I first created this gorgeous, fluffy Lemon Vanilla Butter Cake when Sugar Salt Magic turned one, way back in 2016. Just recently I remade this and made it even better. While it started as a layer cake, I decided to re-create it in the style of a vanilla bundt cake, filled with lemon curd and topped with a simple lemon icing. You’ll love this Vanilla sponge tray bake too. A vanilla bundt cake on a marble cake plate being drizzled with lemon icing from a small white jug

While I loved my original ‘Blogiversary’ cake, I tend to prefer simpler recipes now. I removed salted caramel sauce and white chocolate buttercream and I re-worked the butter cake into an even more buttery and tender version.
This cake is dreamy!!!
There are 3 simple components to this cake;
  • A buttery vanilla bundt cake
  • Ribbons of homemade lemon curd running through the middle
  • Simple lemon icing drizzled all over the top

The homemade lemon curd

Homemade lemon curd is incredibly simple to make – 10 minutes on the stovetop with just a handful of ingredients and it’s done. However, feel free to use store-bought lemon curd if you prefer.
Lemon butter cake slices on white plates on a grey surface

What is butter cake?

Butter cake is a version of the British pound cake. It’s easy to make and has a rich, buttery flavour due to a generous amount of butter in the recipe. The texture of butter cake is a fine crumb and a little less dense than pound cake which comes from creaming the butter and sugar together until super light and creamy. The butter keeps the cake very moist and tender.

I use a combination of plain (all-purpose) flour and corn flour (corn starch) in my cake batter. This mixture takes the place of cake flour which I don’t keep in my pantry (space issues 😊). If you have cake flour on hand, you can certainly use it in place of the plain and corn flour.

Handy tools

How to make butter cake

A glass mixing bowl with creamed butter and sugar on a marble surface
  1. Cream the butter and sugar together until very light and creamy. This will take around 4-5 minutes in a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. This step is very important to ensure you end up with a fluffy cake.
  2. Add eggs and vanilla beating well after each addition.
  3. Add the dry ingredients and milk incorporating them in parts with a spatula just until mixed through. Make sure not to overmix or you will end up with a dense cake.
  4. Layer the cake batter and lemon curd up in the tin – batter, curd, batter, curd, batter – making sure the lemon curd doesn’t touch the sides of the tin. I find it easiest to spoon the batter in then level it out with a spatula.
A bundt tin with a layer of cake batter, topped with a layer of lemon curd
  1. Bake the cake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out with a crumb or two clinging to it (not wet batter).
  2. To make the simple lemon icing – just mix some melted butter, icing sugar, lemon juice and vanilla together then pour it over the cooled cake.
A bundt cake covered in white icing on a cake stand

Best butter cake tips and tricks

  • Start with softened butter – just soft enough that when you press it with your finger there will be a slight indentation – it shouldn’t melt between your fingers immediately.
  • A stand mixer with a whisk attachment is best but you can use a handheld beater or even beat it by hand if you have more upper body strength than I (which isn’t difficult)
  • Grease your bundt tin well with softened butter, margarine or melted butter, making sure to get right into all the nooks and crannies.
  • Once greased, flour the tin. Add a quarter cup of flour and roll the tin around between your hands until there is a coating of flour all over then tip the excess flour out. This step will also show any spots you didn’t grease properly.

How to store butter cake

Store this cake in an airtight container in a cool spot for up to 3 days or the fridge for up to a week. This butter cake can be frozen if stored an airtight container for up to 2 months. Let the cake come to room temperature before serving.

Definitely one of my favourites, this Lemon Vanilla Butter Cake is a perfect, simple vanilla bundt cake recipe for any occasion. A touch of luscious lemon curd take it to new heights and a gorgeous lemon icing make it an incredibly pretty cake too.

A slice of vanilla bundt cake with lemon curd filling on a small white cake plate with a fork sitting next to it.

Fluffy Lemon Vanilla Butter Cake

Yield: 16 serves
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
4.7 from 15 ratings
This fluffy Lemon Vanilla Butter Cake recipe moist and tender with a delicate crumb and rich buttery flavour. This vanilla bundt cake is gorgeous, filled with lemon curd and topped with a simple lemon icing.
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Ingredients

FOR THE LEMON VANILLA BUTTER CAKE

  • 2  cups  plain (all-purp) flour (260g / 9.1oz)
  • ¼ cup  corn flour (cornstarch) (35g / 1.2oz)
  • ¼ teaspoon  salt
  • 2  teaspoon  baking powder
  • 226 g  unsalted butter, softened (1 cup / 2 sticks)
  • 200 g white sugar (1 cup / 7 oz)
  • 4  large eggs, room temp
  • 1  teaspoon  vanilla
  • ½ cup  whole milk, room temp
  • ½ cup lemon curd (homemade or store-bought)

SIMPLE LEMON ICING

  • 1 ½ cups icing (confectioners / powdered) sugar (210g / 7.4oz)
  • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided

Instructions
 

FOR THE LEMON VANILLA BUTTER CAKE

  • Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / 160C fan forced. Grease a bundt tin well (making sure to get into all the groovethen flour it, making sure to turn the tin until fully coated. Tip away any excess flour.
  • Add the flour, corn flour, baking powder and salt to a bowl and mix well to combine. Set aside.
  • Using a stand mixer with whisk attachment, beat together the butter and sugar until very light and creamy (4-5 minutes). Add the eggs one at a time, adding the vanilla in with the last egg. Beat well after each addition.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add ⅓ of the flour mixture. Use a spatula to stir it until just combined. Follow with half the milk and stir until just combined. Repeat this process with the remaining flour and milk, each time mixing until just combined - don't overmix.
  • Pour ⅓ of the cake batter into the bundt tin and level it out. Spoon over half of the lemon curd just around the centre of the batter so that it doesn't touch the edges of the pan. Repeat with another layer of batter, then curd and then a final layer of cake batter.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out almost clean. Allow to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

FOR THE SIMPLE LEMON ICING

  • Once the cake has cooled, sift the icing sugar into a medium bowl then add the melted butter, lemon juice and vanilla. Mix well to combine, then drizzle over the cake.

Notes

  1. You can use store bought or homemade lemon curd using this recipe
  2. For best results, you should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar. Kitchen scales are relatively cheap but if you can’t weigh the ingredients, use the spoon and level method (don’t scoop).
  3. I use corn starch a lot in my baking. Cake flour is a combination of all-purpose and cornstarch but in Australia is not so readily available. I use this combo in my recipes a lot instead of using cake flour.
Want more cakes? Click here
Or more lemon treats? Click here
Calories: 308kcal
Author: Marie Roffey
Course: Dessert, Sweets
Cuisine: American, British
Have you tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.