This Portillo’s lemon cake recipe is easy. Light cake with a lemon zest filling is the perfect brunch or tea party dessert. This is light and flavorful, making it perfect for any time of year. It has a light, spongy texture without being overly eggy.
It’s always a hit at parties and will go quickly, so start the recipe early. The recipe calls for using port wine, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute with a different sweet white wine like marsala or muscat.
This recipe is a lighter, fluffier and tastier version of the regular in-home kind, slightly eggy and citrus-scented. It’s a true brunch or tea party dessert that’s always a hit when shared among family, friends, or colleagues.
Contents
How To Prepare Portillo’s Lemon Cake Recipe?
Preparation Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 35 mins
Serving Size: 8
Equipment:
- Mixing bowl,
- plate,
- baking sheet,
- whisk
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (4 oz)
- 2 large eggs at room temperature (9 oz)
- 1 cup buttermilk (8 oz)
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
Making Method:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease and line 3 – 8 inch round cake pans.
Step 2: Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a small bowl.
Step 3: In another large bowl, whisk the melted butter with sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition until just combined.
Step 4: Add the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until combined. Do not overmix.
Step 5: Add the buttermilk and vanilla, followed by the lemon zest. Beat on low speed until just combined.
Step 6: Divide batter equally between pans.
Step 7: Bake for 10 – 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with the fewest crumbs attached.
Step 8: Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then remove to cooling racks and cool completely before filling or frosting as desired.
Step 9: To make the lemon filling, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in powdered sugar, followed by lemon juice, then add lemon zest.
Step 10: Cool completely and spread on top of cooled cakes.
Step 11: Store cakes covered at room temperature until serving.

Nutrition Facts Of Portillo’s Lemon Cake Recipe
Nutrition | Amount |
---|---|
Calories | 284 |
Carbs | 47 grams |
Protein | 4.3 grams |
Fat | 13.5 grams |
Sugar | 16 grams |
Fiber | 0.5 grams |
Incredible 8 Health Benefits Of Portillo’s Lemon Cake Recipe
1. Good For Skin:
The vitamin C in lemon juice reduces harmful free radicals, enhances the absorption of other antioxidants that can reduce skin aging, improves skin hydration, and contains Vitamin A, which is good for healing burns, scars, and sunburns.
2. Low In Cholesterol:
The eggs in this recipe contain very low cholesterol. This is a perfect choice for those on a diet who need protein.
3. Good For Eyesight:
Lemon juice has Vitamin C, which is good for eyesight and cures inflammatory eye problems and degenerative diseases of the retina like macular degeneration and cataract,
4. Ideal For Hair:
Lemon juice is good for hair because it gives hair strength and rejuvenates it. It cures dandruff, strengthens hair, and softens cuticles, making them look younger and shinier.
5. Cure Burns:
If you have been an accident victim and got burnt, apply raw lemon juice to the affected area. This will soothe your body and will quickly reduce the pain.
6. Strengthen Bones And Teeth:
Lemon juice is also good for bones and teeth as it contains Vitamin C, which is essential for the growth of bones and teeth.
7. Cure Urinary Tract Infections:
Lemon juice is also effective in curing Urinary Tract Infections as its acidic nature kills the bacteria that cause infections.
8. Skin Lightening:
Due to its acidic nature, it acts as a bleach and lightens skin by removing excess pigments that are gathered on your skin.
Why Portillo’s Lemon Cake Recipe Is Good For You?
Vitamin C that is present in Portillo’s lemon cake recipe juice improves the function of the liver and gall bladder in removing toxins. Lemon contains dietary fibers essential for the digestive tract’s good functioning and helps keep you satiated for a longer time.
Vitamin C, known as ascorbic acid, facilitates the transmission of signals from the retina to the brain, which promotes healthy vision.
What Is Lemon Cake Made Of?
Portillo’s lemon cake recipe based on this contains all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, buttermilk, and eggs. But the most important thing is that there is lemon in it, so I have to say this one is really good for you.
This Portillo’s lemon Cake recipe has no butter or oil, but as a rule of thumb, you can’t get away from fats and butter in baking. It just makes them more moist and tender.
How Can You Get Perfect And Moist Cakes?
Two things matter when baking cakes or baked goods: temperature and beating time. The butter should be cool when mixing with the flour so that it won’t melt or become too soft as you beat in the eggs until light and fluffy.
Have Any Side Effects On Eating Portillo’s Lemon Cake Recipe?
Due to the acidic nature of lemons, avoid this cake if you have any ulcers in your stomach. Avoid having it on an empty stomach. Lemon juice is known to produce gas, so avoid eating it if you have a history of flatulence.
Is Portillo’s Lemon Cake Recipe Vegetarians?
This Portillo’s lemon cake recipe is a great option for vegetarians, as well as vegans. Vegans will need to use appropriately labeled ingredients and not any baking items containing dairy products. You can substitute cow’s milk with soy or almond milk.
Use a flax egg or a commercial egg substitute to replace the eggs in this recipe, and replace butter with an oil such as canola or sunflower oil.
How To Freeze Portillo’s Lemon Cake Recipe?
1. Cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap in layers.
2. Freeze for up to 1 month.
3. To thaw and serve, remove plastic wrap and transfer to a plate.
4. Reheat on a baking sheet in a 350° oven until warmed through, about 20 minutes.
Conclusion
In this Portillo’s lemon cake recipe, you have got ingredients like lemon and eggs. Hence it can be a great recipe for individuals with a lot of stomach problems as it is low in calories and fat.
You can make this lemon cake with the addition of butter or skip the butter and use oil instead. This is an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to start eating healthy but doesn’t want to give up their favorite foods.