Lemon Raspberry Cake
This Bakery-Style Lemon Raspberry Cake is made with sour cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh raspberries. A lemon cream cheese frosting, along with lemon curd filling and chunks of fresh raspberries in every bite, makes this cake perfect! All the flavors in my lemon raspberry cake will never disappoint!
The other night, I was in the mood for a treat, a real treat! So I decided to bake a cake.
But not just any cake, a cake with my two favorite flavors, lemon and raspberry!
This lemon raspberry cake is studded with fresh raspberries throughout making the flavors pop! It is so delicious, that everyone will enjoy it after their first bite.
If you enjoy raspberry-flavored desserts, be sure to try our Raspberry Lemon Crumble Bars – these bars are loaded with amazing flavors too!
While searching for a new recipe, I remembered I have a recipe for a cake I make often, and one my family adores!
So I decided to adapt the ingredients from my homemade pineapple banana spice cake including its delicious cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients Needed for Lemon Raspberry Cake:
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all-purpose flour
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granulated sugar
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large eggs
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extra virgin olive oil
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sour cream
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vegetable oil
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lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
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zest of one lemon (about 1 Tbsp)
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fresh raspberries
Lemon Curd Filling:
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1 jar of store-bought lemon curd
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:
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1 package of cream cheese
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unsalted butter
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lemon zest
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powdered sugar
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Extra berries, to decorate on top of the cake
For this recipe, the cake is easily made in ONE bowl, and no fancy equipment is needed, just a good whisk.
You will need two 8-inch non-stick cake pans for this recipe.
Plus, you can even use the same bowl to make the cream cheese frosting, for easy clean-up. 😉
Both cakes will need to be baked for about 30 minutes or until you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.
Cook’s Notes and Tips:
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You will need to slightly mash the raspberries with a fork before tossing them into the batter. This will ensure the raspberries will spread evenly throughout the batter.
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You can use frozen raspberries in this case, but don’t thaw them. Lightly mash them and toss them into the batter while still frozen.
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I used a store-bought jar of lemon curd, but you can use homemade curd if you prefer.
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You will need a couple of lemons, for zesting, both the cake and the frosting. I prefer organic lemons. Wash and rinse them before using them. Using “real lemon zest” and lemon juice makes this cake taste amazing!
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Make sure you use a brick of cream cheese, not cream cheese spread for the frosting.
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For the frosting, both cream cheese and butter should be at room temperature before beating. Then chill it for a few minutes before frosting your cake.
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Bake both cakes on the same rack, and in the middle of the oven. DO NOT overbake the cake. The cake will be done when it springs back when you press down in the center, or when you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.
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Go ahead and decorate your cake with as many berries on top as you like!
With its moist texture and sublime flavors, the surprise in this bakery-style lemon raspberry cake is the additional layer of lemon curd I added in the center, as part of the filling.
…and it’s what everyone raves about!
How To Make Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting?
1. First Step: Whip cream cheese, butter, lemon zest, and powdered sugar together until creamy and smooth. Then TASTE it! If you prefer more lemon flavor? Then add in additional lemon zest, and even 1 or 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
2. Then place it into the refrigerator for about 15 to 30 minutes, and allow the frosting to thicken a little. This will make it easier to spread the frosting on the cake.
Here’s a QUICK TIP: If the frosting is too warm and soft, it will make the top half of the cake slip and slide off. It’s best to chill it for a few minutes before frosting the cake.
3. Second Step: Add a generous amount of frosting to the first layer of the cake and spread it evenly.
4. Step 3: Add a couple of tablespoons of lemon curd in the center. Using the back of a spoon, spread the curd in a circular motion, but keep it within 1 inch or more from the end.
5. Final Step: Then place the second cake on top and finish frosting the top and sides. Decorate with some berries on top.
6. Serve it chilled or at room temperature!
Tools used for this Lemon-Raspberry Cake:
Citrus Zester – is a terrific tool to use for zesting all your citrus fruits along with grated cheeses, fresh garlic, and even ginger.
Lemon Squeezer – this is a handy tool to keep in your drawer. It literally is the easiest and quickest way to juice lemons and limes.
Cake Pans – I love these baking pans. They’re easy to stack and easy to clean, and the cakes bake evenly,
If you love this combination of lemon and raspberry in desserts, then you’ll LOVE these recipes! Check them out!
- Raspberry Lemon Crumble Bars
- Lemon Raspberry Panna Cotta Cheesecake
- Blackberry Lemon Crumble Bars
- Lemon Blueberry Crumble Bars
- Mixed Berry Icebox Cake (no-bake)
And for a different flavor, try our Pineapple Banana Spice Cake, and our Chocolate Cake with Cranberry Buttercream! …plus our Easy Lemon Cream Pie, (gluten-free) -they’ll all be delightful!
And try our Fabulously Easy Carrot Cake!
Why wait for a holiday, or a special occasion, right? Hey, when a gal wants a treat, she needs a treat!
This Lemon Raspberry Cake turned out AMAZING! It’s a great cake to make!
With a lovely lemon flavor and fresh raspberries throughout, and topped with best-loved frosting – you’ll be hooked after your first bite.
Try this recipe -it is a keeper!
ENJOY!!
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Bakery-Style Lemon Raspberry Cake
Bakery-Style Lemon Raspberry Cake is made with sour cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh raspberries. It's perfect lemon flavor, along with a lemon curd filling and chunks of fresh raspberries are in every bite! And the flavors in my lemon raspberry cake never disappoints!
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
- zest of one lemon ( about 1 Tbsp)
- 1 + 1/2 cups of fresh raspberries, slightly mashed with a fork
Lemon Curd Filling:
- 1 jar of store-bought lemon curd (about 3 to 4 Tbsp. needed)
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 ( 8-ounce) package of cream cheese - room temperature
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter - at room temperature
- zest of one lemon (about 1 Tbsp.)
- 1 + 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- Extra berries, to decorate on top of the cake
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to Bake at 350 degrees F (175 C). Butter and flour two 8-inch non-stick cake pans and set them aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Create a well in the center of the flour mixture, and add the eggs, both oils, sour cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Whisk or stir with a large spoon until the ingredients are well combined. DO NOT BEAT.
- Fold in the raspberries.
- Spread the batter evenly between the two cake pans and even out the tops with the back of a spoon.
- BAKE cakes on the same rack, for 28 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted in the center and comes out clean and the center springs back when touched.
- Let cakes cool for about 5 to 8 minutes, turn them over, and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
To Make Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Beat cream cheese with butter and lemon zest until smooth and creamy.
- Beat in the powdered sugar. Chill the frosting for about 15 to 30 minutes.
Frost the Cake and Filling:
- Allow the cake to completely cool before frosting.
- Add a generous amount of frosting to the first layer and spread it evenly.
- Add about 3 to 4 tablespoons of lemon curd in the center, and spread it evenly over the cream cheese layer, but keeping it within 1- inch from the edges.
- Place the second cake on top and frost the top of the cake and sides with the remaining cream cheese frosting. Decorate the top with some berries.
- Chill the cake for 30 minutes or more before slicing and serving.
- Serves 8 to 10
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8 to 10 servingsServing Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 489Total Fat: 32.7gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 366mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 0,7gSugar: 18.5gProtein: 7g
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In case you missed it…
i love lemon curd – the more lemon the better. In the good old days we just called it lemon butter as kids. And raspberries go so well with lemon.
HI Sherry! Thanks so much. Have a great week! 🙂
I’m making this tomorrow and am VERY excited about it! Thanks for the tantalizing (yet simple) recipe!
Hi Joe! Welcome to our blog, it’s nice to meet you! Thanks so much, and I think you will enjoy all the flavors in this cake.. Enjoy!
The cake was just delicious and very well received buy those with whom I shared it. Thank You!
So glad to hear!! Thanks so much, Joe! We are so grateful for every comment and especially when we make people happy 🙂 Thanks again.
Wow, this looks incredibly delicious and a recipe I would love to try! Lemons and raspberries make such a beautiful combination.
Yes, I think they do too! Thanks Susan! 🙂
This cake’s a keeper, for sure! I love the ingredient list, from the berries to the curd to the olive oil.
Thank you Jeff for your sweet comment! This cake is a definite winner! You have to give it a try! Thanks again, and have a great day!