Strawberry Lemonade Buttermilk Cake

When the weather warms up and fresh berries are in season, there’s no better treat than a Strawberry Lemonade Buttermilk Cake. Moist, tender, and tangy-sweet, this cake combines everything we love about Southern-style baking with the zippy freshness of citrus and strawberries. It’s like sipping a glass of cold strawberry lemonade — in dessert form!

Ingredients :

For the Cake:

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1¾ cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon lemon zest

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1½ cups chopped fresh strawberries (patted dry)

For the Lemon Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Optional: extra lemon zest or strawberry slices for garnish

Directions :

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper for easy lifting.

Step 2: Cream the Butter & Sugar

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes). This gives the cake a soft and airy base.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until well combined.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 5: Alternate with Buttermilk

Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined.

Step 6: Fold in Strawberries

Gently fold the chopped, patted-dry strawberries into the batter. Be careful not to overmix, as this can affect the cake’s texture.

Step 7: Bake

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Tip: If strawberries are extra juicy, toss them in a tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter — this helps prevent sinking.

Step 8: Cool and Glaze

Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes. While the cake is still slightly warm, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice to make the glaze.

Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake and let it set before slicing. Garnish with lemon zest or fresh strawberries for a fresh finish.