Spring Naked Cake Lemon Curd (Printable)

Light, elegant layered cake featuring lemon curd, whipped cream, and edible spring flowers.

# What You Need:

→ Sponge Cake

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
10 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Lemon Curd

11 - 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 - Zest of 2 lemons
13 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
14 - 4 large egg yolks
15 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed

→ Whipped Cream

16 - 2 cups heavy cream, cold
17 - 1/3 cup powdered sugar
18 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Decoration

19 - 1 to 2 cups edible flowers such as pansies, violets, marigolds, or nasturtiums
20 - Lemon zest curls, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and lemon zest.
04 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture in three additions, alternating with buttermilk. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
05 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
07 - In a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk lemon juice, zest, sugar, and egg yolks. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter until smooth. Cool completely.
08 - Beat cold cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until needed.
09 - Place one cake layer on a serving platter. Spread with half the lemon curd, then layer with whipped cream. Repeat with the second layer. Top with the third cake layer and a thick layer of whipped cream.
10 - Decorate with edible flowers and lemon zest curls immediately before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The naked cake style means you actually get to see those gorgeous layers and edible flowers without wrestling with frosting.
  • Lemon curd tastes like sunshine in a jar, and making it yourself changes everything about how this cake feels on your tongue.
  • It looks fancy enough to impress but comes together with surprisingly calm, straightforward steps—no piping bags required.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients matter more than you think—cold eggs and cold buttermilk refuse to blend smoothly and can cause curdling or a dense crumb.
  • The lemon curd must cool completely before assembly or it will melt your whipped cream into a puddle; I learned this the hard way at 2 AM before a dinner party.
  • Not all flowers sold as edible are actually grown without pesticides—verify your source and read labels carefully to avoid serving your guests poison, even accidentally.
03 -
  • If you're nervous about assembling naked cakes, place your first layer on a turntable (or a lazy Susan in a pinch) so you can spin it while you spread filling—it makes everything feel easier and more even.
  • Make your lemon curd a full day ahead if possible; it actually improves as it sits, and you remove the stress of cooling it quickly before assembly.
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