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Gluten Free Lemon Cake

Looking for a gluten free lemon cake recipe? Here's my easy recipe with homemade curd - it's also dairy free and low FODMAP too!
Course Dessert

Ingredients

For the sponge

  • 225 g self raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder (ensure it's gluten free)
  • 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
  • 225 g margarine / spread / softened butter (dairy free if necessary)
  • 225 g caster sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2-3 lemons, zested
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

For the lemon curd

  • 2 lemons (you will need zest and juice of both)
  • 2 eggs
  • 150 g caster sugar
  • 115 g butter (a dairy free hard margarine or block if necessary)

For the buttercream

  • 500 g icing sugar
  • 250 g margarine / spread / slightly softened butter (dairy free if necessary, but ensure it's quite cold if so)
  • 2 lemons, zested
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Firstly make your lemon curd (you might want to do this ahead of time so it has plenty of time to cool down). Add your eggs to a sauce pan and whisk (hand whisk not electric) to combine.
  • Add the rest of your ingredients and pop it on a medium heat. Whisk your mixture, allowing the butter to melt and then continue to mix for a further 10 minutes (approx) until the lemon curd starts to thicken slightly. (Don't let it boil)
  • Leave to cool completely before popping it into a glass jar to thicken further in the fridge. It's then ready to use for the cake!
  • To make the sponge, prepare 2 circular cake tins (mine are 20cm) - grease them and cut a circle of parchment paper to sit in the bottom. Preheat your oven to 160C Fan.
  • Place all your sponge ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk until well combined and thoroughly mixed (1 minute should do it).
  • Divide the mixture between the two tins evenly.
  • Bake for around 30 minutes until golden (remember never to open the oven until you think they are definitely done). To check if the sponges are cooked, insert a skewer and if it comes out clean, it's done!
  • Leave the sponges in their tins for about 5 minutes before turning them out onto a cooling rack.
  • Whilst the sponges are cooling, make your buttercream. Start by adding your margarine / spread / butter to a bowl and cream it together. This can be done by hand or with an electric hand whisk. (Butter will always work best but dairy free options work fine too)
  • Once creamed, gradually add your icing sugar and beat it in until combined - it seems like a lot but it will all incorporate itself.
  • Gradually add your lemon juice (not all at once) continue to beat. Add your lemon zest at this stage too. It should now be the right consistency - spreadable but not runny. If you need to add a little extra icing sugar (too wet) or a tiny bit of milk (if too dry).
  • To decorate spread buttercream on the bottom sponge of the cake and liberally spread lemon curd on the other sponge (what will be the top layer). Carefully sandwich the sponges together by placing the lemon curd one on top.
  • Spread some more of the lemon buttercream on top of the cake and finish with a sprinkling of lemon zest. Enjoy!

Notes

  • You won't need all the lemon curd but you can keep any extra in a jar in the fridge for other bakes or even to have on toast.