Description
This Gooey Lemon Butter Cake is a delightful, rich dessert featuring a tender lemon-infused cake base topped with a creamy lemon cream cheese filling. With a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness, it bakes to a golden edge with a luscious, slightly gooey center, making it an irresistible treat for lemon lovers and dessert enthusiasts alike.
Ingredients
Lemon Cake
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- 1¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Zest from 2 large lemons
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
Lemon Cream Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 1⅔ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9-inch springform pan by lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside this mixture for later use.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub together with your fingers to infuse the sugar with lemon flavor. Add the lemon juice, one large egg, and melted butter, mixing until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to this mixture and mix just until incorporated. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared springform pan.
- Make Lemon Cream Filling: In another medium bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice, and continue beating until well combined. Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the lemon cream filling evenly over the cake batter in the pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center has puffed up slightly. For a gooier center, bake closer to 30 minutes; for a less gooey texture, extend the baking time a few minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes before carefully removing it from the springform pan. Dust the top with powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy your delicious gooey lemon butter cake!
Notes
- Baking time affects the gooeyness of the cake center; shorter baking yields a gooier texture, longer baking firms it slightly.
- Make sure eggs and cream cheese are at room temperature to ensure smooth batter and filling.
- Using a springform pan helps in easy removal of the delicate cake without breaking.
- Lemon zest infused sugar enhances the lemon flavor in the cake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
