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Gluten Free Lemon Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

The perfect light, sweet and tart cake for any occasion: gluten free lemon cake with lemon buttercream frosting! Birthdays, weddings, or anytime you crave the perfect cake or cupcakes, this will be your go-to recipe!
4.40 from 81 votes
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Course: Desserts
Cuisine: Dessert
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Calories: 219kcal
Author: Jules Shepard

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups 405 grams gfJules All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup powdered gluten free vanilla pudding mix like Jell-o brand or almond meal
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup butter or non-dairy alternative e.g. Earth Balance® Buttery Sticks
  • 2 cups granulated sugar or alternative like Swerve
  • 3 eggs + 1 yolk or substitute*
  • 2 Tbs fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup milk dairy, coconut, almond, hemp, soy ...
  • 1 Tbs. lemon zest
  • 1/2 Tbs. poppy seeds optional

Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar or alternative like Swerve
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 lemon sliced thinly and seeded for top of cake (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F (static) or 325° F (convection).
  • Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl, beating until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs and yolk, one at a time, mixing to integrate. Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice and mix.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Then alternately beat the dry ingredients and milk into the mixing bowl, just until combined and batter is smooth. Stir in lemon zest and poppy seeds, if adding.
  • Oil one 9×13 pan lightly. Pour in cake batter and smooth with a rubber spatula. Bake until cake pulls away slightly from the sides of the pan, approximately 40 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake – if it is clean or has very few crumbs, the cake is done.
  • OR if baking cupcakes, line pans with 22-24 cupcake lines or oil well. Fill 2/3 full with batter and smooth tops. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, testing with toothpick for doneness.
  • Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, if necessary to release the cake, and invert onto a wire rack if desired.
  • While cake is baking, bring 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add lemon slices and reduce to simmer for 25 minutes. Remove the lemon slices and set aside; stir 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice into the syrup.
  • Using a toothpick, poke holes into the warm cake while it is cooling. Pour lemon syrup over top and into the holes. Let cool completely before frosting. Add the cooked lemon slices to the top of the cake for decoration after frosting.
  • Hop to Lemon Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Notes

**One suggestion for egg-free: add 4 tablespoons arrowroot powder to dry ingredients. Add 3 tablespoons applesauce to beaten butter and sugar mixture. OR simply use Aquafaba in place of eggs. Proceed with recipe instructions. (More Egg Substitutes Here)
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Lemon Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting
Serving Size
 
1
Amount per Serving
Calories
219
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
10
g
15
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Cholesterol
 
53
mg
18
%
Sodium
 
181
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
32
g
11
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
29
g
32
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

** Please keep in mind that nutrition information provided is per serving, which may vary. While we have taken care to provide you with the most accurate nutritional values possible, please note that this information may differ significantly depending on the exact ingredients and brands that you choose to use to make this recipe. Additionally, where options are given for ingredients, the resulting calculation may include all ingredient options instead of only one per line, skewing the totals significantly.