58 lemon layer cake recipes

Mom's lemon sponge pie separates as it bakes into a tangy lemon custard layer below and a fluffy cake-like sponge on top. A heritage two-layer pie made with one filling.

Strawberry lemon trifle layered with homemade genoise cake, lemon curd filling, kirsch-soaked strawberries, toasted almonds, and whipped cream.

Fruity pound cake with lemon Jello, white cake mix, and a fluffy instant pudding frosting with whipped topping. Classic 1970s shortcut layer cake.

Lemon cake pie bakes into two layers from a single batter: a creamy lemon custard on the bottom and a light sponge cake on top. Fresh lemon juice and zest give it bright citrus flavor.

Lemon butter layer cake baked in a tube pan, sliced into four layers filled with lemon cream and topped with caramelized nut crunch. A three-component vintage dessert with big citrus flavor.

Southern Japanese fruitcake: a 4-layer cake alternating plain butter cake with spiced pecan-and-raisin layers, bound by a thick lemon-coconut filling. A vintage Christmas dessert from the American South with a name that has nothing to do with Japan.

Old-fashioned lemon pudding cake that separates into two layers as it bakes: a fluffy sponge on top with a silky lemon custard underneath. Six simple ingredients.

Lemon pudding cake bakes into two layers in one cup: a fluffy lemon sponge on top, silky lemon curd underneath. Made for two in custard cups with a water bath.

Lord Baltimore cake with eight egg yolks, cake flour, butter, and triple extracts of vanilla, almond, and lemon. A rich, golden three-layer Southern classic.

Strawberry lemon trifle with homemade genoise cake, lemon curd cream filling, kirsch-strawberry syrup, toasted almonds, and piped whipped cream. A showpiece French-style layered dessert.

Lemon filling for cakes with egg yolks, fresh lemon juice, zest, and butter. A tangy, silky curd that spreads between layers. Stovetop or microwave method included.

Vintage ribbon cake: plain vanilla and spiced molasses batters layered in stripes with a tart lemon-raisin filling between. An old-fashioned American cake worth reviving.

Italian rum cake with a dense sour cream butter cake sliced into six layers, soaked with dark rum, and filled with lemon pastry cream. A showstopping celebration dessert.

A European-style layered chocolate cake with rum-laced frosting, warm cinnamon, and a hint of lemon zest. Two thin cake strips sandwiched with rich chocolate buttercream.

Classic two-layer butter cake with separated eggs and folded whites for height. Topped with a tangy lemon-buttercream frosting (or chocolate variation). The American birthday cake.

Palm Beach pineapple squares: a chocolate walnut cake base topped with a lemon-scented pineapple layer, baked together into one tropical dessert bar.