Moist and sunshiny sweet, this Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake is so perfect for Easter or Mother’s Day brunch! Loaded with fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, and raspberries, this cake is loaded with flavor. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake
A few weeks ago I asked you what kind of recipes you’d like to see more of, and there was an overwhelming response for LEMON! I get it. I love lemon, too! And with Spring (hopefully) right around the corner, now is the perfect time to add some new lemon recipes to the blog! Starting with this moist lemon cake that’s bursting with real lemon flavor and loaded with fresh raspberries. It’s topped with a melt-in-your-mouth lemon cream cheese frosting, and decorated with fresh raspberries and a sprinkle of lemon zest. It’s a total showstopper and SO good with a cup of coffee.
If you love the combination of raspberry and lemon, you have to try this cake!
Raspberry Bundt Cake
Ingredients:
- Unsalted Butter: in a pinch, salted butter may be used. But be sure your butter is at room temperature before baking!
- Full-fat Cream Cheese: I do not suggest using reduced fat here! This ingredient adds moisture and flavor to this cake.
- Eggs: You will need 5 large eggs for this recipe. Be sure they’ve come to room temperature before you add the eggs to the batter, as cold ingredients do not bond. You’ll also want to add the eggs one at a time, allowing each one to full incorporate before adding the next.
- Granulated Sugar: I suggest using all granulated sugar, as called for in the recipe. Brown sugar will technically work, but will change the overall taste, texture, and appearance of the cake. So if you do make that change, keep that in mind.
- Lemon zest, lemon juice, and lemon extract: we use a trio of lemon ingredients to give this cake a real lemon punch. That said, the lemon extract may be omitted.
- Cake Flour: which gives our cake a delightfully moist crumb. I don’t suggest using all-purpose flour here, but you can use a homemade cake flour substitute. See my notes in the recipe box for more on this.
- Baking powder: the flour and baking powder will be combined to give our cake structure and height.
- A dash of salt: to balance the flavors and overall sweetness of the cake.
- And finally, raspberries! Fresh or frozen raspberries will work. But if you’re using frozen, DO NOT THAW THEM!
You’ll also need cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon extract to make the frosting. But if you want a super simple cake, this recipe can be served without the frosting! Instead, sprinkle it with powdered sugar and serve with fresh raspberries. I like doing this when I’m serving the cake for breakfast. Otherwise I’m team cream cheese frosting all the way 😉
Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake
Ingredients
For the Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake:
- 2 and 1/2 cups (330 g) cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces (227 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 8 ounces (227 g) full-fat cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 cups (397 g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (57 ml) lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest finely grated
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract optional
- 5 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 3 Tablespoons (21 g) all-purpose flour
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 and 1/2 cups and 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted, more if needed
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract optional
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
For Decoration:Â
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- Lemon slices
- Lemon zest
Instructions
For the Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake:
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Generously grease a 10-inch (12-cup) bundt pan, being sure to coat all of the nooks and crannies. I suggest using a non-stick baking spray that has flour in it, or greasing the pan with shortening or butter, then dusting it with flour. Set pan aside until needed.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk well to combine then set aside until needed.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add in the sugar, then increase the speed to medium-high and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the lemon juice, lemon zest and lemon extract (if using).
- Reduce the speed back to medium, then add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce the speed to low and add in the flour mixture, mixing just until combined. Turn mixer off.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the Raspberries and flour and toss well to coat. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the raspberries into the batter until just combined.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then reduce the oven to 300 degrees and continue cooking for 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan, set on a wire rack, for 20 minutes. Then invert the cake onto the rack and cool completely.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium-speed until completely smooth. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add in the confectioners' sugar, beating until all of the sugar is completely combined. Add in the salt, lemon extract, and lemon juice and beat smooth. Once all of the ingredients have been incorporated, increase the speed to medium-high and beat for a minute.
- Spread frosting on the top and sides of the cooled cake. Top with fresh raspberries, lemon slices, and lemon zest. Slice and serve, or store in an airtight container in the fridge, for up to 5 days.
Video
Notes
- Measure out the amount needed for your recipe. For this recipe, you'll need 2 and 1/2 cups.Â
- For every 1 cup of flour, remove 2 Tablespoons of flour. Then add in 2 Tablespoons of Cornstarch for every 1 cup of flour. Essentially, you're replacing the tablespoons of flour taken out with cornstarch.Â
- Sift the mixture 6 times before using!Â
- Always measure the flour that is needed after it has been sifted.
Tina says
I want to make this for Easter but have to travel 6 hours and make on Thursday…..do I need to refridgerate if I dont use the cream cheese frosting?
Samantha Renee says
Amazing cake. My grandma always requests the same cake for her birthday but I got tired of making the same one (your lemon raspberry cake) so I switched it up a little and tried the budnt version. I think i actually like this one better. The frosting came out perfect and is thick and holds its shape, which I always have trouble with the other recipe. I thought I would miss the raspberry preserves which are in the other cake but I didn’t because this one was just so good. Very very moist and rich from the cream cheese in the cake. I always use frozen raspberries and it comes out perfect but those fresh raspberries on top really added to it. Everyone loved this cake!
Jeanine says
Made this for my boyfriends birthday and he LOVED it! It really is delicious and I’m not that experienced as a baker. Thanks so much for the recipe.
debbie hickey says
This was just fabulous – great texture and moistness! I didn’t quite have enough raspberries so next time I’ll probably add even more than called for! I added Chambord Liquor for additional raspberry flavor. Just love this recipe, thank you!!
bakerbynature says
I love the idea of adding Chambord! So happy you enjoyed it, Debbie!
Belle says
I’ve had this recipe saved to make for ages and finally made it for mothers day. It was INCREDIBLE. So moist. I didn’t have a bundt tin handy so I used a normal cake tin and cut it in half. I put a layer of the icing with some raspberry puree in the middle. Then iced on top. Delish!
Mycah says
Good morning! I am a little confused about how much/when to add the lemon juice for the cake. Could you clear this up for me? 🙂
Laura G says
Hello! Thank you so much for the recipe, we have made this twice now and love it! We have had some issues with the bake though because we are in CO and at 5,200 feet elevation… do you have any tips for high altitude baking for this cake?
Thanks!
Elyse says
I have a mini bundt pan (12 mini cakes) instead of one big one – do you have any recommendations for changes to cooking time etc?
Vee says
I am planning to make bake this on Sunday and bring it to the office on Monday.
Should it be stored in the fridge or room temperature will be OK?
Thanks!
Ellyna says
There’s no mention of how much lemon juice to use in the ingredients. Appreciate if you can update . Thank you
Ruya says
Hello,
I love this recipe. Can I use Strawberry instead of rasberry?
Ayra says
Has anyone tried this recipe ? I was wondering what the sponge tastes like ? Is it more like Victoria sandwich or is it just a light and airy sponge ?
Please let me know.
Also can we use frozen raspberries ?
Mary says
Fabulous moist cake … not sponges synthetic, but you know this is a hand made cake. I used frozen raspberries and tossed them in flour at the last minute added to batter works well
Laura Vacca says
Did you thaw the frozen fruit first?
Betsy Ash says
Yes on frozen raspberries, but do not thaw them out.