Lemon Drizzle Cake

5.0
(12)
11 Reviews
7 Photos

This lemon drizzle cake is my take on Mary Berry’s recipe. It's delicious and also one of the easiest cakes to make. This is a great recipe for someone who doesn’t like too many steps.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on March 4, 2024
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
50 mins
Stand Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 10 mins
Servings:
10
Yield:
1 loaf cake
Jump to Nutrition Facts

This lovely lemon drizzle cake, which was adapted from a Mary Berry recipe, isn’t just one of the most delicious cakes you’ll ever enjoy, but it’s also one of the easiest. If you’re someone who doesn’t bake a lot of cakes because of all the steps and tedious techniques, then this is the cake for you. 

There’s no sifting, separating, or creaming. All we do is dump everything in a bowl, mix it up, and (Bob’s your uncle) we’re baking. While the cake is baking we do need to mix up our lemon drizzle, but that step involves even less effort than the cake batter. In fact, the most difficult part of the whole operation is the decision regarding exactly how much drizzle to drizzle. 

How to Make Lemon Drizzle Cake

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below – but here are a few notes from the chef to get you started: 

  • Feel free to customize: I like a moist lemon drizzle cake, but not a wet one, so I think the proportions here are just about perfect, but as I mentioned in the video, feel free to adjust. 
  • Serve with fruit: As far as service goes, this cake is absolutely perfect with any and all fresh, seasonal fruit. Whether it’s sweet berries, or slices of ripe, juicy stone fruit, this humble loaf always shines. 
  • Don’t forget to chill: There are no secret tips or tricks to share here, other than the fact I find the taste and texture much better if the cake is chilled thoroughly before being served. 

Regardless of what temperature you serve it, I really do hope you give this lemon drizzle cake a try soon. Enjoy!  

More recipes: Try the latest and greatest recipes from Chef John!

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 cup white sugar

  • 2 lemons, zested

  • 2 ¼ cups self-rising flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1/4 cup milk

Lemon Drizzle Topping:

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions

  1. Add sugar to a mixing bowl and grate in lemon zest. Stir and let sit for 1 hour if possible to intensify the lemon flavor. This step can be skipped if necessary.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a loaf pan with greased parchment paper.

  3. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; add to lemon sugar. Add butter, eggs, and milk and beat with an electric mixer until batter is smooth and fluffy. Transfer batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top.

  4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

  5. Meanwhile for lemon drizzle topping whisk sugar and lemon juice together in a bowl until smooth.

  6. Poke holes all over the cake with a skewer, and ladle or pour lemon drizzle topping over the top. Let the cake cool all the way to room temperature before removing it from the pan.

    lemon drizzle cake

    Chef John


Chef's Notes

To make 2¼ cups self-rising flour: Sift together 2¼ cups all-purpose flour with 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon fine salt.

The lemon drizzle topping amounts can be doubled for an extra moist version of the cake.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)

431 Calories
21g Fat
57g Carbs
6g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 431
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 26%
Saturated Fat 12g 61%
Cholesterol 123mg 41%
Sodium 447mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 36g
Protein 6g 11%
Vitamin C 5mg 5%
Calcium 135mg 10%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 87mg 2%

* 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.

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