Vegan Lemon Pound Cake

Since I have recently nailed the perfect vegan pound cake, I thought it would make a great base to create a lemon-infused version. I tweaked my original recipe by incorporating both lemon zest and lemon juice for A TON of lemon flavor!

The result is a zesty, slightly tart cake that holds AS MUCH lemon flavor as it possibly can. The crumb is buttery, tender, and just slightly moist. Everything you would expect from a pound cake!

I’m confident to say this is the best lemon pound cake you will ever make!

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

Sweet, fresh, and zesty.

While lemon juice is great for adding flavor to creams, glazes, or tarts, it tends to alter the texture of cakes and does not give them enough lemon flavor. Instead of only using lemon juice, I used two whole tablespoons of finely chopped lemon zest coupled with a few tablespoons of lemon juice.

This results in a pound cake that is packed with FRUITY and ZESTY deliciousness. I can assure you that you won’t miss the lemon flavor!

If you have a sweet tooth, I am also sharing a sweet and tart lemon glaze that you can use to decorate your pound cake. The glaze is completely optional, though. I personally prefer the cake without any glaze but for photo purposes, I photographed the cake with it (it looks much cuter).

Tender melt-in-your-mouth texture.

As opposed to regular lemon cakes, my pound cake has a denser and more buttery texture. It’s also slightly richer due to generous amounts of vegan butter, which yields a crumb that literally melts in your mouth! My panel of testers, while probably a little bit biased, all loved this lemon pound cake and couldn’t tell it was vegan.

Made in one bowl with 9 ingredients.

This recipe requires pantry basics that you most probably already have on hand if you bake regularly. No hard-to-find or expensive ingredients are required, making this pound cake an affordable, family-friendly treat.

🍋 Ingredient Notes

Here are the ingredients that you will need:

All-purpose flour

To keep things simple, I used regular all-purpose flour, which is generally used to make pound cake. There is no need to use cake flour here. Regarding a gluten-free option, I cannot comment on that yet, as I haven’t tried this recipe using a gluten-free flour mix.

Lemon

Obviously, there is no lemon cake without lemons! For this recipe, you will need about 2 medium-sized lemons, mostly to get the zest. The zest is what brings the most flavor, while the lemon juice adds a hint of tang.

Since you will be using the zest from the lemon, I highly recommend using organic ones. They are generally not as good-looking but contain fewer pesticides.

Butter

Butter brings a wonderful buttery aroma, creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture, and makes the crumb denser as opposed to using oil, for example.

Brand recommendations: For the best results, pick a vegan butter that is firm when chilled (do not use the spreadable kinds). Regarding which brand to choose, I recommend either Earth Balance, Country Crock, or Violife.

Sugar

While I usually like to use healthier sugar alternatives such as coconut sugar or maple syrup, I can only recommend using granulated white sugar for this lemon cake. The reason is that white sugar has a very mild taste, allowing the lemon flavor to really shine. I tried to use coconut sugar but its flavor was so overpowering that I could barely taste the lemon.

If you prefer a less sweet cake, you can remove up to 25% of the sugar. This will not alter the texture, and you do not have to make any other adjustments. Just use 165g of sugar instead of 220g.

Yogurt

The addition of yogurt to the batter does two things. First, it creates a more tender and slightly moister crumb, and second, it adds a subtle tang. Any plant-based unsweetened yogurt works. I use soy yogurt because it’s the easiest yogurt to find here, but coconut, almond, or cashew yogurt are good substitutes.

If you cannot find vegan yogurt: You can replace it with silken tofu. I have tried both versions and saw no difference in the final taste or texture. Remember to blend your silken tofu into a cream before incorporating it into the batter.

Oil

I like to add a few tablespoons of oil to make the crumb moister and allow the cake to stay softer longer. I noticed that without the added oil, the cake tends to become dryer after 2-3 days.

Note: If you want to omit the oil for health reasons, it’s not a problem. The cake will still taste great but be slightly dryer.

Baking powder

To help the cake rise.

Vanilla extract

Finally, I like to add a splash of quality vanilla extract to add a floral and extra sweetness. You can use high-quality store-bought vanilla extract or check my recipe to make homemade vanilla extract.

🥣 How to Make It

1. Make the batter

1. Whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until combined.

2. Melt the butter. Dice the vegan butter and add it to a saucepan. Melt it over low heat until just melted. You do not want the butter to be hot – it should be just warm to the touch.
3. Whisk in the wet ingredients. Pour the melted vegan butter, yogurt, oil, lemon juice, and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients. Using a wooden spoon, mix until combined.
4. Add the lemon zest. Next, finely chop the lemon zest and add it to the batter. Stir one more time to combine.

2. Bake

1. Transfer to a cake pan. Line a 8×4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and transfer the cake batter into it. Spread the top into a smooth and even layer.

2. Bake. Finally, bake the cake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. The baking time will depend a lot on your oven so keep an eye on it after 45 minutes to make sure it doesn’t burn on the top.

💬 FAQ

If you like anything fruity and citrusy, you will love my lemon pound cake! Each bite is infused with a ton of lemon flavor and has the most buttery crumb you will ever try!

🍰 More Vegan Cakes

Decadent Vegan Chocolate Cake

Fudgy Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake

The Fluffiest Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins

The Best Vegan Banana Bread

⭐️ Did you like this recipe? Let us know in the comments below, and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!