This beautifully easy lemon curd cake is a sticky but not overly sweet loaf cake packed with pockets and swirls of lemon curd and fresh blueberries. It’s moist, buttery and full of tangy lemon flavor – a delicious treat perfect for a brunch gathering, Mother’s Day, or just a lazy afternoon tea.
Why you’ll love it
✔ Perfect for a gathering. Whether it’s for an afternoon tea, picnic, Mother’s day or even a dinner party dessert, you won’t go wrong with this!
✔ A fresh and summery taste. The classic lemon blueberry combination just screams summer, right? The tangy lemon curd and fresh tart blueberries complement the sweetness of the cake perfectly.
✔ Impressive and easy to make. The swirls of lemon curd and blueberries make this cake look impressive, but it’s made with just 8 simple ingredients and is so easy to pull together.
✔ Keeps well. This cake stays moist and delicious for several days, making it a great option for a make-ahead dessert.
✔ A great way to use up leftover lemon curd! Don’t leave it languishing in the pantry…
5* reviews
“This is one of THE most delicious cakes I’ve ever made or eaten. Thank you!!!!” Deb
“This recipe has become a family favorite. So easy to make and absolutely delicious! Will be trying more of your recipes if they are as good as this!!!” Nicola
About the ingredients
Butter: Real (unsalted) butter will give your cake a delicious buttery taste.
Sugar: I usually use caster sugar/superfine sugar, but regular white sugar is fine as well.
Eggs: You’ll need 3 large eggs.
Greek yogurt: I use Greek yogurt a lot in both sweet and savory recipes. I always try to use an authentic brand containing just milk and live cultures. The yogurt adds extra tang, moisture and protein to the cake!
Flour: To make the recipe super easy, I use self-raising flour (Note: NOT self rising flour, which is different). It’s fine to use all-purpose flour + 1 and 1/4 teaspoons of baking powder + 3/4 teaspoon salt instead if you don’t have self-raising flour on hand.
A lemon: A small to medium sized lemon which gives you around 2 tablespoons of juice. You’ll add both the juice and zest to the cake batter for plenty of tangy lemon flavor.
Lemon curd: Honestly… any brand will work well! No need to make your own lemon curd. However, if you’d like to try, it’s actually really easy! Check out this 5-ingredient lemon curd recipe from Sally’s Baking Recipes.
Blueberries: I do usually use fresh blueberries in this recipe, but there’s no reason why you can’t use frozen blueberries instead if you like.
Fun fact: Legend has it that lemon curd was invented in the 19th century by some clever English bakers. They wanted to preserve their precious lemons since they could be hard to come by back then. They mixed lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and butter in a top-secret recipe until it magically transformed into the delicious spread with a zingy kick that we know and love today.
How to make a lemon curd cake
The step-by-step guide below should help you make the recipe perfectly first time. Scroll down to the end for the full recipe including ingredient amounts.
All you really need to make this easy lemon curd cake is a big bowl, an electric hand mixer and a loaf pan to bake your cake in. It’s so easy to pull together in a few simple steps!
Firstly, cream the butter and sugar together using a hand held whisk (or stand mixer if you prefer) on a medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy (usually 2 to 3 minutes).
Then slowly whisk in the eggs, one by one until well combined.
Next, stir in the yogurt. Then fold through the flour.
Stir in the lemon zest and juice to complete the cake batter.
Then roll the blueberries in a little flour (not essential but helps the blueberries to not sink right to the bottom while baking).
Now the fun begins! Layer up the batter and lemon curd and blueberries in a lined loaf pan.
Don’t worry, it’s simple. Start with half of the cake batter in the bottom of the loaf pan, then swirl half of the lemon curd on top. Finally, add half of the floured blueberries.
Then repeat with a second layer, pressing the second half of the blueberries on top of the cake. See, so easy!
Bake your delicious cake with lemon curd and blueberries for around an hour, or until it has risen well and feels firm when touched. To check if it’s fully cooked, insert a skewer into the center of the cake; if it comes out clean, it’s ready!
Then transfer the cake to a wire rack and let it cool slightly.
You can see what the cake will look like before and after baking in the photo above…
It’s worth the little bit of extra effort to layer the cake. You’ll be rewarded with a moist but at the same time springy and light cake with a slightly crispy, sticky top. Yum!
Helen’s top tips
- Use softened butter so that it’s easier to combine with the sugar. Just take it out of the fridge for a while before you start the recipe.
- As always when making this kind of butter cake batter, once you’ve added the flour only stir until the ingredients are ‘just combined’. If you overmix the cake can become dense and chewy.
How to serve
The very best way to serve this deliciously sticky lemon cake with lemon curd is while still warm and with extra blueberries and a big spoonful of yogurt, whipped cream, ice cream or crème fraiche on top!
If you like, you can serve a little more lemon curd with each cake slice as well. Am I making your mouth water yet? Served this way it makes a perfect dinner party dessert!
To serve any leftovers, you can even warm individual slices up again for a few seconds in the microwave.
Of course, it’s also quite delicious served cold for a snack or catch up with friends with a cup of tea or coffee on the side. One of the great things about this cake is that it keeps well, so you can enjoy it all week (if it lasts that long!).
This really is the best lemon curd cake recipe!
Variations
Not fresh blueberry season? No worries – you can either use frozen blueberries instead, or you can skip the blueberries altogether and just make it a straight lemon cake with lemon curd.
You can also try this cake with different types of fruit which pair well with lemon, such as raspberries or blackberries, or even chopped apple, pineapple or mango.
Lastly, you can try the cake with a fruit jam instead of (or as well as!) lemon curd. Try cherry or raspberry jam!
Recipe FAQs
You can store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. However, after that it’s best to keep it in the fridge. It will keep well in the fridge for up to a week.
Yes! Allow it to cool completely before wrapping well in layers of plastic wrap and aluminium foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, let it defrost at room temperature for a few hours (or in the fridge overnight) before slicing and serving. You can reheat individual slices in the microwave for around 20 seconds to serve warm if you like.
Spread it on toast or scones (try these 3-ingredient lemonade scones). Stir it into yogurt and add some crunchy granola (try this easy low sugar granola!) for a tasty snack. Use it in different dessert recipes such as this mascarpone lemon cake or these lemon bakewell slices. Want more ideas, including cookies and easy no-bake desserts? Check out this list of best desserts using lemon curd!
You might also like
- Fan of easy chocolate desserts? This 6-ingredient kladdkaka recipe (gooey Swedish chocolate cake!) never disappoints, and is sooo easy to make! Or how about these eternally popular 5-minute chocolate pots (only 4 ingredients)?
- Want more lemon cake ideas? If it’s a layer cake you want, try this lemon mascarpone cake. Or how about another loaf cake? Try this super easy 6-ingredient lemon ricotta cake.
- How about a quick and easy cheesecake? Try this baked white chocolate cheesecake (with raspberries!) or this Wagamama copy cat recipe: no-bake ginger and white chocolate cheesecake.
Got lemon curd to use up? Check out this list of best lemon curd dessert recipes!
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Sticky Lemon Curd Cake (With Blueberries)
Equipment (affiliate links)
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
- 170 grams butter softened to room temperature
- 130 grams caster sugar = superfine sugar, or just use regular white sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 115 grams Greek yogurt plus extra to serve
- 200 grams self-raising flour Or use plain/all-purpose flour with 1¼ teaspoons baking powder and ¾ teaspoon salt.
- 1 lemon (zest and juice) small to medium (you should have about 2 tablespoons juice)
- 4 tablespoons lemon curd plus extra to serve (if you like)
- 120 grams fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 320F/160C and line a loaf pan (roughly 9 x 5 inches or 10 x 4 inches, or equivalent) with baking paper.
- Cream together the butter and sugar with a handheld mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Whisk in the eggs one by one on a low speed until well combined. Then stir in the yogurt.
- Fold through the flour until just combined, then stir in the lemon zest and juice. Be careful not to overmix.
- Roll most of the blueberries lightly in flour (this stops them from sinking). Save a few for serving with the baked cake.
- Spoon and level half of the cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Then spoon and slightly swirl around half of the lemon curd over it. Scatter some of the blueberries on top.
- Now spoon in and level the rest of the batter. Dot the rest of the lemon curd on top and swirl it a little again, then lightly press in the rest of the floured blueberries.
- Bake the cake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes or until it is golden and a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean.
- Cool the cake in the tin for about 10 minutes, then lift onto a cooling rack. Serve when the cake is still slightly warm with a spoonful of Greek yogurt, creme fraiche, ice cream or whipped cream. Add the reserved blueberries on top (and a little more lemon curd if you wish).
Kathie says
I made this and it was perfect but I have a question. I am in US and understand self-rising and all purpose flour. I have never heard of self raising and it looks as though you are making self rising flour. So confused.
Helen says
Hi Kathie! I’m so happy you enjoyed the cake, and that’s a very good question! It sounds like you still got a good result but I’ve learned that they are essentially the same but there may be a slightly different balance of raising agents in self raising flour in the UK and Australia compared to self-rising flour in the USA. For this reason I always recommend to make your own self-raising flour if that’s what the recipe states and you’re in the USA. In general it’s 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder + 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional). I hope that makes it a bit clearer!
Martha says
Hello! I made the cake just now, all the blueberries and curd sank to the bottom making a really wet floppy bit on the bottom.
I put the blueberries in flour but it hasn’t helped.
Any ideas what’s gone wrong?
Thanks!
Helen says
Hello Martha! Sorry to hear this. I think your cake may have just needed a little longer in the oven. I recommend testing right in the middle with a skewer or sharp knife. It can be sticky but not with raw batter on. I hope you’ll give it another go – it’s long been one of my favourite cakes 🙂
Lulu says
I’m going to make this tomorrow. Blueberries were A$9.00 for 125g!! Can I use raspberries (cheaper) or frozen blueberries?
Helen says
Oh wow, that is expensive! Yes, you can absolutely use raspberries instead. I hope I’m not replying too late for you, Lulu. Enjoy!
Lorna says
I’m planning to try this with raspberries as I’m not a fan of blueberries, do I still toss the fruit in flour?
Helen says
Yes, just follow the recipe exactly the same but with raspberries, Lorna. Should be delicious! 🙂
Ionela says
I can’t wait to taste it😍
Please can you write the ingredients in grams,as I am from Romania and I don’t know how to measure yhe ounces😏
Is did click on the option for grams,but it didn’t work.
Thank you!
Xx
Helen says
Hello Ionela! I’m so happy you’d like to try this recipe. I just checked that the grams option is working both on mobile and desktop and it does seem to be. Would you mind trying again – perhaps in a different browser? I usually use Chrome. If it still isn’t working yes of course I’ll write out the conversion for you! 🙂
Ionela says
Thank you so much for your help,but still doesn’t work for me.
I’ll wait for the conversion.
Ionela says
It worked eventually😊
Just had to click on print recipe
Was so apreciate by everyone,that next time I will double the ingredients.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing cake recipe with us.❤
Helen says
Hello Ionela – I’m so glad you persisted and got the metric measurements eventually. Still not sure why but nevermind at least you found a workaround. Sounds like it was worth the effort – so glad you enjoyed it so much!
Abilia Garib says
Made it! Delicious😋.
My batter was a little bit more soft than yours maybe due to liquid (lemon juice from one lemon) so I added 5 more minutes in the oven. Also, I used granulated sugar since we don’t have caster here in PR.
Will have to do it again since it was almost gone the same day.
Loved it!!
Helen says
Hello Abilia! Sooo happy you enjoyed it, and even happier to get a message from Puerto Rico (that’s where you are, right?). Your notes might be helpful for others so thank you so much for that. I have another similar recipe actually for a lemon ricotta cake. It’s made with ricotta cheese of course. It’s quite a lot less sweet than this one, but still very delicious – just in case you’d like to try that one as well 😉
Steven says
Absolutely awesome
Helen says
Thanks, Steven! What would have made it a 5 star recipe for you? 🙂
Kelly says
Can I ask, can this batter be split in to cupcakes? My loaf tin is too big and I don’t want a really wide flat cake! If ok to make in to cupcakes, do you have recommended timings and temperature? Thanks!
Helen says
Hi Kelly. I usually use a 10 x 4 inch loaf tin – is yours bigger than this? If so, I’m sure this would work as cupcakes, although I’ve never tried it. I’d raise the oven temperature to 180C, but expect the cupcakes to be ready a little before the loaf cake would. I’m afraid I don’t know exactly how much quicker, but I’d just keep an eye on them in the oven and when they look raised and browned, check if they’re done. I’d start checking at about 25 minutes and take it from there. Good luck!
Kelly says
Thanks, I tried my loaf tin As it’s actually a bit smaller than yours and it worked out fine! Thanks for the recipe.
Helen says
Hi again Kelly! So happy it worked out well, and thank you so much for letting me know!