Lemon Bundt Cake

By Jenna Lehman on April 01, 2025

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This delightful lemon bundt cake is the perfect treat for spring!

This recipe was my great-grandmothers recipe. Lemon desserts always remind me of the spring time and they taste so refreshing. Bursting with lemon flavor and a light, moist texture, it’s the ideal balance of sweet and tangy. Topped with a smooth glaze, it’s sure to brighten up any occasion with its refreshing taste and beautiful, golden hue.

ingredients

All-Purpose Flour – Provides structure and stability, ensuring the cake holds its shape while remaining tender.

Sugar – Sweetens the cake and helps retain moisture, creating a soft and delicate crumb.

Butter – Adds richness, moisture, and a velvety texture, while also enhancing the overall flavor.

Milk – Contributes to a smooth batter, adding moisture and tenderness to the cake.

Sour Cream – Increases moisture and tenderness while adding a slight tang that enhances the lemon flavor.

Lemon Zest – Infuses the cake with a concentrated lemon aroma and flavor without adding extra liquid.

Lemon Juice – Provides acidity to balance sweetness, enhances the lemony taste, and reacts with baking soda for a better rise.

Vanilla Extract – Adds warmth and depth, complementing the bright citrus flavors.

Eggs – Bind the ingredients together, add structure, and contribute to a rich, smooth texture.

Baking Soda – Works with the acidic lemon juice and sour cream to create lift, making the cake light and fluffy.

Baking Powder – Another leavening agent that ensures an even rise, giving the cake a soft, airy texture.

Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavors, making the citrus notes pop.

Glaze

Butter – Adds richness and a smooth, velvety texture to the glaze, helping it coat the cake beautifully.

Powdered Sugar – Sweetens the glaze while creating a smooth and pourable consistency that sets nicely on the cake.

Lemon Juice – Provides a bright, tangy flavor that enhances the citrus notes of the cake and balances the sweetness of the sugar.

recipe

Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease a 10-12 cup bundt pan with butter, then lightly dust the bottom with powdered sugar. This will help with easy removal after baking.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside to ensure the dry ingredients are evenly mixed and well aerated.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy—this should take about 3-4 minutes. Add in the lemon zest and lemon juice, and continue to beat until fully combined, infusing the batter with that bright citrus flavor.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. This ensures that the eggs are fully incorporated and the batter stays smooth.

Mix in the vanilla extract, followed by the milk. The milk helps to keep the cake moist and tender, contributing to a soft crumb.

Add in the sour cream, which will make the cake extra moist and give it a slight tang that complements the lemon.

Gradually add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Once the first half is incorporated, add the rest of the dry ingredients, mixing until everything is well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this could lead to a dense cake.

Pour the batter into your prepared bundt pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. All ovens vary, so you may want to start checking around the 55-minute mark to avoid overbaking.

Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about an hour. This ensures the cake firms up and is less likely to crumble when removed. After the cooling time, place a plate or cooling rack over the top of the bundt pan, flip it over, and give it a gentle tap or “smack” to release the cake.

For the best results, let the cake cool completely before glazing. If you glaze it while it’s still warm, it might crumble.

In a small saucepan or microwave, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and glossy. The glaze should be pourable but thick enough to coat the cake.

Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle the glaze over the top. Let it set for a few minutes before slicing into it.

Your Lemon Bundt Cake is now ready to serve—perfectly moist, fluffy, and bursting with bright lemon flavor. The glaze adds a sweet and tangy finish, making it a delightful treat for any occasion!

Lemon Bundt Cake

Recipe by Jenna Lehman
Course: DessertCuisine: GermanDifficulty: Easy
Servings: 10

10

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 
Total time

1

hour 

5

minutes
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 1 cup butter

  • 1/2 cup milk

  • 1/2 cup sour cream

  • 1 tabespoon lemon zest

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 4 eggs

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease a 10-12 cup bundt pan with butter, then lightly dust the bottom with powdered sugar. This will help with easy removal after baking.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside to ensure the dry ingredients are evenly mixed and well aerated.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy—this should take about 3-4 minutes. Add in the lemon zest and lemon juice, and continue to beat until fully combined, infusing the batter with that bright citrus flavor.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. This ensures that the eggs are fully incorporated and the batter stays smooth.
  • Mix in the vanilla extract, followed by the milk. The milk helps to keep the cake moist and tender, contributing to a soft crumb.
  • Add in the sour cream, which will make the cake extra moist and give it a slight tang that complements the lemon.
  • Gradually add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Once the first half is incorporated, add the rest of the dry ingredients, mixing until everything is well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this could lead to a dense cake.
  • Pour the batter into your prepared bundt pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. All ovens vary, so you may want to start checking around the 55-minute mark to avoid overbaking.
  • Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about an hour. This ensures the cake firms up and is less likely to crumble when removed. After the cooling time, place a plate or cooling rack over the top of the bundt pan, flip it over, and give it a gentle tap or “smack” to release the cake.
  • For the best results, let the cake cool completely before glazing. If you glaze it while it’s still warm, it might crumble.
  • In a small saucepan or microwave, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and glossy. The glaze should be pourable but thick enough to coat the cake.
  • Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle the glaze over the top. Let it set for a few minutes before slicing into it.
  • Your Lemon Bundt Cake is now ready to serve—perfectly moist, fluffy, and bursting with bright lemon flavor. The glaze adds a sweet and tangy finish, making it a delightful treat for any occasion!

Notes

  • The cake keeps cooking while it is cooling in the pan so if it doesn’t look perfectly done, that’s okay! As it will keep cooking as it cools, you don’t want to over-cook it!

Check out our latest on pinterest!

Welcome to Heavenly Harvested! I’m Jenna, a homemaker living in Southwest Florida with my husband, our animals, and a heart for creating a home filled with simple joys. Heavenly Harvested started with recipes, but it became something much bigger: a reminder that ordinary days are sacred and that God’s blessings are found around our tables, in our homes, and in the little moments we often overlook.

3 responses to “Lemon Bundt Cake”

  1. […] Lemon bundt cake […]

  2. […] fruit desserts, you’ll also enjoy Cinnamon Sugar Blueberry Bread, Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, and Lemon Bundt Cake. They’re all simple, crowd-pleasing recipes with that same homemade, from-scratch […]

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Heavenly Harvested

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading