Sticky Lemon Curd Cake (With Blueberries)
on May 04, 2023
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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.
- This orange ricotta cake with chocolate chips is moist, light and super classy, but no one will believe it was so quick and easy to make!
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)
Ingredients
- 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).
We both have blueberries and lemon the brain today! 🙂 This looks super delicious!!
Really? Going over to your blog to check out your blueberries and lemons too, then! (Great minds and all that, Tina) So glad you like the cake! 🙂
This cake looks honestly super tempting and delicious! Love lemon curd and blueberries in cakes- amazing. I’d love to make homemade curd- so when I do, perhaps I’ll try your cake recipe out! Hope you have a great weekend, Helen! 🙂 xx
Thanks, Jess! Making my own lemon curd is definitely on my food bucket list. I love that stuff, and it would make a great gift, too. Hope you do give this a try … I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed and you could probably even make little cakes, too.
Mmm, this made me lick my lips! It looks SOOO good… I love lemon and blueberry. You’re making me want to have an afternoon tea with a slice of this 🙂
Good, that’s what my intention was! I must say, I was very happy with how well the lemon and blueberries went together. 🙂
Loved your little guess game! Nothing like a nice afternoon tea.
This lemon curd and blueberry cake sounds delicious! Love that’s it’s sticky.
Have a great weekend!
Thanks so much, Nathalie, and glad you liked the game. Did you guess? Haha …
So glad you liked the cake. I loved the ‘sticky’ part too!
My daughter loves to drink tea, but I am more of a coffee girl. Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous. Such pretty warm light to complement the yellows and blues. Lemons and blueberries are such a great combination!
Thanks so much for the compliments on the photos, Christin. A little overexposed perhaps, but I think these particular piccies make the cake look more delicious like that. I must say as well, lemons and blueberries are definitely a match made in heaven!
What a great post, Helen! I was thinking tea by the end of your questions…so great clues! As soon as I read lemon curd in the title, I knew I would love this cake! I think lemon curd and blueberries make such a great combination. This is definitely a great cake for the summer.
Thanks, Gayle! And congratulations on your correct guess in the quiz … haha! Sorry there aren’t any prizes!:-)
Hi Helen!
I can’t tell you how often I’m guilty of surfing Pinterest looking for this very recipe! Lemon curd with blueberry cake! Yes please. And I’m so glad you’re not even trying to call this a bread. It’s that desserty breakfast, lunch, dinner and yes, afternoon tea that we all crave.
Downton Abbey & Agatha Christie, yes please! Tea at Claridge’s and the Ritz Cartlton? Oh yes. Clotted cream. Oh so English. I want a piece right now!
Haha … no, this definitely isn’t a bread. It’s cake all the way!
I think I’ve only ever had one posh London afternoon tea and that was years ago, so I think I’m due another again soon. Maybe I should save up and go to Claridge’s. Very English indeed but also very worth it every once in a while.
So glad you like the cake. I loved that it was very easy (I pretty much only like easy recipes!) but also extremely yummy with all that sweet sticky lemon curd. 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this post 🙂 And this is sooooo my kind of cake, yum! I love lemon curd (did you buy it or make your own?). It’s very hard to find here in Spain and I have still yet to make it myself. I would love this cake for afternoon tea to breakfast. Have a lovely weekend Helen! xx
Hi, Sofia! I actually bought the lemon curd, which is found in every supermarket in England, but I gather it’s very easy to make yourself. My mum used to make it when I was little. It’s just lemons, butter, eggs and sugar, I think. So glad you like the cake!
hahahaha I couldn’t guess the first few clues but when it got simpler in the last three ones, I figured what the theme for the post was! yaya!! I loveeeee the piece of info you gave about how afternoon tea came to be! <3 *-* This tea cake is SOOOOO DELICIOUS I'm not even sure I have the right words to describe its awesomeness! I'm loving the purple bursts of color in the cake and that lemon curd must add so much of sweet tang to it….MMMmmmmmmm!!!!! It's making me salivate! And that swirl that you've done on top of the cake just makes it glisten! I need this cake in my life! No, I've never actually had a proper afternoon tea with the cutesy desserts but I am visiting London this October {SOOOOOO EXCITED} And I am going to make sure to experience this! <3
Ahhhh … you should definitely book an afternoon tea at one of the hotels when you go to London, Samina! That’s exciting – have you been to London before? Glad you enjoyed the quiz – I was thinking it might be too easy so I’m happy you didn’t guess til the end!
So happy you like the cake, too. It was beautiful and I definitely want to make it asap again!
Oh la la, j’adore le tea time et avec un cake comme ça, c’est encore mieux! Il pareil tellement bon ! J’ai bien aimée aussi tes photos!
Have a nice weekend Helen 🙂
Merci, Eva … et pour le compliment sur les photos! Bon weekend et toi aussi!