Lemon Blueberry Cake

Dreamy Lemon Blueberry Cake! It’s melt-in-your-mouth tender, rich and buttery, deliciously sweet and tangy, and it’s brimming with fresh blueberries and bright lemon flavor. It’s utterly irresistible and the ultimate summer cake recipe! You’ll lick the plate for every last crumb. 

Refreshing Lemon Blueberry Cake Recipe

This zest blueberry lemon cake is the queen of cakes. It’s one of our family’s favorite cakes and such an excellent way to use up those flavor concentrated, sweet summer blueberries.

With its abundance of citrus, its combination of exceptional flavors, and its naturally colorful, showstopping presentation, it’s practically certain to set a new standard for homemade cakes.

And of course it’s one thousand times better than any store-bought lemon cake mix, don’t just attempt to mix blueberries into one of those if you really want to impress.

Everyone will be savoring each delectable bite of this infinitely delicious homemade dessert!

Quick tip, I’d recommend that you plan on a generous slice per person because something this good is worthy of indulgence and celebration.

Watch the Video!

 

Lemon Blueberry Cake Ingredients and Substitutes

• Cake flour: Recipe originally called for cake flour and all-purpose flour but has been modified to cake flour only for a fluffier cake that can also include more moisture in the recipe. If needed, you can use 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 6 Tbsp cornstarch in this recipe.
• Baking powder and baking soda: The combination of both leavening agents works well here.
• Salt: Just regular table salt is used here.
• Granulated sugar: Cake is fairly sweet as traditional cakes are intended to be. For those of you who don’t like a lot of sweet, it can be reduced to 1 1/4 cups sugar.
• Unsalted butter: Salted butter may be substituted, just omit salt from the recipe if using salted butter.
• Lemons: You’ll use both the zest and juice in the recipe, so don’t forget to zest before cutting them open to juice them.
• Eggs: These help bind the cake ingredients, I don’t recommend substitutions unless there’s a special dietary need.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla bean paste would work great as well.
• Milk: Whole milk is recommended here for best results, but canned light coconut milk should work too.
• Sour cream: Whole Greek yogurt should work as well. This is the key to the moist texture.
• Fresh blueberries: Raspberries would be tasty here too.
• Cream cheese: For a frosting that’s not runny, keep this cool.
• Powdered sugar: This very fine sugar is essential for a smooth frosting.

How to Make Lemon Blueberry Cake

1. Prepare pans: Grease and flour two (9-inch) round baking pans and place parchment paper on the bottom. Grease parchment paper.
2. Heat oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Sift, whisk dry ingredients: Sift the flour into a large bowl. Whisk in baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. Whip butter, sugar and zest: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whip together the butter, sugar and lemon zest at medium speed until pale and fluffy.
5. Blend in eggs: Mix in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract. Add eggs and extracts to butter mixture and mix to combine.
6. Pour milk into measuring cup, then stir in the sour cream and lemon juice.
7. Mix in flour and milk mixtures: Add the 1/3 flour mixture and 1/2 the milk mixture to the butter mixture, alternating in batches between the two.
8. Add blueberries: Fold the blueberries into the cake batter, then divide the batter between the two pans.
9. Bake til set: Bake cakes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
10. Frost: While the cakes cool on a wire rack, make the cream cheese frosting. Frost the cake once completely cooled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen blueberries in this recipe?

• You can make this cake with frozen blueberries, but you’ll need to add them to the cake batter while still frozen.
• Increase bake time by about 5 minutes.
• Keep in mind the frozen berries will tint the cake a bit, but it will still taste delicious.

What about making plain lemon cake?

• For a plain lemon cake only just omit blueberries from the recipe and prepare as directed, while leaving the 1 Tbsp flour in the recipe (from step 3 in recipe below).
• Another option is to mix in 3 1/2 tablespoons of poppy seeds for a lemon poppy seed cake.

Will an electric hand mixer work for this cake batter?

• Yes, I have also made this cake using a mixing bowl and an electric hand mixer.
• It just takes more time to whip the butter, sugar mixture until it’s very pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• And don’t forget to scrape the bowl as you go.

Can I make cupcakes with this recipe?

• Cupcakes will work well instead of cake layers.
• Bake lemon blueberry cupcakes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Fill paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full and bake about 20 minutes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
• You should get about 24 cupcakes with this recipe.

How to make a thicker layer of frosting?

• If you like a more generous amount of frosting, make 1.5 times the recipe. If making cupcakes, you may want to do this as well.

Storage and Shelf Life

• Cake should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
• It will keep well for up to 4 days.
• Bring to room temperature before serving.

Tips for the Best Lemon Blueberry Cake

• Be sure to whip the butter and sugar together until the mixture is very pale in shade. Otherwise the cake will turn out dense and heavy.
• Careful not to over-mix the batter, also for a light and fluffy cake.
• Toss the blueberries in a little flour before adding them to the cake batter to prevent them from sinking clear to the bottom of the cake.

More Tempting Lemon Blueberry Recipes

• Lemon Blueberry Bread
• Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
• Bakery-Style Lemon Blueberry Muffins
• Blueberry Lemon Brownies with White Chocolate Glaze
• Blueberry Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

More Luscious Lemon Desserts

• Lemon Crinkle Cookies
• Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream Frosting
• Lemon Cheesecake Mousse
• Lemon Sugar Cookies
• Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting