Italian Grandma’s Lemon Custard Cake Recipe
Italian Grandma’s Lemon Custard Cake is a simple, comforting dessert featuring a delicate custard-like texture infused with fresh lemon zest. This classic cake combines basic pantry ingredients like eggs, sugar, flour, and milk to create a moist, tender treat with a bright citrus flavor, baked gently to achieve its signature custardy consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Custard Cake Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar until the mixture is pale, thick, and creamy. Stir in the fresh lemon zest to infuse the batter with a bright citrus aroma. Gradually sift in the flour to avoid lumps, mixing gently to combine. Finally, add the milk slowly while stirring to create a smooth, pourable batter.
- Bake the cake: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Pour the batter into a greased or parchment-lined cake pan. Bake gently at this lower temperature for about 50 to 60 minutes, or until the cake is set yet custardy in the center — a toothpick inserted should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool and serve: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This cooling helps the custard set further. Once cooled, slice and serve the cake as is, or dust lightly with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh lemons for zesting to maximize flavor.
- The cake is supposed to have a custardy center, so do not overbake to keep it moist.
- You can serve it with a dollop of whipped cream or fresh berries for added richness.
- Make sure to gently fold the flour into the batter to keep the texture light.
Keywords: lemon custard cake, Italian dessert, lemon cake recipe, custard dessert, traditional Italian cake
