Sheet cakes, or traybake cakes, are such easy to make and decorate bakes. They're great for parties, bake sales or anytime you need to serve a crowd. This Lemon Traybake Cake packs lots of zesty lemon flavour into a simple sheet cake. The fluffy sponge is made with lemon zest, and on top is a lemon buttercream. I've decorated it with some simple lemon zest, but you can decorate it in any way you like.

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Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking.
I used a baking spread for the cake and unsalted butter for the buttercream.
For the best flavour, make sure to use a good quality lemon extract and not an essence. I like to use the brands Nielsen Massey or Steenbergs.
You will need a 12" x 9" traybake tin for this recipe. However, if you want to make it in a 9" square tin, check the recipe notes for the measurement details.
You can decorate this cake with anything you like! If it is for someone's birthday, perhaps their favourite chocolates on top. Fresh strawberries or raspberries would also look fabulous!
Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Lemon Traybake Cake

To make the cake, mix together the baking spread (or butter if you prefer) and caster sugar, for 2-3 minutes until fluffy. Then mix in eggs and milk.

Add the self raising flour and lemon zest, and gently whisk or fold in (I recommend folding in with a spatula as lemon zest can get stuck in whisks!). Spread the mixture out into the tin.

Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes or until a thin skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool fully. For the buttercream, mix softened butter, icing sugar, vanilla extract and milk together. Spread or pipe it onto the cake and decorate as you wish.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How long does the cake last for and can you freeze it?

The cake will last for 3-4 days in an airtight container in a cool place. You can freeze both the cake and the buttercream. To freeze them separately, wrap the cake well in cling film or put it in an airtight container. The buttercream can be frozen in a sealed tub. To freeze the cake decorated, freeze on a plate until frozen solid, then carefully wrap in cling film. Remove the clingfilm when you take the cake out of the freezer to defrost, as if it defrosts with it still on it could damage the appearance of the buttercream. You can also freeze it in slices.

Can you make this cake with plain/all purpose flour?

Self raising flour, which is very commonly used in the UK where I am based, already contains a raising agent and a little salt too. Therefore if you want to swap it for plain or all purpose flour, you will need to add some additional baking powder and also a little salt if you like. Some people like to add salt to cake recipes and some don't, so I'll leave that up to you as it won't affect the bake. The general advice is to add 2 teaspoons baking powder (a measuring teaspoon, not the kind you stir your coffee with) per every 200g plain or all purpose flour. So for this recipe you'd need to add 2 teaspoons baking powder. Please note, I have not tested this recipe using plain or all purpose flour.

What size tin do you need for this cake?

This recipe is best made in a 12" x 9" (36.5cm x 26cm) traybake tin with deep sides (4cm or 1.5"). However, if you'd prefer to make it in a smaller 9" square tin, check the recipe card notes section for details on how to change the measurements.

Do you need an electric mixer to make this recipe?

While you can absolutely make this recipe with a wooden spoon and some elbow grease, I do recommend using an electric mixer for the best results. The cake will be lighter and fluffier when made with an electric mixer. The buttercream will also be smoother. You don't have to use an expensive stand mixer either, you can get electric hand whisks for as little as £10!

How many people does this cake serve?

It completely depends how you slice it up, which is great because it makes this such a versatile cake for parties and gatherings. I love a big chunk of cake so I cut it into 12 slices, but for a party you may prefer to cut it into smaller slices so it feeds more people. You can cut into 16 slices, or even 24 slices.

Can this cake be made gluten free?

Yes! For gluten free you can replace the self raising flour with a gluten free self raising flour blend. If you only have a gluten free plain flour blend, you will need to add additional baking powder. The general advice is to add 2 tsp baking powder per 200g flour, so for this recipe you'd need to add 2 teaspoons baking powder. You may also like to add ½ tsp xanthan gum for better texture. Please do check the labels for everything you use to make the cake if you are serving it to someone with an allergy or intolerance.

Can this cake be made dairy free?

For a dairy free version, use a dairy free baking spread and dairy free milk for the cake. For the buttercream you will need a dairy free butter alternative. I recommend Flora Plant or the Stork Baking Block for the buttercream, as they give the best texture. Please do check the labels for everything you use to make the cake if you are serving it to someone with an allergy or intolerance.

Can this recipe be made into a larger cake or cupcakes?

Yes - check out my Triple Lemon Cake and Lemon Curd Cupcakes recipes for details.

More tips for making the Lemon Traybake Cake:

I spread the buttercream onto the cake, but you could pipe it on if you prefer.
I really do recommend using lemon extract for the buttercream, lemon juice is not as concentrated in flavour and you won't get the same lemony zing from it. You can find lemon extract in most supermarkets, I've bought it in Tesco before, and you can buy it online via Amazon.
You can decorate this cake with anything you like - sprinkles, your favourite sweets or chocolates, fresh fruit etc.

Troubleshooting

My number one tip for getting the best results is to read through this whole page of tips and recommendations before starting, and follow the recipe exactly. If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

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