This Lemon Cream Butter Cake is the love child of a buttery lemon cake and a lemon cheesecake. A perfect marriage of the two textures and flavours.
If you are a lover of lemon, you will be over the moon with this delicious cake, that brings together lemon cake and lemon cheesecake in one pan.
Yes, the buttery lemon cake forms a layer around the bottom and outside, while a creamy lemon cream cheese filling cooks up in the middle. It's full of lemon flavour and a wonderful combination of textures. Enjoy this one chilled with a dusting of icing sugar on top.
Cook's Notes
Unsalted butter is recommended for this cake, but if you only have salted butter, be sure to add only a pinch additionally to the cake batter.
Be sure to place your springform pan on a baking sheet as a small amount of butter may leak out as the cake bakes. Alternately, you could wrap the bottom and sides of your springform pan with foil.
Speaking of wrapping in foil, I have long struggled with my springform pan over-cooking the sides of my baked goods and I suspect it is because it is a dark pan. I'm always hesitant to reduce the oven temperature, but I'm thinking I will start wrapping the outside of the pan in foil to try to temper that tendency in future. I'll let you know how that works out. (Or I guess I could just buy light pans :)
Keep a close eye on the cake as it nears the 30 minute mark and watch closely. It will be best if you can get it out of the oven when it is just cooked, which means the outside cake part looks lightly golden and the centre of the cake looks set.
Finally, if you want to fancy up your cake, place a paper doily on top of the cake and dust your icing sugar over it. Carefully remove to reveal a pretty pattern.
Lemon Cream Butter Cake
Ingredients
For the cream cheese filling:
- 8 oz full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup icing/confectioners' sugar
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
For the Cake:
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt, reduced to a pinch if using salted butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs
- Zest of 2 small or one large lemons
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla, or vanilla bean paste
For garnish:
- Additional icing/confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F (160C). Prepare an 8-inch springform pan by spraying with cooking spray and lining the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Place pan on a baking sheet and set aside. *Baking sheet is recommended as some small amount of butter may leak out during baking.
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl with an electric beater or the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high peed for about 5 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
- Add the icing sugar and beat for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until completely combined, about 1 minute. Add the melted butter, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice. Beat until completely combined, about 1 minute. Set aside.
- Prepare the cake batter: In large bowl, whisk together the flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk in melted (cooled) butter, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla and lemon zest just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the cake batter evenly into the prepared springform pan. Spread to the edges and level batter. Carefully pour the filling mixture evenly over the cake batter, spreading it to within about 1/2 inch of the edge of the pan, leaving that 1/2-inch around the outside with just bare cake batter visible.
- Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the outside edges of the cake is light golden and the centre of the cake is set. You can test with a cake tester around the outside edges, but not in the centre, as it is mostly cream cheese. You want the center to be set, so you can test by moving the pan a little to see how jiggly the centre is.
- Allow cake to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and carefully remove the outer ring. Allow to cool completely at room temperature for 1 hour, then transfer to a serving plate and refrigerate to chill before serving.
- To serve, serve chilled, with a little sprinkling of icing/confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon to make personal health decisions.
More Lemon Baked Goodies from Seasons and Suppers
Hi! I'm Jennifer, a home-cook of many years and a lifelong seeker of delicious food! I'm an equal opportunity eater. I enjoy eating all the foods!
Maureen says
Baked in a 9” springform pan so I made one and a half times the recipe, per another commenter. My cream cheese mixture completely covered my cake batter layer (there was no stopping it lol) but it wasn’t an issue in the end. Baked for 55 minutes and it still seemed pretty jiggly, but set up fine as it cooled. Taste was EXCELLENT, and very lemony…we loved it!! Will definitely be making again. 😋
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Maureen :) Thanks so much!
Bev says
Love lemon! Making now, but the filling ran all to the sides, how do I keep it so some of the cake batter is showing?
Jennifer says
Hi Bev, you can try to push it back towards the centre, but not sure how successful that will be. Did you use full-fat (not "light" or low-fat) cream cheese to make the filling?
Joann says
This is an impressive spring dessert. I had to increase the ingredients by half because I only had a 9" pan. But everything came out great. I served it with homemade whip cream. Can't wait to make it again.
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Joann :) Thanks so much!
Carol says
I love the idea for this cake with two exceptions. I wish it was a bit thicker and I know the cake part needs to hold together the filling and cake but there has to be a better cake than a quickbread style of cake.Seems to me no matter how careful you are with this for a base you are going to come up with something more like a filled muffin than a cake. Crumb is coarse.
I haven't tried it yet but smells amazing so I think it will probably taste good.
I wonder if there is sponge style cake or oil based recipe as opposed to butter based (the one and only time I don't love butter) that would hold this sort of filling. Do you have any idea?
Jennifer says
Hi Carol, as the name suggests, this is a butter cake - a cake where there is a high ratio of butter to flour - will always produce a more dense, moist type of cake. I think that type of cake is needed to keep the lemon cream on top.I suspect a lighter cake would not hold the topping well (would just fall into the lighter batter).
Carol says
I have found recipe that I will try for an olive oil lemon cake. I think the cake will be substantial enough to hold the lemon cheesecake filling. THis recipe is good and I have tasted it. It has great flavour but it just isn't what I am looking for right now. I do not intend this to be criticism for recipe because it is a wonderful recipe.
Jennifer says
Let me know how it works out, Carol :)
Nichole A Flynn says
I love this cake but am wondering if there is any way to convert this to cupcakes? I need a more transportable and shareable dessert.
Jennifer says
I have no idea, Nichole, as I've never tried it. Possibly. If you try it, let me know how it works out.
Inge HATTON says
I would like to bake this cake today but only have ricotta cheese in my fridge - can I use that instead of cream cheese. Thank you. Inge
Jennifer says
Hi Inge, I'd love to say you could try it, but I honestly don't think it would work, as ricotta has so much more liquid than cream cheese. Possibly if you squeezed the liquid out, but still a big chance it might end up a mess and you'd waste that lovely ricotta.
Cher S. says
I just made this tonight, realized I have a 10 inch spring form pan and larger. So I divided the batter between two 14oz ramekins. I attempted to turn one out, but it was too hot and collapsed. I'm hoping they baked alright, they both baked like a cake should and what I was able to taste was delicious!!! Fingers crossed the other one is better since it's still in the ramekin.
Jennifer says
I hope it works for you. I think for ramekins, you probably need to let it cool if you hope to turn it out.
Kelly says
Just made this for my dad's birthday, followed the instructions exactly, and it came out AMAZINGLY. My dad had asked for a lemon cake for his birthday and had been used to the typical boxed lemon cakes... but I wanted to give him something much better, especially in 2020! He absolutely loved this and we all thought it was a huge hit. He can't wait for me to make it again!
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Kelly and hope your Dad had a wonderful birthday :) Thanks!
Priya says
I love this recipe! I’m making it for a second time but it’s for a group of around 20 people this time around. Any recommendations for doubling to recipe or making it for a larger group of people?
Jennifer says
Hi Priya, You should be good to just double everything, divide between two baking pans and bake together, to yield two cakes to feed a crowd.
SL says
It’s delicious, mine doesn’t look as beautiful as the one pictured but next time I’ll spread the batter higher, I think that was my mistake. Thank you for the recipe!
Jennifer says
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks :)
Mari says
I am super excited about making this for my mom for Mother's day this Sunday, I am just wondering if you think it will be okay to make it the previous day? I am planning quite a spread and would like to get cracking!
Jennifer says
Hi Mari, I think it will hold nicely made the previous day. Enjoy!
Melissa says
I only have a 7 inch or 9 inch spring form pan. Should I go bigger or smaller?
Jennifer says
Hi Melissa, I think I"d go smaller. It will take a little longer to cook, as it will be thicker. Enjoy :)
Ashley says
Hi, I just made this and it's baking right now. The filling was so runny that it immediately went to the sides of the pan. I followed the recipe to a T. Not sure how you are ending up with a filling that is thicker and doesn't spread. Any suggestions?
Jennifer says
Hi Ashley, did you use full-fat cream cheese? Low or no fat cream cheese will not work, as it is too watery.
T says
This looks delicious. I'm wondering if anyone has tried making it with a gluten-free flour and if you have any recommendations for a specific flour to try.
Jennifer says
Hoping someone might weigh in for you on a good gluten free option :)
Robyn says
I've made it twice gluten free and it is yummy. The only change I made was the flour. Used Orgran all purpose plain flour.
Jennifer says
Glad to hear, Robyn and good to know it works with GF flour. Thanks :)
Elizabeth says
I’m always looking for anything lemon. I always try a recipe before serving it to company and I will definitely be making this for our next dinner party. So good!! Thanks.
Jennifer says
So happy to hear, Elizabeth :) Thanks so much!
Margaret says
This was the hit of the evening with dinner guests. Rave reviews all around. The flavor and texture were amazing. Will make this again often. Thank you for such a great recipe.
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Margaret! Thanks so much :)
Emily Jones says
Do I need to use a springform pan? If not, what size pan to you recommend?
Jennifer says
Hi Emily, while this cake doesn't absolutely need a springform pan, you will not have an easy time getting this cake out of any other kind of pan. If you don't care about neat slices, you can just use an 8-inch round cake pan.
Úrsula says
Jennifer. This recipe looked delicious, I love lemon flavor anything, so I made it Tonight The flavor is amazing and I love the texture of the cream on top. My problem has been the cake, mine came out quite dry and I don’t know wish I did wrong. I did use cake flour, could that be the issue. I would like to make it again, maybe you can help me with what I did wrong. Thank you.
Jennifer says
Hi Ursula, Yes, the use of cake flour is a likely cause if your cake is dry. The recipe does specify all purpose (or plain) flour. I suggest trying it with all purpose flour next time you make it.
Jeanette Jacobs says
Jennifer, do you think this cake could be frozen?
Jennifer says
Hi Jeanette, I haven't frozen it myself, but I feel like it should freeze fairly well :)
Marissa says
Hi Jeanette, I'm thinking of freezing it as well, did it work for you?
Tricia says
The cake was delicious and not hard to make.. the filling went a bit further when put on top of the batter but still was fine. Will be making this a lot I can see ... thank you ?
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Tricia! Thanks :)
Ekaterina says
Hello!I just made it! Recipe was quite easy to follow.Smells wonderful!!
One question: maybe I’m not quite understand... I putt cake batter in my baking pan.After that put cheesecake filling in center leave 1/2 inch edges.But after baking it look very different than your cake in photo.Its look like pie with filling.Sorry for this example,I just try to explain))
To different textures .On your photo it’s look single texture. What I do wrong?
Anyway I think it will be tasty!
Thanks for sharing
Jennifer says
Hi Ekaterina, I'm wondering if you used low-fat cream cheese? You definitely need to use full-fat cream cheese here, as low-fat has a very different composition and lots more moisture, so it won't bake up with the same consistency.
Bj says
My husband and enjoyed this delicious lemony desert
Jennifer Maloney says
So glad you enjoyed it! THanks :)
Saradora says
Hi! My mom loves your website so I made this cake for Mother's Day and served with fresh blueberries. It turned out soft and delicious. I tried to follow your instructions exactly, using a 8.5" springform pan. I think I overbaked it because it looked more cheesecake-like than your photo (before baking the fluffy layer was spread into a mountain in order to keep it 0.5" from the edges); at 35 minutes the filling was very loose/wet and the edges weren't set, so I kept it in and checked it every 5 minutes until the edges were set, about 45 minutes. Everyone liked it and went for seconds.
Jennifer Maloney says
So glad you enjoyed it, Saradora and yes, it is a hard cake to judge when it's done with the two textures going on. Thanks!
Julianny says
Hey Jennifer, this recipe is truly amazing! Perfect combination of textures and flavors. I just finished making it the second time (added some unsweetened shredded coconut to the batter and used Meyer lemons - because my mom will love that!) and I'm super excited to have some again!
Also, what's your favorite recipe at the moment?
Jennifer Maloney says
So glad you are enjoying it, Julianny! Favourite recipe? Sweet or savoury? For sweet, the things I make with regularity here - my Carrot Cake Loaf, my pumpkin muffins and my rice pudding. Those are 3 things I can not keep my hands off ;)