Description
Bright, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth smooth — this Refreshing Italian Lemon Custard Cake is the ultimate citrus dessert. With a golden, buttery crust and silky lemon custard filling, it’s perfect for any occasion — from quick breakfast ideas to easy dinner desserts. This easy recipe brings together simple ingredients for a luscious treat full of zesty flavor. Whether you’re looking for new food ideas, a healthy snack, or indulgent dinner ideas, this lemon custard cake hits the sweet spot every time.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon lemon zest
½ cup fresh lemon juice
3 large eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (for custard)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup whole milk
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour (for crust)
¼ cup granulated sugar (for crust)
½ cup unsalted butter, melted (for crust)
¼ teaspoon salt (for crust)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, combine 1 cup flour, ¼ cup sugar, ½ cup melted butter, and ¼ tsp salt for the crust. Press into a greased springform pan.
3. Bake crust for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool slightly.
4. In a saucepan, whisk ¾ cup sugar, 2 tbsp cornstarch, and ¼ tsp salt.
5. Add 3 eggs, 1 cup milk, ½ cup lemon juice, and 1 tbsp zest. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened.
6. Remove from heat, stir in 4 tbsp butter until smooth.
7. Pour custard into crust, smooth top, and bake 20–25 minutes until just set.
8. Cool to room temperature, then chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
9. Slice and serve chilled with garnish if desired.
Notes
For extra smooth custard, strain the mixture before pouring into the crust.
Don’t skip the chilling time — it helps the custard set properly and improves flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: easy recipe, lemon custard cake, Italian dessert, quick breakfast, healthy snack, food ideas, dinner ideas