This Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake is the softest, lemon-packed cake you'll ever eat! While this cake is a delicious treat all year-round, it’s the perfect citrusy dessert to enjoy during the spring and summer months.
Craving more lemon? Try my insanely delicious copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe or Lemon Blueberry Scones.
There's just something about the tart and sweet combination of lemon desserts that's just so delicious and this lemon bundt cake recipe is no exception. The texture is sort of dense. Think: pound cake. But it is SO ridiculously soft, moist and packed with lemony flavor! This cake is delicious on its own but the simple lemon glaze for bundt cakes on top really brings this dessert over the top and really packs a big punch of lemony flavor - just like my Triple Lemon Gooey Bars. The lemon sugar sprinkled on top makes it look even prettier while adding an extra dose of lemon.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Simple recipe: Easy-to-follow recipe and instructions!
- Loved by all: This homemade chicken pot pie recipe is one of the most comforting meals! It's my go-to meal to bring to family members when they have babies or are sick. I always receive RAVE reviews and requests for the recipe!
Ingredients
- Lemon zest: Used in the cake and lemon sugar topping to elevate the lemon flavor even more. Zest the lemons before you cut them in half for juice.
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemons are a must for the best flavor! I use the juice in the cake and lemon glaze for bundt cake for a strong and fresh lemon flavor.
- Choose lemons that have a good squeeze to them . This = more juice!
- Milk: Whole milk is used in this recipe. I have substituted 2% when needed with no issues.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is used in this recipe to control sodium. If only salted butter is available to you, omit the salt in the recipe.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions.
Substitutions & Variations
There are so many delicious ways to change up this lemon bundt cake with lemon icing to make it your own!
- Lime: Substitute lemons with limes for a lime bundt cake.
- Poppy seeds: For a lemon poppy seed cake, add 2 tbs of poppy seeds to the batter. An Easter lemon poppy seed bundt cake would be such a delicious addition to your holiday spread!
- Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake: For a lemon blueberry bundt cake, fold berries into the batter just before baking. You can also add raspberries for a lemon raspberry cake or even chopped strawberries for a lemon strawberry cake. Such yummy alternatives!!
How to make Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake
Step 1: Beat eggs on low until they are thickened, foamy and very pale yellow in color.
Step 2: Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest. Slowly pour in dry ingredients on low speed until combined. Stir in heated milk.
Step 3: Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake for 27-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Step 4: Thoroughly mix the lemon zest and sugar together and let it sit for 5 minutes. If you don’t want the lemon zest on top of the cake, push the sugar through a fine mesh strainer, separating the two and discard the zest.
- Make the glaze by whisking powdered sugar and lemon juice, using more or less lemon juice as needed to get a thick consistency. (I like to keep mine slightly thick so it won’t thin out too much when I serve it over warm cake.)
- Drizzle glaze over warm cake. Sprinkle lemon sugar on top of glazed lemon pound cake.
If you love lemon, you absolutely need to make this.. like now.
Jessica's Recipe Tips
- Be sure not to over-bake your crescent cinnamon rolls! That is the one cardinal rule for making these. You want them to be gooey and soft in the center.
Storage instructions
Room temperature
Store cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezing
Cover lemon bundt cake without glaze very well in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. Place wrapped cake in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight and allow to come to room temperature before serving. Drizzle with glaze and top with lemon sugar just before serving.
Recipe FAQs
The biggest difference is the shape of the pan. A regular 8-inch round cake pan holds up to 6 cups of batter and a standard bundt cake pan holds 10-12 cups of batter.
Grease your pan HEAVILY making sure to get all nooks and crannies. After greasing, flour your pan lightly and shake out excess. This method will ensure no sticking.
More bundt cake recipes you'll love:
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a ⭐️ review below and tag @sprinkle_some_sugar on Instagram!
📋 Recipe
Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake
Ingredients
Lemon Cake
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tbs lemon zest
- 3 tbs lemon juice
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 10 tbs unsalted butter, cubed
Lemon Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 tbs lemon juice
Lemon Sugar Topping
- 1 tbs lemon zest
- 1 tbs granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a bundt pan very well, making sure to really get into all crevices. Then, lightly flour the pan. Set aside.
For the cake:
- Lightly whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl and set aside. In the bowl of your stand mixer (if you're using one) fitted with the paddle attachment, beat eggs on low until they are thickened and very pale yellow in color.
- Turn mixer on low and slowly add sugar to running mixer and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest. Slowly pour in dry ingredients on low speed until combined.
- In a small saucepan, heat milk until very hot and butter is just melted. Do not boil and whisk the mixture to help the butter along. Pour into batter and mix until smooth. Batter will be very thin.
- Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Once done, remove cake from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes in pan. Release the sides of the cake with a butter knife to ensure it isn’t going to stick. Turn cake onto a large round platter or cake stand. (If using a 9x13 pan, do not remove cake, just place entire pan onto wire rack so underneath the pan can cool also.) Allow cake to finish cooling until warm to the touch.
For the lemon sugar:
- Thoroughly mix the lemon zest and sugar together and let it sit for 5 minutes. If you don’t want the lemon zest on top of the cake, push the sugar through a fine mesh strainer, separating the two and discard the zest. If you don’t mind the zest on top of your cake (it will give it a nice pop of color!), then just set the mixture aside.
For the lemon glaze:
- Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice, using more or less lemon juice as needed to get desired consistency. (I like to keep mine slightly thick so it won’t thin out too much when I serve it over warm cake.) Once cake is cooled down slightly, drizzle glaze over warm cake. Alternately, you can drizzle the glaze over each individual piece being served. Sprinkle lemon sugar on top.
Notes
Nutrition
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Josey says
Jessica thank you so very much for this absolutely wonderful cake! It is positively the best cake I have ever made from scratch and recieved rave reviews from every one that ate it. Ps your little boy is sooooo cute
Virginia says
I just made this cake and was so skeptical about heating the milk and butter. I've been baking for a long time and never made a cake this way. I almost didn't do it, but I couldn't figure out how to incorporate the milk and butter. So I just bit the bullet and heated the milk, melted the butter and hoped for the best.
The cake turned out amazing, it looks just like your picture.
This recipe is definitely a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Pam says
Did you add the hot milk mix to the flour mixture or did you let it cool a while before adding it?
Jessica says
Hot
Ashley says
I just made this and my family loves it! Super easy and very delicious! I'll definitely make this again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Terrie says
Made this cake today and was really good. Have not made a cake with this method of heating the milk and butter, but it worked. VERY favorable also. I will be making this cake again.
Jessica says
Yay! Thanks for letting me know, Terrie!
Lindsay says
Made this and it is delicious... Easy and the ingredients are things that are around already. Thanks for sharing this.
Jessica says
Awesome! 🙂
joulie says
I just made this cake and it will be added to my favorite receipes ....really gr8 thanks for sharing it with us
Jessica says
Awesome!! You're very welcome! 🙂
joy says
First time I made this turned out fantastic, moist a big hit.
If you like lemon this is the cake,the only one you will need.
Jessica says
I'm so happy you loved it, Joy! It's definitely one of my favorites!
hindy says
Can I use almond or soy milk instead of whole milk?
Jessica says
I have never tested either in this recipe but I bake with almond milk often with great results! I think that will be your best option. Hope this helps! Be sure to report back if you try it!
Kalin says
I'd love to make this for a dinner party for 14 guests ... Can I do it in a regular cake pan? My bundt pan is currently broken in half and I don't have time to get a new one in time for the party!
Jessica says
I've never tried making it in a bundt pan but I'm sure it will work out fine! You'll love it 🙂
dnisr causey says
Can I use a ducan Hines butter recipe cake mix i nsteaf of all purpose flour
Jessica says
No, you cannot. Cake mix cannot substitute flour.
Rita says
Hi Jessica,
Was all set to make this delicious looking cake . Thought it was meant to be baked in a bundt pan. Correct ?
Heather Greene says
You can make it in a cake pan, it will taste good but the density will be different. The shape of the bundt allows for a slower evaporation which really helps build that beloved density. A cake pan's cook time and temp will need some adjustment.
Danette says
This looks AMAZING and I'm baking it tomorrow!!!
Jessica says
Awesome! You're going to love it! 🙂