Lemon Cakes Great Gatsby Recipe (Updated 2025)

Try this Lemon Cakes Great Gatsby Recipe that’s a perfect mix of old-fashioned charm and fresh lemon flavor for a simple, elegant dessert.

Every mouthful was a joyful surprise when I first sampled a lemon cake that was bursting with citrus brilliance. I can still remember that moment! Furthermore, whether you’re throwing a sophisticated soirée or a laid-back brunch, this dish is adaptable enough to be the focal point of any event.

Why don’t you embark with me on this culinary journey and make a treat that will last as long as a night out in Gatsby’s glitzy world?

Lemon Cakes Great Gatsby Recipe

Recipe by Nina MétayerCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Normal

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

280

kcal

Lemon Cakes Great Gatsby Recipe is a tasty, moist lemon cake inspired by The Great Gatsby

Ingredients

• Half a cup of flour

• Half a cup plus two teaspoons of sugar

• Two eggs plus the yolk

• Half a cup of cooled melted butter

• Half a cup of sour cream

• Two teaspoons of baking powder

• One teaspoon of vanilla

• One pinch of salt

• 1 Lemon, Juiced and Zested

• Eight ounces of water

• Eight Sugar Ounces

• Three Meyer Lemons

Directions

• Meyer lemons should be prepared 24 hours before cakes. Meyer lemons should be thinly sliced on a cutting board using a sharp knife. (12+ slices)
• In a medium pot, combine 8 ounces of sugar and water; bring to a boil over high heat. After that, lower the heat to medium, add the lemon slices using tongs, and cook for five to seven minutes. Remove and place on a parchment paper-lined ½ sheet pan. Give them a full day to dry.
• Make cakes the following day. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, and yolk. Next, mix in the sour cream. Next, mix in the zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.
• Mix the salt, baking powder, and flour. Using the wet mixture, whisk together. Next, stir the cooled melted butter.
• Place lemons in the bottom of each cupcake cup after lightly greasing the cupcake pan. (If using frosting, wait until the cakes are done baking before placing the lemons on top.) Pour batter into pan.
• Bake for 20 minutes after preheating the oven to 325 degrees. Remove the cupcake pan from the oven right away and place it on a ½ sheet pan that has been lined with parchment paper.
• Allow the cakes to cool for approximately five minutes before icing if you plan to use it.
• Combine the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. (Ensure that the frosting has a liquid consistency.)
• Drizzle the frosting over the sides of the cakes after icing them. Top with slices of lemon.

Recipe Video

Notes

• Frosting: If you prefer a thicker frosting, reduce the amount of milk. For a glaze-like consistency, add more milk as needed.
• Drying Lemons: Ensure the lemon slices are fully dried to prevent sogginess in the cakes.

Ingredients For Making Lemon Cakes Great Gatsby Recipe

These are the required ingredients for making lemon cake using the great Gatsby recipe.

1. Half a cup of flour
2. Half a cup plus two teaspoons of sugar
3. Two eggs plus the yolk
4. Half a cup of cooled melted butter
5. Half a cup of sour cream
6. Two teaspoons of baking powder
7. One teaspoon of vanilla
8. One pinch of salt
9. 1 Lemon, Juiced and Zested
10. Eight ounces of water
11. Eight Sugar Ounces
12. Three Meyer Lemons

Instructions For Making Lemon Cakes Great Gatsby Recipe

Follow these simple instructions below to create your Lemon Cakes using the Great Gatsby Recipe:

Prepare Meyer Lemons (24 Hours in Advance):

1. Thinly slice Meyer lemons (12+ slices I suggest) using a sharp knife.
2. In a medium pot, combine 8 ounces of sugar + water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Reduce heat to medium and carefully add lemon slices using tongs, and simmer for 5–7 minutes.
4. Remove lemon slices and place them on a parchment paper-lined ½ sheet pan. Let them dry for 24 hours.

Make the Cakes (Next Day):

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Lightly grease a cupcake pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, and egg yolk until smooth.
3. Mix in sour cream, followed by lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, whisking until just combined.
5. Stir in cooled melted butter until the batter is smooth.
6. Place dried lemon slices at the bottom of each cupcake cup. (If using frosting, you can add the lemon slices after baking instead.)
7. Pour the batter into the prepared cupcake pan, filling each cup about 2/3 full.

Bake the Cake:

1. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
2. Immediately remove the cupcake pan from the oven and place it on a parchment-lined ½ sheet pan.
3. Let the cakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Final Words

In this article, we talked about the Lemon Cakes Recipe using the Great Gatsby method. Follow the instructions or you can watch the youtube video and let us know how it goes for you. You can also read out last recipe of Cottage Cheese Recipe for Air Fryer Baked Potato Skins