Description
A vibrant and elegant layer cake featuring moist lemon-infused sponge soaked with limoncello syrup and layered with creamy mascarpone frosting. This dessert balances sweet and tart flavors for a refreshing, impressive treat perfect for celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 2 lemons
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup limoncello liqueur
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (for syrup)
- Juice of 1 lemon (for syrup)
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
- Zest of 1 lemon (for frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Cream butter and 1 ½ cups sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla and lemon zest.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture.
- Divide batter between pans and bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- For syrup: heat limoncello, ¼ cup sugar and lemon juice until sugar dissolves. Cool.
- For frosting: beat mascarpone, cream, powdered sugar, vanilla and lemon zest until soft peaks form.
- Poke holes in cooled cake layers and brush with limoncello syrup.
- Spread frosting between layers and over entire cake. Chill 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for best texture.
- Do not overmix batter to avoid dense cake.
- Cake can be made 1 day ahead – wrap layers and refrigerate.
- Store covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For non-alcoholic version, substitute limoncello with lemon juice and simple syrup.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 95mg