Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake Recipe

Introduction

A Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake delivers tangy brightness and juicy bursts of raspberry in every forkful, making it an irresistible showstopper for birthdays, celebrations, or spring and summer gatherings. This beautiful cake stands out for its refreshing citrus notes, vibrant berry layers, and the perfect marriage of fluffy cake with rich buttercream. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, this recipe transforms classic ingredients into a decadent dessert that’s sure to impress every guest at your table.

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake

What makes this cake a crowd pleaser is the way tart fresh lemon zest and sweet raspberries complement each other, creating a dessert that’s both lively and nuanced. The layers of moist, tender cake cradle a silky raspberry filling, while a creamy lemon buttercream frosting ties it all together. The result? A bakery-worthy cake that bursts with flavor and color.

Mastering Raspberry Filling and Lemon Buttercream

A luscious homemade raspberry filling is key—use fresh or frozen raspberries simmered with sugar for a jammy, bright layer that pops against the lemon cake. For the buttercream, real lemon juice and zest offer a natural zing that ensures every bite is light yet indulgent. Build each layer evenly, and chill the cake for at least 30 minutes before final frosting to keep everything beautifully neat.

How to Assemble a Perfect Layered Cake

Level off your cake layers once they’ve cooled for a stable base. Gently spread a generous amount of raspberry filling between each layer, then seal it in with the vibrant lemon buttercream. For an extra flourish, garnish with fresh raspberries and curls of lemon zest—this doesn’t just add elegance; it highlights the cake’s fresh flavors.

Serving Suggestions for Your Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake

Serve slices slightly chilled to keep the filling firm and the flavors fresh. Pair with a splash of sparkling lemonade or a berry tea for a sophisticated flavor match. This cake is perfect for making ahead; it actually improves as the flavors meld overnight in the fridge.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 12 generous slices. Each serving will have approximately 380–420 calories, depending on the amount of buttercream and filling used. It’s a dessert to savor and share—a little bit goes a long way!

The Best Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake (Recap)

Bring together soft, zingy lemon cake and vibrant raspberry filling for a dessert centerpiece that’s as beautiful to look at as it is satisfying to taste. Ideal for celebrations and sure to become a favorite in your baking rotation.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and stress-free meal planning.

Instructions

1. Make the Cake:
   • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
   • In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.
   • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
   • Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each, then mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.
   • Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, starting and ending with flour, mixing until just combined.
   • Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake 22–26 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
   • Let cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
2. Make the Raspberry Filling:
   • In a saucepan, combine raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally.
   • Once mixture simmers, stir in cornstarch slurry. Cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Cool completely.
3. Prepare the Lemon Buttercream:
   • In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low.
   • Beat in lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt. Add cream/milk as needed for desired spreading consistency.
4. Assemble the Cake:
   • Level cooled cake layers if needed. Place first layer on a serving plate; pipe a ring of buttercream around the edge to contain the filling, then spread half the raspberry filling inside the ring.
   • Repeat for the second layer. Place final layer on top, then frost the entire cake with remaining buttercream.
   • Decorate with fresh raspberries and lemon zest curls. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before slicing.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake works beautifully for make-ahead baking and special occasion meal planning. Save and schedule this recipe to easily plan when to bake, get auto-generated ingredient totals, and assemble organized shopping lists for the week.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically tabulates all ingredients for multi-recipe baking days
• Organizes your shopping list by grocery section
• Minimizes food waste by identifying overlapping ingredients
• Makes meal planning for events, parties, or holidays seamless and stress-free

Pro tip: When prepping multiple desserts or meals, schedule your recipes with CookifyAI to consolidate and optimize your ingredient list. That way, you’ll never forget a key ingredient—or overbuy.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes (plus chilling)