On The Menu: Luscious Lemon Velvet Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Typically when making a dessert chocolate in some form is my go to (like this Chocolate Fudge Cake) but sometimes it is fun to mix it up a little. One of my favorite flavors that is definitely way under used by me is lemon. After making Lemon Brownies a few months ago I promised myself that I would incorporate the fresh tangy taste of lemon into more desserts and this Luscious Lemon Velvet Cake with its decadent Lemon Buttercream Frosting is the answer.

This cake is so moist and has thick layers of creamy, tangy frosting. This cake did not last long in my house. You need to make this cake for yourself or for the lemon lover in your life.

Ingredients For The Cake:
1¼ cups sifted all purpose flour
1½ cups sifted cake flour
½ tsp. baking soda
1½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1½ cups sugar
⅔ cup vegetable oil
⅓ cup vegetable shortening at room temperature
1 tsp. good quality vanilla extract
1 tbsp. pure lemon extract
3 large eggs
1½ cups buttermilk
zest one large lemon

Ingredients For The Frosting:
8 cups confectioner's sugar
2 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 tbsp. pure lemon extract
2 tsp. lemon zest
4 tbsp. heavy whipping cream
yellow gel food coloring

Directions:
1. Grease and flour 2 nine inch round cake pans and line parchment paper. 2. Sift together both flours, baking soda. baking powder, salt and sugar. Set aside. 3. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together the vegetable oil, shortening, vanilla and lemon extract. Beat well at high speed with whisk attachment until light and fluffy. 4. Beat the eggs in one at a time. 5. Fold in the lemon zest. 6. Fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk. Do not over mix the batter. 7. Pour into the two prepared 9 inch cake pans. 8. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely. 9. Make the frosting by beating together the icing sugar, lemon zest and butter with an electric mixer until well combined and smooth. 10. Add the lemon extract. Then a tablespoon at a time add the heavy whipping cream until you get your desired consistency. 11. Add yellow food coloring a little at a time until you have a pale yellow frosting. 12. Frost the cake.

P.S. Love lemon? Also try these easy and delicious Lemon Brownies.