Lemon Curd Cake (gluten-free)

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This Gluten-Free Lemon Curd Cake is a real special occasion cake with bright fresh citrus flavour. Homemade lemon curd is sandwiched between lemon and vanilla infused sponges which are covered with a cloudlike lemon curd swiss meringue buttercream. I’ll take you through the recipe step by step, offering tips and advice on how to make this the best gluten-free lemon cake recipe you will have ever tasted.

this recipe

Everyone is still talking about this Gluten-Free Lemon Cake made with homemade lemon curd, two weeks after I made it and shared it with friends and family. There are some cakes that you know are going to be a hit and anything lemony is usually an absolute winner. The fact that it was gluten-free was never on anyone’s radar.

It doesn’t hurt that this cake makes the most of delicious homemade Easy Lemon Curd which provides a real zing to the proceedings. Paired with the swiss meringue creamy lemon buttercream frosting this cake is taken to the next level and beyond.

Is lemon curd gluten-free?

Yes, lemon curd is usually gluten-free, especially if you're making it the traditional way. Most recipes require just lemons, sugar, eggs, and butter. None of those things have any gluten in them naturally. But it's always a good idea to double-check the brand or recipe you're using. Sometimes those store-bought lemon curds might have extra ingredients that could sneak in some gluten or be made in places that handle gluten stuff. So, keep an eye out for that, just to be safe!

Or better yet, use my Gluten-Free Lemon Curd recipe to make this delicious cake. It's so easy and tastes so much more delicious than store bought.

Top gluten-free baking tip

This Gluten-free Lemon Curd Cake utilises my favourite easy gluten-free flour blend for achieving an easy drop jaw yummy gluten-free cake with the perfect tender crumb.

✨All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour + Almond Flour✨

If you are in the UK then almond flour is sold as 'ground almonds' in most major supermarkets. These are blanched and ground almonds - if you are confused then check out this post which discusses how you know you are using the right almond flour for your recipe.

This flour combo means you don’t get the dry, slightly gritty or crumbly drawbacks that affect some gluten-free offerings. There is also no gummy mouthfeel. It’s gluten-freeness will be totally undetectable.

The best thing is you can use pretty much any gluten-free flour blend from the supermarket. I use Doves Farm Plain Gluten-Free White Flour as that is the most widely available in the UK and is xanthan gum free which suits my intolerances. However, this recipe will work with Bob’s Red Mill or even a home DIY blend.

✨If you want more tips on how to make perfect gluten-free cakes with loads of tips and tricks, then visit this Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Cakes.✨

Why you'll love this Gluten-Free Lemon Cake

• The lemon sponges are a doddle to make with no complicated method. They use shop bought plain gluten-free flour and ground almonds.
• No xanthan gum. READ MORE >>> Why I don't bake with xanthan gum.
• Homemade Easy Lemon Curd. So bright, with a zesty lemon flavour. It’s sandwiched between the cake layers and used copiously in the buttercream.
• Swiss Meringue Buttercream. This incredibly buttery cake frosting is a perfect contrast to the light zingy lemon flavours. It’s easier to make than you think and all the tips and tricks are below.

✨Have you tried this Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake yet? Made with sorghum flour and almond meal (no xanthan gum) for an easy lemon loaf recipe which is decorated with a simple lemon glaze✨

Main ingredients

For the cake

• Fresh Lemons. Make sure they are unwaxed and organic otherwise you need to scrub off the wax.
• Caster sugar. It’s a fine white baking sugar. If you can only get hold of granulated sugar you can grind more finely in the food processor before you use it in the recipe.
• Butter. Unsalted is the best choice here. Make sure it is at room temperature.
• Eggs. This recipe uses medium size, about 60g each with shell (50g each without shell).
• All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour. You can use any. I recommend Doves Freee Plain White Gluten-Free Flour. You don't need a brand which contains xanthan gum, but if it's included then don't worry about that either. I also particularly recommend my Homemade Gluten-Free Flour Mix which gives great results.
• Almond flour. You are looking for blanched and ground almonds. There is a bit of labelling confusion over almond flour which is sold as ‘ground almonds’ in most major UK supermarkets and found in the baking aisle. If you want to know what exactly you are looking for then check out this post >>> Is Almond Flour The Same As Ground Almonds. This cake can be made with finely ground almond meal too. The almonds add stability and moistness to the recipe. Nut allergy? If you are allergic then use my Homemade Flour Blend for the whole amount of the almond flour + the flour – but not any other gluten-free flour, my mix is specifically developed as a stable blend which doesn’t need xanthan gum.
• Vanilla extract. Use a good quality extract, I like Nilsen Massey.
• Baking powder. A leaving agent which causes the cake to rise and become light and fluffy. Do check your baking powder is gluten-free before use.
• Salt. I like to use kosher salt in my baking as it has a round gentle flavour. Using salt in your baked goods lifts and sharpens all the other flavours.

For the buttercream

• Egg whites. This recipe uses about 7 medium egg whites. You can use fresh eggs or egg whites from a carton like the Two Chicks brand.
• Caster sugar. As above.
• Butter. As above.
• Lemon curd. You can use shop bought but I highly recommend a homemade version for superior flavour. Try this Easy Gluten-Free Lemon Curd recipe.

How do you make Gluten-Free Lemon Curd Cake?

1. Beat the sugar with the lemon zest and butter in a large bowl or a stand mixer.
2. Add the whole eggs one at a time then the vanilla.
3. Whisk the gluten-free flour, almonds, baking powder and salt. Then mix well into the batter.
4. Divide into two lined and greased 8 inch round cake tins and bake for 30 minutes at 160°C fan assisted.
5. Remove from the oven, carefully insert cakes out of the cake tin and cool on wire cooling racks.
6. Spread the lemon curd over one of the sponge surfaces then place the other on top.
7. Cover the cake with lemon curd swiss meringue buttercream.

Expert tips for best results

• Make sure to add the whole eggs one at a time. It makes the sponge lighter. If the eggs are dumped in all at once you risk losing the air you just whipped into the butter and sugar.
• I use Doves Farm Gluten-Free Plain White Flour. It’s the most widely available in the UK. However, any gluten-free flour blend will be fine here.
• You don’t want the almond taste to be too strong or compete with the lemon. The almonds are used to give the cake texture and bind it together so ready ground almonds from the supermarket are perfect. If you grind them yourself the almond flavour will be more pronounced.
• You can use shop bought lemon curd which is lovely if you buy a good brand. However, why not take it the extra mile and make this homemade Easy Lemon Curd. You won’t be disappointed.

The best buttercream for a Gluten-Free Lemon Layer Cake

It’s all very well having deliciously lemony sponge with perfect texture and taste but we want to make this cake really special. So let’s take it up a notch and make a Lemon Curd Swiss Meringue Buttercream to really impress.

If you haven’t made Swiss Meringue Buttercream before you might find the equipment needed (sugar thermometer, double boiler and food mixer) a bit intimidating.

Plus the number of steps required are also a couple more than your regular icing sugar + butter method.

Please though don’t let it put you off. Try it once and I guarantee it’s pretty hard to mess up as long as you follow my troubleshooting tips below. You’ll also find it hard to go back to icing sugar, the taste and texture is pretty unbeatable.

How do you make Lemon Curd Swiss Meringue Buttercream?

1. Heat the egg whites and sugar in a bain marie or double boiler, whisking all the time.
2. When the sugar has completely melted and the temperature reached 71°C then remove from the heat and immediately pour into a stand mixer.
3. Whisk on a medium setting for about 10 minutes until a glossy meringue has formed and the temperature has lowered to about 32°C.
4. Change the whisk attachment to a paddle beater and beat on low adding the butter one cube at a time.
5. Once all the butter has been added and the buttercream looks beautifully smooth then add the lemon curd and salt and mix in until thoroughly combined.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream Tips

• I recommend buying liquid egg whites in a carton as it saves wasting the yolks or finding a use for them. You will only need about half the carton but you can freeze the other half for your next foray into SMB.
• The temperatures here are important. If you have made SMB a few times then you can intuit when the sugar has melted into the egg whites or when the meringue has cooled enough to add the butter. However for newbies a sugar thermometer is invaluable.
• The butter must be at room temperature before you add it. Slightly soft to the touch but not melty.
• If your butter is too cold then just keep on mixing the buttercream once it’s all added, the butter will soon warm and melt into the buttercream. If that doesn’t work then warm slightly over a bowl of boiling water. Once the edges of the buttercream start to soften then start whipping again off the heat.
• If your butter is too warm place in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill then try re-whipping it.
• As you are adding the butter your buttercream will look a bit curdled. This is absolutely normal. Keep on mixing the buttercream and don’t lose faith, it will always come together in the end.
• If your buttercream does not come together and looks too soupy that means your butter was too warm – see above on how to fix.

✨If you are still worried about making the buttercream then visit this helpful post on How To Make Perfect Swiss Meringue Buttercream which breaks down every step with loads of tips, tricks and a video to ensure a foolproof result.✨

FAQs

Variations on Lemon Curd Cake

• You can replace the lemon curd with any curd of your choosing. Passion Fruit Curd Cake? Raspberry Curd Cake?
• If the Swiss Meringue Buttercream still seems intimidating to you then why not swap it out for a simple cream cheese buttercream which would be amazing. (Try the buttercream from this Carrot Cake recipe and add in a couple of spoonfuls of lemon curd).

More Gluten-Free Lemon Cakes You'll Love

✨Have you tried this Gluten-Free Lemon Curd Cake? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment as well! I would love to hear about how your recipe turned out and your feedback also helps other readers✨

Lemon Curd Cake (gluten-free)

Georgina Hartley

This Gluten-Free Lemon Curd Cake is a real homey cake with bright fresh citrus flavour. Homemade lemon curd is sandwiched between lemon and vanilla infused sponges which are covered with a cloudlike lemon curd swiss meringue buttercream.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 50 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Cake

Cuisine British

Servings 16 generous slices

Calories 681 kcal

Ingredients

 

MetricUS Customary

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 320 g caster sugar
• ▢ zest of 2 lemons
• ▢ 240 g unsalted butter - room temperature
• ▢ 6 eggs - medium
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ 180 g gluten-free plain flour
• ▢ 180 g almond flour - (ground almonds in UK)
• ▢ 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt

Lemon Curd Filling:

• ▢ 150 g lemon curd

Lemon Curd Buttercream:

• ▢ 210 g egg whites - about 7 medium egg whites
• ▢ 350 g caster sugar
• ▢ 490 g unsalted butter
• ▢ 150 g lemon curd
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

 

• Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/160°C/gas mark 4 and line and grease 2 x 8 inch round cake tins.
• Beat the sugar with the lemon zest and butter until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well between additions.
• Add the vanilla extract.
• In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, almond flour, baking powder and salt then beat into the rest of the ingredients.
• Divide the cake batter between the two tins and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Allow the sponges to rest for 5 minutes before carefully removing from the tins and cool completely on wire racks.

Lemon Curd Swiss Meringue Buttercream

• Heat the egg whites and sugar in a bain marie or double boiler, whisking constantly until the temperature has reached 71°C.
• Remove from the heat and pour into a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Whisk until the mixture forms stiff peaks and the temperature has reduced to about 32°C.
• Change the attachment to a paddle attachment. On a low speed add the butter slowly cube by cube. When you have almost added all the butter the mixture will look curdled. Do not fret – this is supposed to happen and just means you are nearly done, just continue to add all the butter. Once the butter is totally incorporated the buttercream will miraculously become a smooth velvety consistency.
• Add the lemon curd and salt and mix until thoroughly combined.

Assembly

• Place one of the sponge layers on an 8 inch cake board and spread the lemon curd from the centre of the top of the sponge almost to the edges.
• Place the second sponge layer on top and cover the top and the sides of the cake with the buttercream.

Notes

Eggs – The eggs used in this recipe are medium size, 60g with shell and 50g without shell. If you can't get hold of medium eggs I suggest you weigh the amount. Add the whole eggs one at a time. It makes the sponge lighter. If the eggs are dumped in all at once you risk losing the air you just whipped into the butter and sugar.

Gluten-Free Flour - I used Doves Farm Gluten-Free Plain Flour. It’s the most widely available in the UK. However, any gluten-free flour blend will be fine here. You could also use my Homemade Gluten-Free Flour Blend.

Almond Flour (labelled ground almonds in UK supermarkets) – The almond taste is not too pronounced here. The almond flour is used to give the cake texture and bind it together. If you grind the almonds yourself (which produces almond meal) the almond flavour will be more pronounced.

Does your batter look curdled? After you mix in the eggs the batter seems to curdle. Don’t worry at all, there is a lot of fat in this cake from the butter and the eggs. As soon as you add the flour then the mixture comes together. Although it won’t appear smooth due to the ground almonds.

Homemade Lemon Curd - I really recommend you follow this recipe for an absolutely delicious Easy Lemon Curd but of course you can certainly use shop bought if you don’t have time.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream – for troubleshooting any problems which may arise making your buttercream see the content of this post for detailed advice. Remember, it’s very hard to break SMB, any problems can usually be fixed.

Store – This cake can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Remove from the fridge for at least an hour to come to room temperature before serving.

Freeze – You can freeze the whole finished cake. Chill in the fridge to allow the buttercream to firm before wrapping well in cling film and tin foil. You can freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost completely before removing the cling film and tin foil.

Ingredient measurements

• Please note when you see ‘grams’ listed as opposed to ‘millilitres,’ or any other term of measurement, that is not incorrect. I weigh all of my ingredients, including liquids, for accuracy.
• US customary measurements for the ingredients provided are based on a conversion calculator. This recipe was tested with metric measurements and I recommend using a digital scale to weigh ingredients for the most accurate results. READ MORE >>> Why you should always weigh vs measuring with cups

Nutrition information

Please note that the nutrition information provided below is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use. Please seek a professional nutritionist’s advice for further clarification.

The nutrition serving is for 1 slice of cake, assuming the cake is cut into 16 servings. 

Nutrition

Calories: 681kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 8gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 159mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 2gSugar: 54gVitamin A: 1229IUCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg

Have you tried this recipe?Head to the comment section and let me know what you think!