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Lemon Blueberry Cake with Whipped Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 15 servings (9-inch layer cake)
Prep Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 cup (227 g) butter, softened to room temperature (I use salted)
  • 1 ¾ cups (371 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
  • 4 large eggs (200 g, out of shell), room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (355 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk (see note)
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice, from about 3 lemons
  • 2 cups (340 g) fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw if frozen)
  • 2 tablespoons (18 g) all-purpose flour

Whipped Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 8 ounces (227 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup (113 g) butter, softened to room temperature (I use salted)
  • 4 ½ cups (513 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Garnish:

  • Fresh lemon slices
  • Fresh blueberries

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and coat with nonstick cooking spray. The cake can also be baked in a 9X13-inch pan (metal pan is recommended - if using glass, bake at 325 degrees F). Set aside.
  • In a large bowl with an electric mixer (or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), cream together the butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until well-combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Stir the dry mixture into the wet ingredients until partly combined. Large dry streaks are ok.
  • Add the buttermilk and lemon juice to the batter, and stir by hand, folding the batter until just combined.
  • In another bowl, toss the blueberries with the 2 tablespoons flour. Add the blueberries and flour to the batter and fold in by hand with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Don't over mix.
  • Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pans and bake for 25-35 minutes until the top springs back lightly to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Let the cakes cool for 5-10 minutes in the pans before turning them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. (I don't turn the cake out if baking in a 9X13-inch pan.)
  • For the frosting, whip the softened cream cheese and butter together with a handheld electric mixer or with an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the powdered sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice and mix on low speed (so the powdered sugar doesn't fly everywhere) until it starts to come together. Increase the speed and mix until light and creamy, 2-3 minutes.
  • When the cake has cooled completely, place one round on a platter or plate and spread the top evenly with frosting. Place the other cake round upside down on the frosting and press just lightly. Continue frosting with a thin spatula or offset spatula until the top and sides of the cake are evenly frosted. Garnish with blueberries and lemon slices, if desired.
  • This cake, once frosted, lasts very well in the refrigerator for several days (I've made it up to two days in advance before serving). Take it out an hour or two before serving or serve chilled, your choice!

Notes

Lemons: zest the lemon(s) before juicing them (it will cut down on the number of lemons you need to use). You'll need about 4-5 lemons for this recipe, plus more if you want to garnish the cake with lemon slices.
Blueberries: frozen blueberries work fine; the cake batter may be slightly more blue-tinged if using frozen berries. Don't thaw the blueberries before using in the recipe. 
Frosting: over the years, I've adapted the frosting to make slightly less (and to have a thicker texture, based off the comments in the recipe). The updated recipe as of April 2022 above reflects those changes. If you are looking for the original frosting, it's the same as above except it called for 12 ounces of cream cheese and 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Using neufchatel or light cream cheese will cause the frosting to be runny; full fat cream cheese is recommended.
Buttermilk: I have the best luck using storebought buttermilk. If I don't have it, then I use half sour cream/half milk whisked together in place of the buttermilk.