Lemon Blueberry Spring Cake (Printable)

Moist layer cake with fresh blueberries, lemon zest, and creamy lemon frosting for a bright spring treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Batter

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
09 - 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
11 - 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
12 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour for tossing

→ Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

13 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
15 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
17 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt

→ Decoration

19 - Fresh blueberries
20 - Lemon zest curls
21 - Edible flowers

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in lemon zest and lemon juice until fully combined.
05 - Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the wet ingredients, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Toss blueberries with 1 tablespoon flour to prevent sinking, then gently fold into the batter.
07 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans and smooth tops with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
09 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
10 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until fluffy and spreadable.
11 - Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread with frosting. Repeat with remaining layers, then frost the top and sides.
12 - Top with fresh blueberries, lemon zest curls, and edible flowers as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon zest and juice hit your mouth with this perfect tart-sweet punch that feels light even though the cake is genuinely moist and indulgent.
  • Three layers means there's enough frosting to make you actually happy, and the cream cheese keeps it from being cloying.
  • Fresh blueberries burst throughout, not just sitting on top like an afterthought.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional—they actually blend together properly, and cold butter or cold eggs will give you a grainy, separated mess.
  • Don't skip tossing the blueberries in flour before folding them in; that simple step is the difference between berries distributed throughout the cake and a pile of them at the bottom.
03 -
  • Measure your flour by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling with a knife, not scooping directly from the bag—this prevents over-packing and keeps your cake tender.
  • The frosting will look grainy while you're beating it, and then suddenly it transforms into silky clouds; don't stop too early or you'll have gritty frosting.
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