Italian Grandmas Lemon Custard Cake (Print version)

Light fluffy cake meets creamy lemon custard in this beloved Italian dessert. A nostalgic treat bursting with bright citrus flavors.

# What you'll need:

→ For the Cake

01 - 1 cup granulated sugar
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
03 - 3 large eggs, separated
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
05 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
06 - 1/2 cup whole milk
07 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ For the Lemon Custard

10 - 1 1/2 cups whole milk
11 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
12 - 3 large egg yolks
13 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - 2 teaspoons lemon zest
16 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

→ For Assembly & Garnish

17 - Powdered sugar for dusting
18 - Thin lemon slices or curls

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the lemon zest and juice.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add half the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mix gently, then add the milk. Finish with the remaining dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated.
04 - In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter in three additions, taking care not to deflate the mixture.
05 - Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
06 - In a saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat until just simmering. In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch until smooth.
07 - Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened for 5 to 7 minutes.
08 - Remove from heat, stir in butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and cool completely.
09 - Once both cake and custard are cool, slice the cake horizontally in half. Spread the lemon custard evenly over the bottom layer, then top with the second cake layer.
10 - Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with lemon slices or curls if desired. Chill for 30 minutes before serving for best texture.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • The custard is impossibly silky, like something you would order at a fancy restaurant but better
  • That bright lemon flavor cuts through rich sweetness making each bite feel light
  • It looks impressive but comes together with simple ingredients you probably have
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together seamlessly, cold ingredients create stubborn lumps
  • Letting the custard cool completely prevents it from melting into the cake layers
  • A serrated knife works best for splitting the cake, use a gentle sawing motion
03 -
  • Zest your lemons before juicing them, it is much harder to zest a squeezed lemon
  • If your custard develops lumps, press it through a fine mesh sieve before cooling
  • Use the freshest eggs you can find, they whip up higher and create a more stable cake

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