This Lemon Cake Roll is spring-baked into a cake! A soft lemon cake with lemon extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice baked right in, then rolled up with a sweet lemon buttercream filling.
This post was originally sponsored by Dixie Crystals. All words are 100% mine, and this recipe now lives here on Big Bear’s Wife.
Lemon Cake Roll is one of those desserts that feels like sunshine on a plate. This soft lemon cake is baked thin, rolled up jelly roll style, and filled with a sweet lemon buttercream that gives every slice the perfect bright lemon flavor.
I love making cake rolls for spring and summer because they always look so pretty on a dessert table, but they’re actually much easier to make than people think. This one is perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, baby showers, brunch, or anytime you want a light and cheerful dessert.
The biggest trick with a cake roll is to work quickly once it comes out of the oven. The cake bakes fast, and you want to roll it while it’s still warm so it keeps that rolled shape. After that, a little chill time does the rest of the work for you.
Ingredients For Lemon Cake Roll:
- eggs
- granulated sugar
- lemon extract
- lemon zest
- lemon juice
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- butter
- powdered sugar
- milk
Ingredient amounts and recipe directions are below with a print option!
How To Make Lemon Cake Roll:
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Preheat oven to 350F.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine eggs and sugar. Whisk on medium-high for 4 minutes until pale yellow.
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Mix in lemon extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
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Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined.
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Line a rimmed 9×12-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread batter evenly on baking sheet.
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Bake for 9 to 10 minutes or until done. Do not over bake. Cake should lightly spring back when touched.
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While cake is baking, lay a clean tea towel onto a flat surface. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.
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When cake is baked, carefully flip cake onto sugar-coated towel. Remove tray and parchment paper from cake.
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Starting on a long end, roll cake with towel inside, jelly roll style. Place into the fridge for 1 hour.
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In a large bowl, combine butter and powdered sugar. Whisk together on medium speed and slowly add in milk. Whisk until thick.
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Whisk in lemon extract and lemon zest.
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Remove cake from fridge and carefully unroll cake, removing towel. Spread the filling onto flat cake and then roll cake jelly roll style.
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Place into fridge for 1 hour. Slice and serve.
This cake is full of bright lemon flavor and is such a pretty dessert for spring and summer gatherings.
The best time to roll the cake is while it is still warm from the oven. That helps it hold its shape and keeps it from cracking as much later when you add the filling.
DO NOT ADD THE FILLING WHILE THE CAKE IS HOT!
Once it has chilled, the lemon buttercream filling spreads easily and rolls up into a soft, beautiful cake that slices so nicely.
Tips for Making the Best Lemon Cake Roll
Don’t over-bake the cake. You want it just set and lightly springy when touched.
Be ready with your powdered sugar towel before the cake comes out of the oven. Moving quickly makes a big difference with cake rolls.
Give it the full chill time so the filling can set and the slices stay nice and neat.
Can I make Lemon Cake Roll ahead of time?
Yes! This is a great make-ahead dessert since it needs chill time anyway. You can make it earlier in the day or even the night before serving.
How should I store Lemon Cake Roll?
Store it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.
What if my cake cracks?
A few small cracks are totally normal with cake rolls. Once it is filled, chilled, and sliced, it will still be beautiful and delicious.
More Lemon Desserts that you’ll love:
Lemon Cake Roll
Lemon Roll Cake
This is spring baked into a cake! This lemon roll cake has hints of lemon extract and lemon zest baked into it with a lemon buttercream filling rolled inside.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the icing/filling:
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups + 1 cup for dusting towel Powdered Sugar
- 1/3 cup milk + 1 tablespoon
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
For cake:
Preheat oven to 350F.
In the bowl of stand mixer, combine eggs and sugar.
Whisk on medium/high for 4 minutes until pale yellow.
Mix in lemon extract, lemon zest and lemon juice.
Mix in flour, baking powder and salt, until just combined.
Line a rimmed 9"X12" baking sheet with parchment paper.
Spread batter evenly on baking sheet.
Bake for 9-10 minutes or until done. Do not over bake. Cake should lightly spring back when touched.
While cake is baking, lay a clean tea towel onto a flat surface. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.
When cake is baked, carefully flip cake onto sugar coated towel. Remove tray and parchment paper from cake.
Starting on a long end, roll cake with towel inside, jelly roll style.
Place into the fridge for 1 hour.
For the Icing/Filling:
In a large bowl, combine butter and powdered sugar. Whisk together on medium speed and slowly add in milk. Whisk until thick.
Whisk in extract and zest.
Remove cake from fridge and carefully unroll cake, removing towel.
Spread the filling onto flat cake and then roll cake jelly roll style.
Place into fridge for 1 hour.
Slice and Serve.
Notes
Need:
9x13 or 9x12 jelly roll style pan
Parchment paper
If you make this recipe, leave me a comment or snap a picture and share it on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #bigbearswife — I love to see what you’re cooking from the blog!
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Please email me the lemon roll cake….I cannot seem to find it on your website. Thanks
Sandra Kalousek
Hi Sandra,
Sorry for the delay, today is Sunday so I was spending the day with family 🙂 If you read the post, at the bottom it says that I created this recipe for Dixie Crystals and that the recipe is on their site and to “click here” to grab the recipe. You just click the link and it takes you to the recipe – https://www.dixiecrystals.com/recipes/desserts/cakes/Lemon-Cake-Roll
https://www.dixiecrystals.com/recipes/desserts/cakes/Lemon-Cake-Roll
Why can’t I find your lemon cake roll recipe?
Hi Deb! I’m so sorry! Dixie Crystal deleted my recipe from their site without telling me. I have added the full recipes back onto my blog!