Lemon Crunch Cake is a classic cake recipe made with buttermilk, lemon juice and zest and topped with a crunchy sugar layer. This cake boasts an excellent and heavenly fluff and flavor that you will surely want to see all the time in your favorite recipe books.
This cake has that simple facade in it, but do not be fooled by its simplicity of aesthetic because the taste is superb and undeniably good if you are to make it at home. It has that wonderfully soft and pillowy texture with a bit of moistness from within that makes every bite extra delicious.
The flavor, meanwhile, is a mixture of delicate buttery taste that only enhances the unique bright lemon flavor present in each slice. The top, thanks to the sugar, is crunchy, which makes the whole cake appealing with that combination of crunch and delicate texture. Making this at home is like visiting a homey bake shop that serves amazing baked goods.
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The Best Lemon Crunch Cake Recipe
Serve your cake anytime you crave it. A light lunch with this cake on the table would turn your midday even brighter with its flavor. You can also start your day with a slice of this fluffy, soft, and moist haven lemony baked good for breakfast paired with your favorite coffee.
Snacktime can also be even more enjoyable if you are to whip this recipe up for your afternoon lounge bonding with family.
What Does Lemon Crunch Cake Taste like?
The luscious flavor of the combination of mildly sweet with a bright lemony taste made this dish one of the most must-try cake recipes ever to exist.
The texture of the toppings is where the “crunch” came from as well since the cake itself is topped with sprinkled sugar that makes it have a bit of crunch when served. Other than its top, the rest of the cake is soft, delicate, fluffy, and definitely moist.
Why Does This Recipe Work?
You have to make this recipe at home to have a first-hand experience of how delicious this cake is. You need to see for yourself just how soft and moist each slice of this cake is, and just how bright the flavor is. You should never pass up the chance to bake this recipe at home for some of these following reasons:
- This recipe is by far one of the easiest cake recipes you can find online. You can easily put this dish together by just simply following the instructions found in this recipe, and you will already have a flavorful, and moist Lemon Crunch Cake.
- You can turn baking time into a bonding time with your family as they can help you bake this recipe to perfection. Utilize the time you are using in baking this cake as a time to spend quality time with the whole fam!
- This recipe is a perfect way to use up your stored and unused lemons in the fridge or kitchen country. Make the most flavorful lemon cake by adding those to the dish instead of letting them go to waste.
- Turn a birthday party extra flavor-packed with this simple yet delicious cake you can blow candles with! This cake is so versatile that you can bake it for a casual snack and any time you would like, and you can also bake it for special occasions!
Ingredients
Granulated Sugar. Granulated sugar has a size that is excellent for aerating your cake batter when you are creaming it with butter, which in return can give you that nice and tender crumbs when baking is done.
Lemon Juice and Zest. The combination of lemon juice and lemon zest will definitely boost the flavor of this cake to its maxed capacity. The two will add a bright, citrusy flavor to this light and sweet cake recipe.
Butter. When you add butter to your cake, it will surely help the batter rise better in the oven. With butter mixed with the sugar, the two will also create a light and tender texture in the cake batter.
Eggs. They are always important ingredients in baking a cake. Eggs will provide so many things for your Lemon Crunch Cake, including its structure, color, and even some favorable flavor.
All-Purpose Flour. Whenever we see a baking recipe, we always get to glimpse the need for flour in its ingredient section. Flour, together with your eggs, will provide structure, height, and better texture for the cake.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda. Both are useful leavening agents for you to use in your cake. These two will cause your cake batter to rise, but since they are both present in the batter, it will be the baking powder that will do the most to rise the batter.
Buttermilk. Buttermilk is a good tenderizer that will make this cake moist from the very start. Buttermilk is also tangy, which is a perfect combination of lemon juice and zest, as those two are citrusy and tangy at the same time. Aside from combining all dry ingredients, buttermilk also keeps this cake from being too sweet and gives it a rich, buttery taste.
How to Make Lemon Crunch Cake?
One: Preheat your oven to 180C and line a 22x22 cm baking pan with parchment paper.
Two: Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric hand mixer.
Three: Whisk in eggs, lemon juice and zest and buttermilk until combined
Four: Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until incorporated.
Five: Spoon the batter into the baking pan. Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the top.
Six: Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden.
Top Tips!
- You may double this recipe to serve more slices of this cake!
- Make sure you are using unsalted butter. Unsalted butter gives you complete control of the overall flavor of your cake since it does not add any unnecessary taste to the mixture.
Recipe Variations
- You may use whole milk instead of buttermilk if the latter is unavailable.
- For a more lemony taste, consider adding lemon extract or curd into the cake batter.
Serving Suggestions
Breakfast with this Lemon Crunch Cake would be even better with a glass of your Homemade Caramel Latte. If the season is cold and you just want to have a comforting slice of this, you can also pair it with the creamy, sweet, and chocolatey Homemade Oat Milk Hot Chocolate.
Storage
To store: Keep refrigerated for up to three days.
To freeze: this cake freezes beautifully; store it in an airtight container in the freezer. It will last for 1-2 months.
Recipe FAQs
This cake's "crunchy" texture is achieved by sprinkling sugar over the batter before baking. As the cake bakes, the layer of granulated sugar transforms into a very light, crisp, and sweet topping that truly distinguishes this cake.
For those who have allergies to eggs, you can replace 1 egg with ¼ cup of plain yogurt. You need to beat the yogurt well first before you add it to the rest of the cake batter.
Yes, you can, just use a yellow cake mix instead of flour, baking powder and baking soda.
Lemon zest adds a lovely lemon flavor to the cake. However, you may replace it with lemon extract.
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Recipe
Lemon Crunch Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 lemon zest
- ½ cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
Topping
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180C and line a 22x22 cm baking pan with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric hand mixer.
- Whisk in eggs, lemon juice and zest and buttermilk until combined.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until incorporated.
- Spoon the batter into the baking pan. Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the top.
- Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden.
Notes
- You may double this recipe to serve more slices of this cake!
- Make sure you are using unsalted butter. Unsalted butter gives you complete control of the overall flavor of your cake since it does not add any unnecessary taste to the mixture.
Variations
- You may use whole milk instead of buttermilk if the latter is unavailable.
- For a more lemony taste, consider adding lemon extract or curd into the cake batter.
Emma
Wow, the topping layer is so crunchy and sweet.
Olivia
Can I use orange rather than lemon?
Radwa
Yes, you can use orange or any other fruits you like, such as strawberries.