This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This light and zesty lemon cornmeal cake will brighten your day! The cornmeal gives this cake a subtle but distinct texture and flavor while the sweet and tangy glaze on top balances out all the flavors.
Bright and Fresh: Lemon Cornmeal Cake
Lemon desserts and the being in the kitchen is just the perfect equation. It literally makes my soul happy when I bake lemon desserts. The scent is so fresh, bright, and zesty. Just even juicing and zesting the lemons perfumes the kitchen in the most glorious of ways.
I’ve never put cornmeal in a cake before and this lemon cornmeal cake quite literally takes the cake. It should be a more common ingredient in cakes. It gives it such a nice texture, but not too much like cornbread. It’s very subtle and a great balance. You can even taste a bit of the sweet milky taste that cornmeal gives off. The sweet and tangy lemon glaze on top just seals the deal for the ultimate lemon cake!
How to Make Lemon Cornmeal Cake
- Set the oven to preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl then the wet ingredients in another bowl.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients then pour the wet ingredients into the well
- Gently fold the mixture together, taking care to not overstir or overmix.
- Pour the batter into a cake pan and bake.
- While the cake is baking, make the lemon glaze!
Difference between Cornmeal and Polenta
The key difference between cornmeal and polenta is the grind. Cornmeal is used in a wide variety of recipes and can come in course to fine grind. Polenta is typically a coarse grind and it is made from coarsely ground cornmeal. I know that is probably even more confusing since they use the same ingredient. Cornmeal is generally an ingredient and polenta is usually a dish like grits, just the Italian version. You do not want to use cornflour in this recipe.
Variations and Customizations
- Using a mix of regular lemons and Meyer lemons in this recipe would be a great mix of lemon variety!
- If you prefer to skip the lemon glaze on top, make a strawberry filling, lemon curd, or homemade whipped cream instead. Topping it with a light dusting of powdered sugar also works!
What to Serve with Lemon Cornmeal Cake
If you’re making this for a brunch or any sort of party (hint: tea party), this lemon cornmeal cake pairs so well with a cup of London fog and it’s a great dessert to serve after a bacon, spinach, and mushroom quiche!
Storage Instructions
Slice and store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow to come to room temperature before eating. If the glaze is too tough or hard, you can pop the slice of cake into the microwave for 5 seconds.
Lemon Cornmeal Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 ½ cups (188 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (53 g) yellow cornmeal
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (237 ml) buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Juice of half a lemon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ cup (118 ml) citrus olive oil or any light olive oil
For the glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Line the bottom of a 9 inch round pan with parchment paper (I traced it and then cut it to fit the bottom of the pan perfectly) then lightly grease the rest of the cake pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.1 1/2 cups (188 g) all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup (53 g) yellow cornmeal, 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar, 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract, almond extract, and olive oil.1 cup (237 ml) buttermilk, 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, Juice of half a lemon, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, 1/2 cup (118 ml) citrus olive oil or any light olive oil
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients then pour the liquid in. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Definitely try to FOLD it instead of STIRRING it. It yields a way lighter cake and won’t be as dense. Fold until everything is incorporated and no dry ingredients and clumps can be seen.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake on the middle rack in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Once you have removed the cake from the oven, run a sharp knife around the edges then carefully (with oven mitts on) place a wire cooling rack on the cake in the pan. Holding the cake pan and wire rack, invert the cake onto the wire rack. Place another wire rack on top of the cake then invert again so the cake is now upright. Let cool completely.
- While the cake cools, make the glaze in a small bowl. Whisk together all the ingredients and set aside. If you prefer a thinner glaze, add more lemon juice or water.1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Once cake has cooled, pour the glaze on the top of the cake and serve!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Photographs by Meg McKeehan Photography
What a pretty Spring cake! Perfect for a ladies luncheon, brunch or baby shower. Pinned
Love anything lemon. Can you use regular extra virgin olive oil or should it be light?
You could use extra virgin olive oil but you just might taste the olive oil more in the cake than when you use a light olive oil. Hope that helps!
I love all things lemon!
So I still haven’t watched game of thrones. I guess I need to get on that! As for this cake – I love cornmeal in cake, so naturally I need to try this!
I can’t even handle it that GOT is back on air- although it really messes up my Sunday night sleep because I think about it all night. I’m completely obsessed. Cake is gorgeous by the way.
Wow I’ve never heard of a cornmeal cake before. They sound (and most of all: LOOK) delicious though. I love lemon in cakes :D
LOVE cornmeal in baking. I’ll make this beauty for Mother’s Day!
So ehm…. THE RED WOMAN!
CENTURIES OLD!!!
This cake!!! Looks fabulous Julie!!
Oh man I am a sucker for lemon desserts! And literally JUST started watching Game of Thrones this weekend! Oh boy do we have a long ways to go :-)
Oh man, prepared to binge watch them! Honestly, it’s the best way to go because you don’t have to wait around every week for episodes to come on :) no cliffhangers! Haha, just press play