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My new house has a Lemon tree so I have been trying to find and try more recipes to use up my lemons. I combined a few different recipes to get what I think is a FABULOUS lemon cake! I had to stop myself from eating the batter alone because even the cake batter was delish! Skip the store-bought cake mix because this Lemon Poke Cake gets made from scratch, to give you all of that lemon-y goodness.
Now if you haven’t made a cake from scratch, I recommend it. Although I love the convenience and ease of a boxed cake mix, there is nothing like homemade! I was going to take a picture of the whole cake, but little “b” ran her finger across the whole side of it. 🙁 So – I got a pic of just a piece of cake. Let me know if you give this cake recipe a try.
Lemon Poke Cake with Candied Lemons
Ingredients
Lemon Cake
- 1 Cup Butter - salted room temperature (2 sticks)
- 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
- 2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 pkg 3.4 oz Instant Lemon Pudding
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 Tbs Lemon Zest
- 2 Lg Eggs + 3 Lg Egg Yolks
- 2 Tbs Lemon Juice Mayer lemons are the best
- 1 Cup Buttermilk can be made with 1 Tbs Lemon Juice or Vinegar + enough milk to create one cup
Glaze
- 1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
Candied Lemons
- 1 Lemon thinly sliced and seeded (for garnish)
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Water
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350º.
- 2. Cream butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl.
- 3. Add Dry ingredients + lemon zest, and mix until combined
- 4. Mix in the lemon juice, eggs and buttermilk. Mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes.
- 5. Pour cake batter into greased 9x13 dish - after tasting! Bake for 28-34 minutes. Mine only took 28 minutes, but yours may need more time, depending on altitude, moisture, etc. I would bake for 28 and test with a toothpick.
- 6. While cake is baking, make your glaze. The glaze can be made by mixing the powdered sugar and lemon juice with a hand mixer.
- 7. While cake is baking, or ahead of time, make your candied lemons by boiling sugar and water in a small saucepan. As soon as mixture comes to a boil, add your thinkly sliced and seeded lemon. Simmer for 24 minutes. Remove lemon slices with a slotted spoon and place on wax paper to set.
- 8. Remove cake from oven and immediately poke a lot of holes with a fork. Then pour glaze over hot cake.
- 9. Garnish with candied lemons.
Phoebe @ Getting Freedom says
I would earn the Wife of the Year award if I made this for my husband. He loves all things lemon! Thanks for the recipe!
megan says
I’d be happy to use up some of your lemons for you. 😉
Nancy says
i have tried your recipe many many times,…..it is fantastic & my entire family loves it! i particulary like the fact that it is from scratch…i hate boxed cake mixes. thank you so much for the recipie.
Emily Lyon says
That is so fantastic to hear Nancy! Thank you for sharing, and keep on enjoying the goodness of Lemon Poke Cake from scratch!!