Skip to main content

Lemon-Buttermilk Bundt Cake

4.1

(42)

Sideview of a glazetopped bundt cake on a cooling rack with one slice removed.
Lemon-Buttermilk Bundt CakeMichael Graydon and Nikole Herriott

With a wonderfully moist interior beneath a crunchy crust and a generous amount of fragrant lemon zest, this cake is a classic reborn.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for pan
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 1/2 cups sugar
Finely grated zest of 8 lemons (about 1/2 cup)
4 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup apricot or peach preserves
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Special Equipment

A 12-cup Bundt pan

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour Bundt pan; set aside. Whisk baking powder, salt, and 3 cups flour in a medium bowl. Combine sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl; using your fingertips, rub together until lemon sugar is well blended.

    Step 2

    Add 1 cup butter to lemon sugar. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat until mixture is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down sides and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula, until mixture is light and very fluffy, about 4 minutes longer.

    Step 3

    Reduce speed to low. Add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Scrape batter into prepared pan; smooth top.

    Step 4

    Bake cake until golden brown and beginning to pull away from sides of pan, 60-70 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto rack; remove pan and let cool completely. DO AHEAD: Cake can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

    Step 5

    Combine preserves and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until glaze is reduced to 1/2 cup, 6-8 minutes. Strain glaze into a small pitcher or bowl; discard solids in strainer. Pour glaze over cooled cake and let sit for at least 10 minutes.

Read More
Like spicy carrot rigatoni and weeknight-fancy ravioli with peas.
Like “absolutely decadent” chocolate pudding and fattoush salad.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Crispy, Parmesan-crusted cutlets make this spring dish sing.
A feel-good dinner designed to cram a ton of veg in each serving.