Name: Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 125 min
Ingredients: 1 cup white sugar; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature; 2 large eggs; 2 large egg yolks; 0.66666668653488 cup fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest; 2.3333332538605 cups cake flour; 2.75 teaspoons baking powder; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 1.75 cups white sugar, divided; 2 tablespoons lightly packed finely grated lemon zest; 0.75 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature; 5 egg whites, at room temperature; 0.25 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 tablespoons lightly packed finely grated lemon zest; 3.5 cups sifted confectioners' sugar; 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

45 mins

Additional Time:

50 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 5 mins

Servings:

12

Yield:

1 layer cake

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

Filling/Curd:

1 cup white sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
⅔ cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

Cake:

2 ⅓ cups cake flour
2 ¾ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups white sugar, divided
2 tablespoons lightly packed finely grated lemon zest
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
5 egg whites, at room temperature
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons lightly packed finely grated lemon zest
3 ½ cups sifted confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Beat sugar and butter for curd in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and yolks slowly until well combined. Beat for 1 minute more; stir in lemon juice. The mixture will look curdled; do not panic.
Pour mixture into a saucepan and cook over low heat until it becomes smooth, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly without letting it boil, until it thickens enough to leave a path on the back of a spoon when you drag a finger through it and reaches 170 degrees F (77 degrees C), about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest.
Let cool to room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes. Press plastic wrap on the surface to prevent a skin from forming and chill in the refrigerator.
While filling cools, place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans.
Sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Pulse 1/4 cup sugar and lemon zest together in a food processor until well combined.
Beat butter and lemon sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add remaining sugar and beat until smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes. Beat in 1/4 of the milk until just blended. Add flour mixture alternately with remaining milk on low speed in 3 batches, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed; beat until just blended.
Beat egg whites in another bowl on medium speed just until foamy. Add cream of tartar. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until stiff peaks form. Add 1/4 of the egg whites to the cake batter and gently fold in. Continue to gently fold in egg whites, being careful not to deflate the mixture. Divide batter between the prepared pans.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake layer comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Flip right side-up and let cool on a wire rack, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Cut cooled layers in half and layer with curd.
Beat butter and lemon zest for frosting in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and beat. Add lemon juice and beat for 1 minute. Frost the assembled cake as desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

753	Calories
35g	Fat
107g	Carbs
6g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 753
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 35g	45%
Saturated Fat 22g	108%
Cholesterol 154mg	51%
Sodium 210mg	9%
Total Carbohydrate 107g	39%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 83g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 9mg	45%
Calcium 112mg	9%
Iron 2mg	13%
Potassium 137mg	3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.