Sicilian whole lemon cake is a moist and delicious crowd-pleasing dessert. This flavorful cake uses an entire lemon, peel, juice and pulp, for an amazingly lemony result!
Given the continuous rave reviews of my Sicilian whole orange cake, I now bring you, Sicilian whole lemon cake!
After making this cake several times, I’ve adjusted the sugar and made a few other changes to compensate for the difference in sweetness between oranges and lemons. However, please note that best results will come from Meyer lemons, although you can use Eureka or other more sour lemons by adding. a little more sugar.
If you fortunate enough to have access to Meyer lemons, you may also want to try this recipe: the best lemon drop martini you’ll ever have!
You could also try making posset, an incredibly easy and rich dessert!
And my favorite pancakes: lemon ricotta pancakes!
This isn’t a light cake, but a uniquely moist, flavorful, and bit more dense type of cake. It has a big crumb and sticky glaze, and I’ve never heard anyone try it and not gush with compliments! If you like a sweeter cake, you may want to add a little more sugar (especially if using Eureka lemons) as this isn’t overly sweet at all.
If you’d like to make a full size bundt cake instead, use this Meyer lemon cake recipe for a full sized cake (with glaze or icing).
In case you want to buy the PaneAngeli baking powder, I’ve added a link below in the recipe ingredients. It looks like this~
Sicilian Whole Lemon Cake
adapted from my Sicilian Whole Orange cake makes one cake
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
NB: I use Meyer lemons which are much less sour than Eureka. I would recommend using a little more sugar if you don’t have Meyer lemons.
Make the Whole Lemon Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
Prepare an 8″ springform pan by spraying with oil (or butter) and lining in parchment paper (sides optional, if you want really clean sides), then spray the paper, too.
Place the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and beat with a mixer until light and fluffy.
Sift the flour with the baking powder/PaneAngeli then add to the mixture in the bowl a little at a time along with the softened butter. Continue to mix until completely blended, then stir in the yogurt (and vanilla, if using).
In a food processor, process the whole lemon until it is almost pureed. It should look like this~
Add this lemon to the cake mixture and stir until evenly combined, then put the batter into the prepared tin.
Bake for 50-60 minutes (depending on your oven), but test with a cake tester or skewer to make sure the whole lemon cake is done before removing from the oven. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes, then remove the side of the springform pan.
Make the Lemon Glaze
Prepare the glaze by melting the sugar in the lemon juice and water, and allow to simmer for a few minutes, just until the liquid has a syrupy consistency. Spoon and brush over the top of the cake and allow to cool completely before cutting.
Yes, it’s hard to wait, but the moist lemon cake will cut more easily if it’s cool first.
Garnish with a twist of lemon or a few lemon slices, or just serve plain. So good!
Enjoy with a cup of tea or glass of limoncello!
Sicilian Whole Lemon Cake
A moist and dense cake make with an entire lemon.
Ingredients
Cake
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 c (300g) sugar
- 1 3/4 c (275g) all purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder (or 1 packet Italian Pane Degli Angeli vanilla baking powder)
- 1/3 c (100g) butter, softened
- 1/3 c (100g) plain Greek yogurt
- 1 large organic Meyer lemon, about (300g), washed and cut into pieces (with the rind, but remove the seeds)
- (if using baking powder, add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract)
Glaze
- 1 oz of lemon juice
- 1 oz water
- a little less than 3 Tbsp (35 grams) sugar
Instructions
Make the Whole Lemon Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Prepare an 8″ springform pan by spraying with oil (or butter) and lining in parchment paper (sides optional, if you want really clean sides), then spray the paper, too.
- Place the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and beat with a mixer until light and fluffy.
- Sift the flour with the baking powder then add to the mixture in the bowl a little at a time along with the softened butter. Continue to mix until completely blended, then stir in the yogurt and the vanilla, if using.
- In a food processor, process the whole lemon until it is almost pureed.
- Add this lemon to the cake mixture and stir until evenly combined, then put the batter into the prepared tin.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes (depending on your oven), but test with a cake tester or skewer to make sure the whole lemon cake is done before removing from the oven. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes, then remove the side of the springform pan.
Make the Lemon Glaze
- Prepare the glaze by melting the sugar in the lemon juice and water, and allow to simmer for a few minutes, just until the liquid has a syrupy consistency. Spoon and brush over the top of the cake and allow to cool completely before cutting.
- Yes, it’s hard to wait, but the moist lemon cake will cut more easily if it’s cool first.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon or a few lemon slices, or just serve plain.
Notes
NB: I use Meyer lemons which are much less sour than Eureka. I would recommend using a little more sugar if you don't have Meyer lemons.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 sliceAmount Per Serving:Calories: 90Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 122mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g
Nutrition info is estimated.
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Can this cake be done with an orange instead of lemon?
That’s the original Sicilian whole orange cake recipe, Mariela. You must have not read my post. You’ll find the link to it above.
Hi Christina,
I make this cake a lot and I love it, however I am always left squashing out lumps of butter against the side of the bowl after adding it and the flour. (I cube the softened butter before adding it). Any thoughts on this, thanks
It’s not soft enough, Louise. Just make it a bit softer and you won’t be fighting with it, especially if it’s a cooler day. :)
300g Meyer lemons absolutely exist! I have a Meyer lemon tree. Always looking for recipes for them. Excited to try this recipe this week.
Thanks for the back up, Terry! :) You’ll love this cake!
Meyer lemons don’t weigh 300 grams. Do you really mean 1 lemon, or 300 g of lemon?
Hi Janet, I can easily use one of my Meyer lemons, so maybe “store-bought Meyer lemons” don’t weigh 300g, but they do exist. Yes, use 300 g of lemons is what is used. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook, I just did a giveaway and 3 readers won some of my Meyer lemons!
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Christina is there a substitute for Meyer lemons. I want to try baking your Sicilian Lemon cake.
Thank you
Hi Nikki, using Eureka lemons may result in a bitter flavored cake as the rind isn’t as sweet as Meyer lemons. Good luck in the giveaway!
Hi Nikki,
I make this often and I don’t have access to Meyer lemons, I usually use 2 small ‘normal’ lemons and 1 mandarin to add some sweetness. These 3 equal about 300g usually.
Hope this helps
Genius! Thank you!
This sounds delicious! I love everything lemon? this cake recipe is one I must make! It will make a beautiful Spring cake.