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This Triple Lemon Cake recipe is easy and so, so good. A fluffy, sweet and perfectly tangy lemon cake topped with homemade buttercream frosting.
I have been meaning to post this recipe for Triple Lemon Cake for a while now. However I’ve been busy baking it over and over for my parents’ birthdays. Now that both birthdays are over with and I finally have some time, here is the recipe.
And it’s good. The lemon curd is the best part, so sweet and perfectly tangy. Mmmm. I could bathe in it. And the buttercream is so light and sweet, yet still with just enough tang. The cake is nicely dense and delicious. It’s all a perfect combo.

The Best Lemon Cake Recipe
I made it the first time for my mom’s birthday in July and I was surprised how much of a hit it was.
My family has never really been big on lemon. My grandmother loves lemon and we’ve had lemon cakes for her birthday before. But I can’t say anyone else was ever really into it.
So imagine my surprise when my mom requested it for her birthday. Her cake was two-tiered, so I made the smaller tier the lemon cake because I thought for sure it would be less popular than a chocolate cake.
I was wrong.
My mom was fighting people off it! She finally cut off a big chunk and put it in the freezer (She likes to save cake and stockpile it for when she feels like a piece. My kind of lady.)
And then an even crazier thing happened. My dad requested it for his birthday! Never in my life did I think my dad would request a lemon cake!
The only person that doesn’t knock someone over for a piece of this cake is my husband. Of all people I thought he’d love a lemon cake. Part of the reason I think I like lemon more now is that he got me into using fresh lemon on seafood.
But he would barely even taste this cake. I was blown away. How is it that my family likes a lemon cake and he won’t even touch it? Apparently, he thinks lemon should only go on seafood.
Seriously? He’s missing out.
Oh well, more for the rest of us! 🙂
You might also like:
Lemon Curd
Lemon Cake with Lemon Bavarian Cream
Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake
Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake
Lemon Yogurt Breakfast Cake
Triple Lemon Cake
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 Slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Triple Lemon Cake recipe is easy and so, so good. A fluffy, sweet and perfectly tangy lemon cake topped with homemade buttercream frosting.
Ingredients
CAKE
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 cup sour cream
LEMON CURD
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
- 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 3 tbsp butter (I used unsalted)
LEMON BUTTERCREAM
- 1 1/2 cups butter
- 1 1/2 cups shortening
- 12 cups (3 lbs) powdered sugar
- 3 tsp finely grated lemon zest
- 6 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 tsp vanilla
- 1–2 tsp water – plus more to the consistency you want
Instructions
CAKE:
- Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and whisk together.
- Add eggs, oil and lemon juice. Beat until smooth.
- Add sour cream and beat until smooth.
- Bake at 350 degrees in two 8-inch pans for about 25 minutes or until done.
LEMON CURD:
- Combine all ingredients in a double boiler (or in a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water, like I did).
- Heat while stirring constantly with a whisk.
- It is done when it’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. You will be able to tell it has thickened, but I wouldn’t say that it’s “thick.”
- Refrigerate until cool and thick.
LEMON BUTTERCREAM:
- Beat butter and shortening together until smooth.
- Add 6 cups of powdered sugar, one at a time, beating to combine.
- Add lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla and combine.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar and beat to combine.
- Add water to get the consistency you want, starting with 1/2 tsp, beat to combine.
TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE:
- Divide the cake into four layers by slicing each cake in half.
- Fill two layers with lemon buttercream and the other two with lemon curd.
- Frost the outside of the cake.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 1044
- Sugar: 110.8 g
- Sodium: 224.1 mg
- Fat: 58.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 128.3 g
- Protein: 6.2 g
- Cholesterol: 156.1 mg
Keywords: lemon curd cake, lemon cake with lemon curd, triple lemon cake
Filed Under:
Enjoy!
Cake recipe modified from Bakerella’s Key Lime Cream Cake recipe. Lemon curd from Glorious Treats Homemade Lemon Curd recipe.
Hi, totally new to baking. What size cake pans is the recipe for?
Two 8 inch cake pans
Hi would it turn out the same if I added more lemon juice
I guess it depends on how much more. You’d probably want to replace something else and too much more could add more acid than the cake can handle.
Do you know how well this recipe would hold up in the freezer if I baked it a few days in advance?
I don’t usually recommend freezing fully frosted cakes, but you could give it a try.
I’ve made your recipe many times and everyone loves it. But, The layers I baked yesterday were not to my satisfaction. Could you tell me how many grams of flour are in one of “your cups” ? A cup of flour could range from 120-145g per cup depending on how one places the flour in a measuring cup. Thanks so much
★★★★★
130 grams per cup.
Thanks 👍
I’m learning a lot!
This was great! I quartered the recipe and made cupcakes out of it. I hollowed out the center of the cupcakes and filled with the lemon curd. I also didn’t have fresh lemons so I subbed with bottled lemon juice and dried lemon peel. Delish!
★★★★★
Glad you enjoyed them!
I love this recipe and will make for my next birthday which will be in October
What is the shortening used in the butter cream? Also how much lemon curd will I get from that recipe
Shortening is a butter substitute. Feel free to replace it with the same amount of additional butter. I’m not sure exactly how much lemon curd it is but it should be enough for the cake.
How far in advance can I make the cake?
I’m making it for a 50th wedding aniversary on Saturday but need to decorate and I am working on thd Friday so need to make weds/ Thurs ?
Will it be OK??
★★★★★
Personally, the earliest I would make it would be Thursday.
Does this cake have to be kept in the refrigerator?
Yes