Pink Lemonade Cake 🍋

Pink Lemonade Cake 🍋

A moist, tart cake that tastes like summer, perfect for birthdays or any celebration.

Ingredients:

For the Cake Layers:

• 2 ½ cups cake flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter (softened)
• 4 large eggs
• ¾ cup frozen pink lemonade concentrate (thawed)
• ½ cup milk
• 2 teaspoons lemon extract
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Pink food coloring gel

For the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
• 16 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice (optional)
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract
• Zest from 1 lemon
• 6 to 6 ½ cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8x2 inch round pans.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Whisk for 30 seconds.

Prepare Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine eggs, pink lemonade concentrate, lemon extract, zest, and milk.

Combine Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, add sliced butter to the dry ingredients until it looks like coarse sand. Gradually add half of the egg mixture, then mix on medium speed for 1 ½ minutes until thick and fluffy. Add pink gel color.

Add Remaining Wet Ingredients: Slowly add the remaining egg mixture in two batches, mixing for 20 seconds after each addition.

Bake: Divide the batter between the pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto racks.

Make Frosting: Beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese, lemon juice, and zest, mixing until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar until well blended.

Assemble Cake: Fill and frost the cake layers with lemon cream cheese frosting. Decorate as desired.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal per serving

Tips:

Reverse Creaming Method: Ensures a denser, velvety cake texture.

Chill Frosting: If the frosting is too soft, chill it before using.

Decorating: Use piping tips for elegant designs.

Key Takeaway:

This Pink Lemonade Cake combines a delightful tartness with a creamy lemon frosting, making it an irresistible summer treat!