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    Home » Cake recipes

    By Emily Leary. Last updated Apr 30, 2022. Green links are Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    The world's best lemon drizzle cake

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    This is the world's best lemon drizzle cake! It's truly the zingiest, most delicious and moreish cake you’ll ever make. The recipe is easy to follow and the crumb is incredibly soft and tender.

    You'll make the batter in a single bowl by whisking butter and sugar together, then beat in two eggs before folding in self-raising flour.

    You'll then add the zest of two lemons and the juice of one to make the better super citrusy. Your mouth WILL water. You'll then pop the batter in a tin and bake!

    While your lemon drizzle cake is baking, you'll make an incredible syrup to drizzle over the top. It's as simple as just popping some icing sugar and lemon juice (yep, more lemon!) in a pan and briefly boiling to a thin syrup. When your cake comes out of the oven, you'll then skewer it all over and then pour on the zesty syrup.

    The only really difficult thing with this recipe is waiting until it's cool so that you can pop it out of the tin and devour! The sticky, zesty top is an absolute delight.

    A close up of the top of a lemon drizzle cake freshly covered with lemon drizzle syrup.

    So does this lemon drizzle cake live up to its name? Actually, yes. It's exceptionally gorgeous as over 300 FIVE STAR reviews will confirm! Just have a look at the comments to see how much everyone loves this recipe.

    I've been making this recipe for years, ever since it was emailed over to me by the lovely Jayne Crammond of Mum's the Word, way back in 2012! Jane explained:

    I chose this recipe because I spent ages trying to find a lemon cake that was...well, lemony enough! I like my lemon cake to be very zingy and moist so I ended up taking bits of different recipes and putting them together to make this one, which is probably the one and only time I’ve been vaguely inventive in the kitchen.

    Are you ready to enjoy a soft, butter, melt-in-the mouth lemon drizzle cake? Here's what to do.

    Ingredients

    • 170 g (1 cup + 3 tbsp) white self raising flour (self rising flour)
    • 170 g (⅔+¼ cup) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
    • 170 g (1½ sticks) slightly salted butter
    • 2 medium free range eggs
    • 3 unwaxed lemons (A standard UK lemon gives about 2 tbsp of juice. If yours are larger, adjust accordingly)
    • 4 tbsp icing sugar (powdered sugar)

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowl
    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Wooden spoon
    • Whisk
    • Citrus juicer and zester
    • 18cm-23cm (7-9 inch) nonstick, springform tin
    • Wire cooling rack
    • Saucepan
    • Skewer

    Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan, 350F). Weigh the sugar and butter into a bowl.

    Butter and sugar in a glass bowl. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the bowl.

    Beat together until fluffy.

    Butter and sugar creamed together in a glass bowl. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the bowl.

    Add both eggs.

    Butter and sugar creamed together with eggs on top in a glass bowl. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the bowl.

    Whisk through.

    Butter, sugar and eggs creamed together in a glass bowl. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the bowl.

    Sift in the flour.

    Butter, sugar and eggs creamed together with flour on top in a glass bowl. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the bowl.

    Fold until smooth.

    Cake batter in a glass bowl. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the bowl.

    Add the zest of two lemons and the juice of one to the mixture.

    Cake batter with lemon juice and zest on top in a glass bowl. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the bowl.

    Gently stir through.

    Lemon drizzle cake batter in a glass bowl.

    Spoon the batter into a greased and lightly floured cake tin. I recommend using a loose-bottomed springform tin as it makes it super easy to get your cake out of the tin cleanly.

    Lemon drizzle cake batter in a cake tin.

    Note: I'm using a 23cm (9 inch) tin in these images, which is a wide tin, meaning your cake will be quite shallow. I like this as it means the sponge can absorb lots of syrup all the way through when we add it later. But if you want a narrower, taller cake, that's fine. In the video, I've used an 18cm (7 inch) tin. See the tips section below for more advice on adjusting the cooking times.

    Bake at for 25-30 minutes - the wider the tin, the shorter the cooking time. The cake should be golden on the outside and the skewer should come out clean - keep an eye on it as you don't want it to over-bake.

    Freshly baked lemon drizzle cake in a cake tin.

    To make the syrup, in a small pan, mix the juice of two of the lemons with the icing sugar.

    Lemon juice and icing sugar in a small metal pan. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the pan.

    Place over a medium heat and stir as it heats, continuing until you have a syrupy texture.

    Hot lemon drizzle syrup in a small metal pan. Ingredients to make lemon drizzle cake surround the pan.

    Poke holes all over the warm sponge with a skewer, almost down to the bottom.

    Freshly baked lemon drizzle cake in a cake tin. Holes have been poked in the top.

    Take the syrup off the heat (careful, it's hot!) and pour all over the cooling sponge.

    Freshly baked lemon drizzle cake in a cake tin. Holes have been poked in the top and lemon drizzle syrup has been poured on top.

    Allow to cool, then remove from the tin and cut into generous slices.

    Serving slices of lemon drizzle cake

    Enjoy with a hot cup of tea or coffee.

    The result is a light, firm sponge that's wonderfully lemony. Perfect.

    More tips for the perfect lemon drizzle cake

    If you want to be even more certain of perfect results when you make the world’s best lemon drizzle cake, here are all the tips you'll ever need!

    Where does lemon drizzle cake come from? 

    Slice of lemon drizzle cake on a white plate

    Lemon drizzle cake is thought to be an English invention going back at least a few hundred years! It was recently voted England's favourite cake flavour and I can see why. It’s zingy, zesty, sweet and delicious.

    Lemon drizzle cake no doubt takes inspiration from classic 'pound cake' recipes (that's a cake made with a pound of flour, a pound of sugar, a pound of fat and a pound of eggs), but it’s the addition of lemon in the sponge and in the syrup added at the end that makes it really special.

    Is lemon drizzle cake easy to make?

    Yes, it's really easy to make this lovely lemon cake recipe. You'll make the batter in a single bowl by first whisking butter and sugar together, then adding eggs, then folding in flour. Stirring in a good helping of lemon juice and zest is what makes the sponge so perfectly lemony.

    Making the drizzle to spoon on top is super easy too. You'll just pop lemon juice and icing sugar in a pan and heat until you have a thin syrup. Once your cake is baked, you'll skewer holes all over the top and pour on the lemon drizzle syrup before allowing to cool. It's that simple!

    Does it matter what kind of lemons I use?

    You can use any type of lemons you like in this lemon drizzle cake but they should be unwaxed as you'll be zesting them.

    If you can't get hold of unwaxed lemons, you can remove the wax at home. Just place your lemons in a colander in the sink and pour freshly boiled water all over them. While they're still warm, but not too hot to handle, brush them gently with a vegetable brush and the wax should come away. You can then rinse them off and they'll be ready to use.

    Remember, too, that lemons are truly the star of the show in this recipe, so while standard lemons are absolutely fine to use and give a wonderful result, investing in good quality lemons will make the cake extra special.

    Note: lemons can vary in size and therefore give different amounts of juice. A standard UK lemon, as used in this recipe, gives about 2 tbsp of juice. If yours are larger or smaller, adjust accordingly.

    How can I tell if my lemons have gone bad?

    Generally speaking, a good way to tell if any food has gone off, is to trust your senses and lemons are no exception.

    First, look at your lemon. It should have a bright, firm, slightly shiny yellow skin.

    If the skin looks shrivelled, hardened or dry, then the lemon may be past its best, but the juice inside could still be good.

    If you can see any powdery substance or mould on the outside of your lemon, then it should be discarded immediately.

    If your lemon looks fine, then move on to the squeeze test. Your lemon should feel firm and a little bouncy when squeezed. If it's very hard or collapses, it's no good.

    Happy with the look and feel? Cut your lemon open.

    If everything looks normal, it's time to use your sense of smell. Does it smell like a good fresh lemon or is something not quite right?

    If there is anything unusual about the smell, throw them away. If it smells good, you're probably in the clear, but you can always taste some of the juice as a final test.

    Uncut lemons brought home from the supermarket should last 1-2 weeks if left on the counter or in the fruit bowl. However, they can last up to two months in the refrigerator, so I would always recommend storing them in your crisper drawer.

    Once you have cut a lemon open, it will go bad much more quickly. If you have any cut lemon leftover, you should wrap it well and put it straight into the fridge where it should keep for 2-3 days.

    Don't use a lemon that you've left out on the counter for over a couple of hours after cutting.

    Do I need special equipment to make this lemon drizzle cake?

    You don’t need any specialist equipment to make this lemon drizzle cake. 

    The only thing you might not already have is a springform tin - that is, a tin with a loose bottom and a clip on the side to make it super easy to get your cake out of the tin cleanly.

    If you don’t want to invest in a springform tin, a loose-bottomed one will do the job. 

    You could just turn your cooled cake out onto the cooling rack - as long as the tin is properly lined, it should come out easily - just be very careful as the cooled syrup will make the top of the cake delicate and sticky.

    Alternatively, try laying an extra two strips of baking paper in a cross in your tin before you line it to create four tabs long tabs that go up past the sides of the cake tin. This will allow you to lift the sponges out once cool.

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake in a food processor or stand mixer?

    You can, but it’s not really necessary.

    If your food processor comes with a beater rather than blade attachment, then you cream the butter and sugar together on a low setting, then blend in the eggs. It won’t incorporate as much air as a whisk, though, so is not recommended. 

    You can definitely beat the butter and sugar, and then the eggs, in a stand mixer to speed up the job, but a hand mixer will do the job just as well.

    Whatever method you use to combine the butter, sugar and eggs, it’s important that you gently fold the flour in by hand. Beating will cause the cake batter can be easily overworked, which could make your finished bake tough and/or poorly risen if the blades knock out the air and stretch the gluten.

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake without an electric whisk?

    Using an electric whisk to beat the butter and sugar together, and then the eggs is really handy because it gets the job done and beats in lots of air. 

    However, you can absolutely do the job by hand, it’ll just take a little more elbow grease! 

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake using the all in one method?

    The all in one method is where you add all of the sponge ingredients into the bowl at once and then beat them all together until smooth.

    This recipe is quite forgiving, so if you are in a hurry, the all in one method will work. 

    However, I recommend following the recipe and beating the butter and sugar first, then adding the eggs, then folding in the flour etc as this will incorporate plenty of air without overworking the gluten in your mixture, which can make for a tough sponge.

    Can I make this lemon drizzle without weighing scales?

    The best bakes happen when you take the time to measure everything out properly. When I follow a recipe, it’s the first thing I do. That way, I know I have the right quantities of everything. 

    I’ve provided the weights in both grams and ounces to suit your preference.

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake without eggs? 

    The eggs are an important part of this recipe. They not only add moisture and colour, they also help to bind the different ingredients together.

    If you can’t use eggs in this recipe, the following options can be considered as a replacement:

    Egg alternatives (each = 1 egg so multiply as needed for the recipe)

    • Store-bought egg replacement powder (use as directed on the packet).
    • 1 tablespoon of crushed chia or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
    • 3 tablespoons of aquafaba.
    • 3 tablespoons of applesauce.
    • Half of a medium sized banana, mashed. It's best to use fairly ripe bananas for this as they will mash more easily and bind your ingredients together more effectively 

    Note: I have not tested all of these replacements, so let me know how you get on.

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake with plain flour?

    Lemon drizzle cake batter in a bowl with flour added

    You’re going to want this lemon drizzle cake to rise, so you’re going to need a raising agent, and there isn’t anything to help with rise in plain flour. In contrast, self-raising flour contains baking powder, which helps give a lovely light sponge and a good rise.

    If you don't have any self-raising flour, you can make your own. Simply add two teaspoons of baking powder to every 150g (5 1/4 oz) of plain flour in a bowl and sift them together before using in your recipe.

    This particular recipe uses 170g (6 oz) self-raising flour, so if you use plain flour instead, you’ll need to add about 2 ¼ tsp of baking powder. 

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake without butter?

    If you don’t want to use butter in this lemon drizzle cake, you can substitute for the same amount of flavourless oil, standard margarine or Stork.

    If you do, it’s really important to choose a margarine with a high fat content, ideally around 80%. Light margarines tend to have a high water content which can upset the balance of the batter, thus affecting the final bake.

    Do I have to use caster sugar in this recipe?

    I know that caster sugar isn’t something that’s easily available in the US - don’t worry. 

    Caster sugar crystals are very small which helps them to dissolve more easily, but granulated sugar, golden caster sugar and brown sugar will all work, they’ll just give a slightly different texture. 

    Do not use icing sugar / powdered sugar in this recipe as the crystals are too fine.

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake recipe without sugar?

    Sugar lends not only sweetness, but also structure and texture to the cake, so I wouldn’t recommend leaving it out. 

    I have not experimented with artificial sweeteners, but I suspect it would be tricky to balance the lemon out - let me know if you experiment with it.

    How can I tell when my lemon drizzle cake is ready?

    Visually, you’re looking for a cake that is light golden in colour and looks even from edge to edge. 

    When you feel confident that your cake is ready, remove it from the oven and insert a flat skewer into the centre of the cake. When you pull it out, it should look clean. If anything has stuck to the skewer than the cake needs longer in the oven. 

    Don’t worry if you don’t get it right first time. Baking cakes takes a bit of intuition and the more you get more used to baking and the quirks of your particular oven, the more you will get a feel for when your cake is done.

    Why is my lemon drizzle cake dry? Why does it have hard edges?

    If your cake seems dry or hard, the most likely explanation is that it’s overbaked. This could be because the temperature in your oven was too high, or the cake was baked for too long. 

    Every oven is different and temperatures can vary wildly, even in high quality ovens, so my preferred way to follow a cake recipe is to look at the baking time and then set my timer to remind to start keeping an eye on my cake 10 minutes before the end so that I can ensure I take it out at just the right time. 

    My lemon drizzle cake batter seems really thick, can I thin it?

    The batter for this lemon drizzle cake is indeed thick, but if you think it's too thick, you can thin it out with a splash of milk, yogurt or buttermilk. 

    Only add a little at a time and stir gently to combine so that you don’t over-thin or overmix your batter.

    Why did my lemon drizzle cake batter split/curdle?

    If your batter seems to have gone watery and lumpy, or resembles scrambled egg, then it has probably split.

    It usually happens when you add cold eggs to room temperature butter and sugar. The three ingredients are supposed to form an emulsion as they are beaten together, but the difference in temperature can prevent that.

    To avoid splitting your batter, aim to remove the quantity of eggs and butter you’ll need from the fridge before you start baking and leave them to come up to room temperature before you start.

    If your mixture does start to split, try adding a spoonful of flour (from the 170g total you’re planning to use). This can help encourage the emulsion to come back together, then you can fold in the rest of the flour. 

    Counter-intuitively, mixing your eggs, sugar and butter together more vigorously will not cause them to come back together. In fact, overmixing the ingredients can lead to a split batter, so as soon as it looks lump free, stop beating.

    Finally, if you have split your batter and it won’t come back together, don’t worry! Just carry on with the recipe according to the instructions. You may get a slightly more uneven bake and or a lower rise but it should still be delicious!

    My lemon drizzle cake did not rise/was flat/sank in the middle?

    If you ever have any sort of sponge that fails to rise, it’s usually for one of these reasons.

    • Oven too hot: Your oven may be running hotter than the dial suggests, meaning the cake rose too fast to support its own weight.
    • Over-beaten batter: If you beat too much air into the cake, it can rise too fast and then collapse.
    • Letting the heat out: Opening the oven door during baking can cause the temperature to drop rapidly, causing the cake to lose height.
    • Slamming the door: Closing the oven door too roughly during baking can also mean that the air is knocked out.
    • Wrong size tin: Using a too narrow tin can mean that the mix is too deep to cook all the way through and so isn’t able to hold its structure.
    • Too much flour: A thick batter with too much flour won’t rise as well, and can give a dense sponge, so check that your quantities are correct.
    • Old flour: Self-raising flour also has a shorter shelf life than plain flour, so make sure that the flour you used is in date or it may have lost some of its effectiveness, meaning your cake will not rise as much as it otherwise would.

    Note: as stated in the instructions, this is supposed to be a shallow, wide cake as shown in the picture. This allows the drizzle to fully penetrate. If you want a taller cake, you can try a smaller tin width, but keep an eye on it as it bakes and be sure to do the skewer test to make sure it comes out clean, meaning your sponge is cooked.

    Collage showing a lemon drizzle cake slice and some of the steps involved in making it

    Can I make the lemon drizzle syrup without icing sugar?

    Icing sugar is another name for powdered sugar.

    If you don’t have any, you can use granulated or caster sugar, you will just need to be patient as you warm the syrup as it will take longer for the sugar crystals to fully dissolve.

    Can I leave out the lemon out of this lemon drizzle cake?

    You can leave out the lemon, but you’ll want to replace it with something else - try using the juice and zest of an orange instead. I have an amazing orange drizzle cake you could try.

    If you’re nervous about this cake being too lemony, just be sure to taste the syrup before you pour it over the cake.

    Some lemons are zingier than others, and personal taste varies, so if you want to tone it done, just add a little more sugar, or use less of the syrup.

    Holding a glass of lemon drizzle sauce over the cooled lemon drizzle cake.

    When should I drizzle my cake? 

    It's best to drizzle the syrup over the cake while it's still warm as it will penetrate the cake more evenly make for a better texture.

    Leave the cake in the tin while you do this so that you don’t lose any of the syrup as it seeps through the cake.

    Close up of a slice of lemon drizzle cake

    Can I make the lemon drizzle cake topping crunchy?

    If you want a really crunch topping instead of a syrup that sinks in, you’ll need to change the method slightly. 

    Use granulated sugar instead of icing sugar and without any heat, mix your lemon juice and sugar together to form a paste, then spread over the warm cake. This should give you your crunchy topping once cooled.

    What can I serve lemon drizzle cake with? 

    My personal preference for enjoying a slice of lemon drizzle cake is with a big mug of tea! 

    For me, I don’t need anything else to accompany my lemon drizzle: the moistness and sweetness of the sponge is all you need on your plate.

    However, if you want to add a little something extra when serving, then vanilla ice cream or whipped cream are both delicious additions too, lending a creaminess to offset the zing of the lemon drizzle. 

    What is the best way to store lemon drizzle cake and how long will it keep?

    Stored in an airtight container in a cool place out of direct sunlight, your lemon drizzle cake will keep well for 3-4 days.

    Slice of lemon drizzle cake on a plate, lemon and more cake shown in the background

    Can I put this lemon drizzle cake be kept in the fridge?

    You can store your lemon drizzle cake in a sealed container in the refrigerator if you like, but it’s likely that the crumb will lose a little of its tenderness, so I think it is better stored at room temp. 

    Can this lemon drizzle cake recipe be frozen?

    Yes! It actually freezes really well. 

    Make sure to place it in an airtight container. I find the best way to freeze is to first cut the cake into individual slices. That way, you can just grab a slice when you want and allow it to gently defrost before eating. 

    Is this lemon drizzle cake healthy?

    This cake is quite high in sugar and fat. It’s best enjoyed as an occasional treat, as part of a balanced diet.

    Is this lemon drizzle cake recipe vegetarian?

    Yes, this recipe is suitable for vegetarians as it contains no meat, fish or poultry.

    Double check all of your ingredients labels to make sure to check that they are suitable for vegetarians. Don't forget to also check anything extra you intend to serve the recipe with.

    Slice of lemon drizzle cake on a plate

    Is this lemon drizzle cake recipe vegan?

    No, this lemon drizzle cake is not vegan due to the use of eggs and butter, but if you want to substitute those for alternatives, I have included advice above.

    For the butter, you can use any good quality vegan butter. Aim for one that is about 80% fat is possible, as this will behave similarly to dairy butter and give the best result, generally speaking.

    To replace the eggs, you could try one of these alternatives (each = 1 egg so multiply as needed for the recipe):

    • Store-bought egg replacement powder (use as directed on the packet).
    • 1 tablespoon of crushed chia or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
    • 3 tablespoons of aquafaba.
    • 3 tablespoons of applesauce.
    • Half of a medium sized banana, mashed. It's best to use fairly ripe bananas for this as they will mash more easily and bind your ingredients together more effectively 

    Note: I have not tested all of these replacements, so let me know how you get on.

    Double check all of your ingredients labels to make sure to check that they are suitable for vegans. Don't forget to also check anything extra you intend to serve the recipe with.

    Is this lemon drizzle cake recipe nut-free?

    Yes, this lemon drizzle cake is totally nut-free. 

    However, with all allergies and sensitivities, it’s important to check the packaging of all of the ingredients you use very carefully to ensure they are nut-free. 

    This is because even though none of the ingredients should naturally contain nuts, some may have been produced in a factory that handles nuts, meaning there is a risk of cross-contamination.

    Is this lemon drizzle cake recipe gluten-free?

    No, this cake is not gluten free as it contains wheat flour.

    I haven't tried making this recipe with gluten-free flour yet but you could certainly give it a go. Whenever baking with gluten-free flour, I recommend using a good quality brand that will likely be a blend of different flours like rice, or oat mixed with a binding agent like xanthan gum which really helps with the texture and, of course, a raising agent where you need self-raising flour.

    None of the other ingredients naturally contain gluten but you should still double check all of your ingredients labels to make sure to check that they are gluten-free. Don't forget to also check anything extra you intend to serve the recipe with.

    Is this recipe keto-friendly?

    No, this lemon drizzle cake is not keto friendly as it's high in carbohydrates.

    Is this lemon drizzle cake safe to eat while pregnant?

    There is nothing in this cupcake recipe that should present a risk to pregnant people if the ingredients are in good condition and have been stored correctly, and the recipe is cooked hygienically and safely.

    Egg safety varies from country to country and you should always seek country-specific advice. The NHS has a great resource that will help review the latest advice regarding foods that are safe to eat while pregnant in the UK.

    A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

    Do I need to use a wide tin? Can I use a smaller or bigger tin?

    I like a wide cake tin as it gives a shallow cake that can absorb lots of syrup deep into the sponge but you can use any size tin you like, just bear in mind that it will affect the cooking time. If you're using a 23cm (9 inch) tin, your cake will probably take around 25 minutes. A 18cm (7 inch) tin may take around 30 minutes, while a very small tin which makes the batter much deeper might take up to an hour.

    Can I make a bigger/smaller cake with more/less batter?

    If you want to make a bigger or smaller version of this lemon drizzle cake, it's certainly possible.

    Look for the recipe card below. You'll see the servings near the top left. Hover or tap over it and a little slider will pop up. You can move the slider up or down to get the amount you want to make.

    So for instance, if you want to make a cake that's double the size, you'd change the servings number from 12 to 24. All the ingredient quantities will update automatically for you so that everything is in the right ratios.

    It's important to note that if you're making more/less batter, it's going to change the cooking times of your final bake. Make sure you have an appropriately sized tin and keep an eye to make sure you don't under or over bake your delicious lemon drizzle cake.

    Can I bake this lemon drizzle cake in a loaf tin?

    You could certainly make this sponge in a loaf tin. The change in shape means that it can take up to an hour (depending on the size of your loaf tin), so keep an eye on it as it bakes and be sure to do the skewer test to make sure it comes out clean, meaning your sponge is cooked through.

    Could I use this recipe to make lemon drizzle cupcakes?

    Yes, you can adapt this recipe to make cupcakes! Grab my lemon drizzle cupcakes.

    A hand holding a lemon drizzle cupcake that has been bitten into

    Can I make this lemon drizzle cake as a tray bake?

    I haven't tried making this lemon drizzle in a tray, but my guess is that it should work well. 

    This isn’t a huge cake, so I’d recommend you aim for a tray that’s of a similar size to its 23cm (9 inch) round equivalent. If you go bigger, then you will need to reduce the cooking time as you will be spreading the cake thinner and increasing the surface area. 

    Keep an eye on your cake as it bakes to make sure it doesn’t go too brown, and press the centre gently to make sure it’s firm. Double-check that your cake is done by pushing a flat skewer into the centre of the cake - it should come out clean.  

    Print this lemon drizzle cake recipe

    If you'd like to print this recipe to try later, just hit PRINT on the recipe card below.

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    4.7 from 358 votes

    World's Best Lemon Drizzle Cake

    This is truly the zingiest, most delicious and moreish lemon drizzle cake you'll ever make. The recipe is easy to follow and the crumb is super soft and tender.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: cakes and bakes
    Cuisine: British
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 12 slices
    Author: Emily Leary

    Ingredients

    • 170 g (1 cup + 3 tbsp) white self raising flour (self rising flour)
    • 170 g (⅔+¼ cup) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
    • 170 g (1½ sticks) slightly salted butter
    • 2 medium free range eggs
    • 3 unwaxed lemons (A standard UK lemon gives about 2 tbsp of juice. If yours are larger, adjust accordingly)
    • 4 tbsp icing sugar (powdered sugar)

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowl
    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Wooden spoon
    • Whisk
    • Citrus juicer and zester
    • 18cm-23cm (7-9 inch) nonstick, springform tin
    • Wire cooling rack
    • Saucepan
    • Skewer

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan, 350F). Put the sugar and butter in a large bowl and whisk together until fluffy.
    • Add both eggs and whisk in.
    • Sift in the flour and fold until smooth.
    • Add the zest of two lemons and the juice of one to the mixture and gently mix through.
    • Spoon the batter into a greased and lightly floured cake tin. I recommend using a nonstick loose-bottomed or springform tin as it makes it super easy to get your cake out of the tin cleanly.
    • Bake for 25-30 minutes. (The wider the cake tin, the quicker it will cook). The cake should be golden on the outside and the skewer should come out clean - keep an eye on it as you don't want it to over-bake.
    • In a small pan, mix the juice of two of the lemons with the icing sugar.
    • Place over a medium heat and stir as it heats, continuing until you have a syrupy texture.
    • Poke holes all over the warm sponge with a skewer, almost down to the bottom.
    • Take the syrup off the heat (careful, it's hot!) and pour all over the cooling sponge.
    • Allow to cool, then cut into generous slices and enjoy with a hot cup of tea or coffee.

    Video

    Notes

    Stored in an airtight container in a cool place out of direct sunlight, your lemon drizzle cake will keep well for 3-4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 14.3mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    * Note: nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published. Information on this website should not be taken as medical advice. Cuisines identify the primary region of inspiration for a dish.
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    1. bethTHEbaker says

      February 14, 2021 at 1:05 am

      4 stars
      Ive been baking 26 years and never have I seen a recipe so decieving. At first glance I knew there was something up, a 1:1:1 ratio has always and will always be a recipe for disaster, i was led to believe by this MEGA blunder that people would have copped on and went elsewhere for there lemon drizzle recipes.. but to my dismay when I looked at the comment section there were numerous "good reviews. Upon this discovery I took it upon myself, such the seasoned baker that I am, to bake the cake according to yet another prankster recipe set out to fool unsuspecting first time bakers here on the internet. So with my years of experience in world class baking I took to the kitchen to confirm. my suspicions. I was correct, the caked was a flop, when whisked together the mixture turned out a watery paste closure in texture to condensed milk than cake mixture, at this point as you can imagine I was quite the angry baker, but after a cup of tea to decompress I was bake on the counter pouring my mixture into

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        February 14, 2021 at 4:05 pm

        Yikes. This is kind of rude. Your comment cuts off - did it work out in the end? I'm sorry to hear it didn't seem right to you. Condensed milk is definitely not the correct texture, so sounds like something went wrong in your kitchen. People leave comments and send me pics of their very successful and delicious cakes every day. Also equal part recipe are super common and popular. Pound cake, for example. I hope you have better luck next time.

        Reply
      • Maria says

        February 15, 2021 at 7:47 pm

        5 stars
        Beth, I followed the recipe and quantities & it came out beautifully for me. I don’t bake cakes regularly, but I found this very easy to follow. .
        The ratio gave me a lovely fluffy cake and my husband devoured it. I will be bookmarking this and will certainly bake it again.
        Not sure where things went wrong for you.

        Why did you give 4 stars and then leave a rude review?

        Reply
      • Jon says

        June 12, 2022 at 12:44 pm

        World Class Bullshit more like.

        Reply
    2. Jen says

      February 10, 2021 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      The title doesn't lie. It is really the worlds best lemon drizzle cake. Was looking for a recipe that uses the most lemons, this one won. And I am making it for the second time this week now. Thank you!!

      Reply
    3. Jo says

      February 06, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      We love our lemon drizzles in thus house & your recipe did not disappoint! Thank you

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        February 06, 2021 at 10:11 pm

        Wonderful!

        Reply
    4. Ukhan says

      January 25, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      So I made this cake today and it’s yummy however turns out it’s a bit too crumby and moist. Not sure what went wrong but I wish it would hold itself together a bit more firmly. Otherwise it turned out perfect.

      Any suggestions for what I can do differently next time. I used the recommended amount of flour, and butter but have to admit I used a more powdery form of sugar (not sure if that could be it).

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        February 02, 2021 at 1:08 pm

        If you used powdered sugar in the sponge, that would affect the texture, I suspect. If it was very soft and crumbly it might have been slightly underbaked. If it was dry and crumbly, it may have been overbaked.

        Reply
    5. Winnie says

      January 23, 2021 at 6:26 am

      Thanks for the detailed instructions! I tried the recipe with the ingredients halved becoz my pan is 6-inch. Since I don’t have self-raising flour, I used 85g cake flour plus 1 1/3 teaspoons of baking powder instead. Plus I cream the butter and whisk in the egg by hand with a whisk. However, the cake sinks in the middle, and it seems it is not dense enough, like a bit too much air in it. I wonder what could cause the sinking...Did I use too much baking powder or I blend in too much air while whisking? I did take the cake out for a few seconds to check the progress...could it be a reason as well?

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        February 02, 2021 at 3:11 pm

        Hi. Those could all be reasons, I'm afraid. Cake flour isn't the same as plain flour, as the former contains cornstarch, so that could be an issue too.

        Reply
    6. Mandy says

      January 15, 2021 at 1:40 pm

      Would this work using 1.5 times the ingredients for a slightly larger deeper cake. I need it for a birthday cake and wanting to cover it with fondant icing and decoration.

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        January 15, 2021 at 5:04 pm

        Yes, just keep an eye on the baking time and it'll need a bit longer :)

        Reply
    7. Lee Walker says

      December 21, 2020 at 11:09 am

      Hi, lovely easy explanation so thank you, I’ve baked this 4 times now but each time the top of the cake is very pale, almost under baked when the bottom and sides end up being well done, what am I doing wrong

      Reply
      • A Mummy Too says

        December 22, 2020 at 10:32 am

        Sounds like your oven might be a bit unusual in how it circulate air. Is it a gas oven with the flames at the bottom? That might explain it. If you use a sealed tin rather than a tin with a loose bottom, you can stand it in a tray of water in the oven. This should help to avoid the sides burning but isn't usually necessary with this cake. :-)

        Reply
    8. Shirley says

      November 29, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      Great light cake the lemony icing was a bit tart as I added extra lemon. My fault great recipe many thanks

      Reply
    9. Susie says

      October 29, 2020 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made lots of LDC and this was a Lovely cake but not enough lemon for me, even though I used more than recommended and used zest in the syrup.
      Thought my 2 year old would find it too lemony but she loved it as very sweet and not at all tart or zingy.

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        October 29, 2020 at 12:37 pm

        That's very strange!! Perhaps your lemons were very small? Or a bit old and so didn't give off much juice / flavour. As you can see from lots of the other comments, it's a very lemony recipe.

        Reply
    10. Maxine says

      October 28, 2020 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe. Lovely fresh lemon flavour, and perfect moist sponge. Really lives up to its name.

      Reply
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