Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Buttercream

You’ll Need
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour* (spoon & leveled)
2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 and 3/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 heaping Tablespoon lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
8 ounces full-fat brick style cream cheese, softened to room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar (or to the consistency you desire)
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
pinch salt, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Grease three 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper.

The cake:

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside. Beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients just until combined. With the mixer still running on low, add the buttermilk, lemon zest, and lemon juice and mix just until combined. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be a little thick.Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Bake for around 21-26 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling. The baked cakes are fluffy, but they are not thick– about 1 – 1.5 inches.

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until completely smooth and combined. Add confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Add more confectioners’ sugar if frosting is too thin, more lemon juice if frosting is too thick, or add a pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet. (I always add a pinch of salt!)