This lemon bundt cake is the ultimate dessert for lemon lovers. It’s hands down the best lemon bundt cake recipe! It’s flavored with lemon zest and lemon extract for an extra punch. It’s made with sour cream and is incredibly moist and tender. It's also topped with a tart and smooth lemon glaze. It’s utterly delicious!
If you're a fan of lemon desserts, you are going to fall in love with this lemon bundt cake. This bundt cake is soft and tender and bursting with lemon flavor and has the most amazing lemon icing too. This cake was originally made with Meyer Lemons, what a treat! Since Meyer lemons aren't always available year-round where I live, I decided to make a couple of changes to give it just a little more lemon punch.
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Other Amazing Bundt Cake Recipes
- Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
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Topping Ideas For Bundt Cake
- The Lemon Icing included in this recipe
- Berry Syrup
- Lemon Syrup
- Buttermilk Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Fresh Strawberries
- Strawberry Sauce
- Powdered Sugar
This lemon glaze is made with powdered sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon extract, and vanilla extract. You can drizzle a little of this on or douse the entire cake, it’s up to you. And if you're looking for a fun lemony topping for your bundt cake, be sure to try out my Lemon Curd recipe too.
I've added recipe instructions for a small 9-10 cup (small) bundt cake pan and then did recipe calculations for a 12 cup (large) bundt cake pan too. This cake is so pretty so be sure you use the right recipe to fill whatever bundt cake pan you have.
Tips for Making a Bundt Cake
- To get that thick drippy layer, I added my glaze to an icing bag and It’s much easier to get that thick glaze in symmetrical drips if you have the control of an icing bag.
- Be sure your cake is cool. If you let it cool on the counter and then put it in the fridge for a couple of hours, the cake cuts better and the icing will be lovely and thick.
Recipe Variation for 12 cup Bundt Pan
- 2 ¼ cup Flour
- 3 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cup Sugar
- 3 large Eggs
- ¾ cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 ½ Sour Cream
- 2 Lemon Zest
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ teaspoon Lemon Extract
Lemon Icing for Bundt Cake
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
How to Make Lemon Bundt Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. This recipe works great for a large (9-10 cup) bundt cake pan. If you are making a smaller bundt cake, don't add in the last cup or so of batter and make 2-3 small cupcake size cakes in addition.
- Combine the wet ingredients.
- Combine the dry ingredients. Combine all ingredients and pour into a greased pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Put a plate or serving dish on the top of the bundt cake pan and flip the cake onto the serving plate.
- Make the glaze.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cake and let it set up before slicing to serve.
- Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and some fresh raspberries. Enjoy!
Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup Flour
- 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Sugar
- 3 large Eggs
- ½ cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- ½ teaspoon Lemon Extract
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 ½ teaspoon Lemon Zest from 2-3 Fresh Lemons
Glaze
- ⅔ cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- ½ teaspoon Lemon Extract
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-10 cup bundt cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, oil, vanilla and lemon extract.
- Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Stir until combined.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Put a plate or serving dish on the top of the bundt cake pan and flip the cake onto the serving plate.
- Make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon extract and vanilla extract. Add more lemon juice if necessary to reach your desired consistency.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cake and let it set up before slicing to serve.
- Serve wit a dollop of whipped cream and some fresh raspberries. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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I participated in a blog swap and was given the recipe from my friend from Sugar Me Dish Heather Tullow is the mastermind behind it all. She made an incredibly gorgeous Meyers Lemon Bundt Cake and I just knew I had to try it.
I'm such a sucker for all things lemon and I couldn't pass on this one. It's a fantastic recipe! Her site features loads of incredible desserts but has a lot of healthy and easy dinner ideas too. Be sure to check out her recipe for Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal and chicken lasagna too! So yummy!
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Lemon bundt cake is every lemon lover's dream, a moist lemon bundt cake. It’s bursting with lemon flavor. It’s made with sour cream so it is incredibly tender and topped with a tart and smooth lemon glaze. It’s amazingly delicious!
John Harrisson
I made this cake and delivered slices to my neighbors. It was absolutely the best cake I have ever made. Fantastic recipe. Do yourself a favor and make the cake!
Jill Baird
John, I'm so glad you loved the cake! Thanks for your comment. You totally made my day!
Anya
This was really good. A simple cake to put together on a Sunday night for my work peeps tomorrow. I subbed half of the flour with almond meal and went with greek yogurt. I added some sliced almonds onto the icing and it is beautiful. Thanks for a great recipe!
Deborah
I made this for my family’s Sunday dinner and everyone raved! I wish I could attach a photo!
Barry Knezek
Looks like you left out the vanilla and lemon extracts from the batter recipe.
Just mentioned in directions but not listed in recipe.
Sharon
I noticed the same thing. I did not include the vanilla or the lemon extract since it was not listed in the ingredients for the larger cake. Hope it turns out ok!
Jill Baird
Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I added it to the ingredients for the larger cake recipe too.
Rebecca
Lemon is one of my favorite dessert flavors and this cake does not disappoint! Perfect balance of lemon. Oh it was good.
Brandi Burgess
I'm slightly lemony dessert obsessed and this looks like the most amazing lemon bundt cake ever!
Sheila Thigpen
Perfection! Your cake is so pretty and just screams Spring time!
Belinda N
What is the measurements of the vanilla and lemon extract in both cake variations. I see it in the instructions but not in the ingredients for the batter. Only the frosting.
Chrissie Nelson Rotko
Lemon anything is my favorite! I love lemon cakes so much so I absolutely cannot wait to make this one!
Amy Nash
I couldn't wait to make this after I saw you post it. It was absolutely as moist and delicious and it looked like in your pictures! I'm hiding a piece for breakfast! (sshhhhh)
Erin
If you're a lemon dessert fan, MAKE THIS IMMEDIATELY! I love a good bundt cake, and the batter paired with this icing is so good!
Kathryn Donangelo
Since I've been pregnant, I love alll lemon treats and this Lemon Cake looks so delicious! I am going to make this over the weekend and I'm so excited! Love the simple ingredients used too! 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
I'm not much of a cake decorator, so when I come across bundt cakes I'm all in - the icing seals the deal for my weekend baking plans!
Kathleen Pope
I love anything lemon, but this looks amazing, beyond amazing! Moist, lemony and am love in the frosting!
Heather
OOOOHHH that icing - it looks so pretty! Thanks for baking one of my favorite cake recipes! So glad you enjoyed it!
Angela
Perfection- I really love a dessert with some citrus! The flavor in the lemon bundt is so great!
Nikki
Lemon is my favor flavor! What a beautiful cake! Great tip to use the piping bag!
Jennifer Stewart
I love the bright and tart flavors of lemon cake! And that drizzle!! This is the perfect cake for any occasion and especially in the spring!
Sam
Lemon desserts are THE best and there is no exception here! Yum!!
michele
For goodness sakes.. Why didnt I ever think to use a piping bag for the icing... mine looked almost as good as yours! Brilliant tip! I have it ready for this afternoon for a sweet treat after the big game! I snuck one piece and its perfect! Thank you!
Lisa
Lemon cake is the BEST! This one looks like perfection, so moist and yummy!
Michaela Kenkel
This is just stunning!! Lemon is my FAVORITE and this beautiful bundt cake just went to the tippy top of my must bake list!