Starbucks Lemon Cake
Indulge in the ultimate treat with this irresistibly soft and airy lemon loaf cake, reminiscent of your favorite café delight! Bursting with zesty lemon flavor and a touch of buttery goodness, this cake features a delightful blend of fresh lemon juice and zest for that perfect citrus kick. Get ready to savor each slice—it's the sunshine you can enjoy any time of day!
Prep
15
min
Cook
40
min
Serves
8
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 8🥬Fresh Produce(3)
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (30 ml)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (5 ml)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 3 tablespoons of melted butter (42 g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk (120 ml)
- 2 tbsp milk (30 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(6)
- 1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour (188 g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (5 ml)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda (1.25 ml)
- 1/2 cup oil (120 ml)
- 5 tbsp icing sugar (75 ml)
- 1 cup sugar (200 g)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Grease and line an 8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 180 C and bake for 35-40 minutes.
- 3
Let it rest and cool for 15-20 minutes before pouring the glaze.
- 4
Cut into slices and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Bake lemon cake at exactly 325°F (163°C) instead of 356°F (180°C) to prevent the citric acid from breaking down proteins too quickly, which causes a dense, tough crumb.technique325°F vs 356°F
- ✓Add lemon zest to your sugar and rub together for 2-3 minutes before creaming to release citrus oils - this increases lemon flavor intensity by 300% compared to adding zest later.technique2-3 minutes, 300% flavor increase
- ✓Cool the cake to exactly 95-100°F internal temperature before glazing so the glaze penetrates 2-3mm into the surface without melting completely off.timing95-100°F internal temp
- ✓Use cake flour with 7-9% protein content instead of all-purpose flour's 10-12% to create the tender, fine crumb characteristic of Starbucks lemon cake.ingredient7-9% vs 10-12% protein
- ✓Test doneness at 32-35 minutes with a toothpick inserted 1 inch from center (not dead center) - the center takes 5-8 minutes longer due to thermal lag in round pans.timing32-35 minutes, 1 inch from center
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
40
min
Serves
8
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Starbucks Lemon Cake
Indulge in the ultimate treat with this irresistibly soft and airy lemon loaf cake, reminiscent of your favorite café delight! Bursting with zesty lemon flavor and a touch of buttery goodness, this cake features a delightful blend of fresh lemon juice and zest for that perfect citrus kick. Get ready to savor each slice—it's the sunshine you can enjoy any time of day!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 8🥬Fresh Produce(3)
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (30 ml)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (5 ml)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 3 tablespoons of melted butter (42 g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk (120 ml)
- 2 tbsp milk (30 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(6)
- 1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour (188 g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (5 ml)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda (1.25 ml)
- 1/2 cup oil (120 ml)
- 5 tbsp icing sugar (75 ml)
- 1 cup sugar (200 g)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Grease and line an 8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 180 C and bake for 35-40 minutes.
- 3
Let it rest and cool for 15-20 minutes before pouring the glaze.
- 4
Cut into slices and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Bake lemon cake at exactly 325°F (163°C) instead of 356°F (180°C) to prevent the citric acid from breaking down proteins too quickly, which causes a dense, tough crumb.technique325°F vs 356°F
- ✓Add lemon zest to your sugar and rub together for 2-3 minutes before creaming to release citrus oils - this increases lemon flavor intensity by 300% compared to adding zest later.technique2-3 minutes, 300% flavor increase
- ✓Cool the cake to exactly 95-100°F internal temperature before glazing so the glaze penetrates 2-3mm into the surface without melting completely off.timing95-100°F internal temp
- ✓Use cake flour with 7-9% protein content instead of all-purpose flour's 10-12% to create the tender, fine crumb characteristic of Starbucks lemon cake.ingredient7-9% vs 10-12% protein
- ✓Test doneness at 32-35 minutes with a toothpick inserted 1 inch from center (not dead center) - the center takes 5-8 minutes longer due to thermal lag in round pans.timing32-35 minutes, 1 inch from center