s only really within the last two years I’d say that I started to appreciate (and love!) lemon in baked goods! This cake looks so good – perfect for spring!
Wishing I had a slice or two right now! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Oh this is just screams Spring to me!! Love love lemons and it seems I should go to Costco soon 🙂
We love lemon cake here. This sounds delicious and i’m thinking it’s time for more lemon cake at our house. This recipe sounds divine!
Thanks for sharing your post with us at #PureBlogLove Link Party. The party starts every Thursday night at 8 p.m. est. and runs through the week end. I’m hosting at http://www.homemadefoodjunkie.com. I hope you’ll link up again next week! Can’t wait to see what you bring!
I really love anything lemon it says Spring! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a wonderful week.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Mmm…this looks so yummy! Pinned. 🙂 I wanted to let you know that I’m featuring this post tonight at the Create & Share Link Party (7:00 PM MST)! Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to see what you share with us this week. 🙂
This looks so yummy, just up my street. I like simple but tasty sponge cakes, don’t get me wrong chocolate cakes etc are nice but I much prefer something like this. It’s my birthday tomorrow can you magic some over to me 😉
Over from Too cute Tuesday
Pinned so I have the recipe.
I cannot pass up a lemon dessert…especially one as super delicious looking as this!!!
Woot! This is your second recipe to be selected as a Family Fun Friday Featured Food. 🙂 Thanks for participating! Visit me (the Food Hostess) at brittalafont.com on Thursday, April 9, after 1pm (Pacific time) to share the post and grab your “I Was Featured” button!
Just pinned it!
This sounds amazing! And it looks so moist! Thanks for sharing!
I love lemons in drinks, so I guess I feel so-so about them…however, I’ll bet a drink with this cake with be divine! Thanks so much for linking up at Found & Foraged!
Thank you Sarah! And I’m the same, cannot wait to make everything lemony!!
Thanks so much! Oooh I think I need to make something else lemon blueberry, that combo is just great as well! 🙂
Thanks so much! I just can’t get enough lemon at the moment!
Thanks so much for hosting Karly! 🙂
Thanks so much! They were definitely some huge lemons last time we went to Costco!!!
Thanks so much – it really is so delicious and simple to make! 🙂
Thanks so much for hosting! 🙂
Thanks so much for pinning and for the feature Mandee!! 😀
I so wish we could teleport cakes around!! Hope you had a lovely birthday Kate! 🙂
Neither can I! Thanks so much for featuring my recipe!! Hope you had a lovely weekend 🙂
Thanks so much Jennifer! 😀
Seriously the best lemon drizzle cake I’ve tried baking so far. It’s delicious! It’s tart, soft & seriously moist! I followed the recipe exactly. I used salted butter and omitted the salt completely. A lot of lemony, buttery goodness in this cake! Thanks for posting this recipe!