Lemon Bundt Cake
This is the best copycat recipe for the Lemon Bundt Cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. It is moist and fluffy with a bright citrusy kick and a velvety cream cheese frosting.
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Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe
Anytime I ask for recipe ideas, I am bombarded with requests for a copycat recipe for Nothing Bundt Cakes’ Lemon Cake. Well, the day has finally come and all of your citrusy dreams are about to come true!
First, you need to know that I take the development of copycat recipes very seriously. On my websites you can find the 108+ copycat recipes that I’ve developed over the last 7 years. So I was completely amped about this challenge.
To start, I consulted the actual ingredient list from Nothing Bundt Cakes’ website. And through lots of experimenting and yummy taste tests, I finally nailed it.
This lemon bundt cake recipe is every bit as light and refreshing as the original! It contains a tender, moist crumb that is bursting with sweet and tangy lemon and a thick, velvety smooth cream cheese frosting piped on top. I promise you’re going to love it! And bonus, it didn’t cost anywhere near $30+ to make.
Lemon Nothing Bundt Cake Ingredients
These ingredients are pulled directly from the Nothing Bundt Cakes’ nutrition facts.
- Salted butter, melted – I always use salted butter and it looks like NBC does too! You can sub unsalted butter as needed, just be sure to throw an extra pinch of salt into the batter.
- Canola oil – I used canola oil to hold true to the original recipe. However, Vegetable or other oils should work well as a substitute.
- Granulated sugar
- Sour cream – This contributes to the ultra moist and tender texture that Nothing Bundt is famous for.
- Eggs
- Lemon juice – I just used bottled lemon juice, but if you’re feeling adventurous you can juice the actual lemon.
- Lemon oil – I really recommend my super-strength, 100% pure Lemon oil. You won’t regret it.
- Lemon zest
- All-purpose flour – Surprisingly all-purpose is wonderful here. No need for cake flour!
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Whole milk
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese, softened – You need to use the block of cream cheese, not the spreadable bagel kind!
- Butter – Again, I used salted butter.
- Powdered sugar
- Clear vanilla extract – Clear vanilla is not necessary, but it definitely makes the frosting a prettier bright white! Regular vanilla will give it a murky tint.
How to Make Lemon Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, combine the melted butter, canola oil, and granulated sugar until well combined.
- While slowly mixing, add the sour cream. Mix until completely combined. Then add one egg at a time, allowing the mixture to combine before adding the next egg.
- Once all of the eggs are added, add the lemon juice, lemon oil and the lemon zest. Mix well.
- Next, add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt to the bowl. Begin to mix.
- Once the dry ingredients are about halfway mixed in, slowly add in the milk and mix until everything is well combined.
- Spray a 9in bundt pan with non-stick spray and sprinkle flour into the pan to help the cake not stick.
- Pour the finished batter into the prepared 9 in bundt pan.
- Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it.
- Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before flipping it out onto a cooling rack.
- Once the cake is cool, make the cream cheese frosting by creaming together the cream cheese and butter on high for 10 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar and mix well.
- Once mixed, stir in the clear vanilla and transfer the frosting to a piping bag.
- Pipe stripes of the frosting starting on the outside of the bundt cake and working your way to the center. Repeat around the entire cake.
- Use an offset spatula to smooth the frosting in the center of the bundt cake.
- Serve and enjoy! Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
How should I store Nothing Bundt Cake?
This lemon cake needs to be refrigerated! Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to enjoy, you can allow the cake to sit at room temperature to soften prior to serving.
Lemon Lovers, Check These Out!
Lemon Bundt Cake
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 12 oz cream cheese, softened (the block kind)
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp clear vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, combine the melted butter, canola oil, and granulated sugar until well combined.
- While slowly mixing, add the sour cream. Mix until completely combined. Then add one egg at a time, allowing the mixture to combine before adding the next egg.
- Once all of the eggs are added, add the lemon juice, lemon oil and the lemon zest. Mix well.
- Next, add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt to the bowl. Begin to mix.
- Once the dry ingredients are about halfway mixed in, slowly add in the milk and mix until everything is well combined.
- Spray a bundt pan with non-stick spray and sprinkle flour into the pan to help the cake not stick.
- Pour the finished batter into the prepared bundt pan.
- Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it.
- Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before flipping it out onto a cooling rack.
- Once the cake is cool, make the cream cheese frosting by creaming together the cream cheese and butter on high for 10 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar and mix well.
- Once mixed, stir in the clear vanilla and transfer the frosting to a piping bag.
- Pipe stripes of the frosting starting on the outside of the bundt cake and working your way to the center. Repeat around the entire cake.
- Use an offset spatula to smooth the frosting in the center of the bundt cake.
- Serve and enjoy! Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I have a question regarding the lemon oil, what would be the equivalent if using lemon extract? I’m excited to try the recipe, thank you!
Hi! You will just use the same amount of lemon extract as lemon oil. The flavor may not be as potent, but it will still taste great!
Can’t wait to make this recipe! May I ask what size Bundt pan to bake this in? Thanks!
I used this bundt pan (9in).
I made this for Easter and everyone loved it. I couldn’t get the piping down to get the thick stripes of cream cheese frosting. What size piping tip did you use?
I used a 1A piping tip!
Sounds amazing! I have an 8-cup capacity Bundt pan. What size do you use in this recipe?
I use a 9in bundt pan!
If I don’t have the zest of one lemon would you adjust the juice or extract?
I would add a little more lemon extract! 1 tsp of zest is about 1/2 tsp of extract.
DELICIOUS!!!! Made this for my husband and I because I did not want to pay over $30 for a cake 😅 I’ve been eyeing this recipe for a while and finally decided to make it yesterday. My husband and I looooved how it turned out!! He just texted me to not finish the cake while he’s at work hahaha. Thank you for sharing this recipe 🙂
I have Lemon Emulsion – would that substitute be the same as using Lemon extract or Lemon Oil?
That will be closer to lemon oil!
Delicious using gluten free flour