Limoncello Mascarpone Cake
A bright, citrusy layered cake infused with Limoncello liqueur and topped with a creamy mascarpone filling — tender, elegant, and perfect for spring or summer occasions.
Equipment
- Electric Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
- 9" Round Cake Pans
Ingredients
Cake Layers
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon zest about 2 lemons
- ¼ cup Limoncello liqueur
- ¼ cup heavy cream
Mascarpone Filling
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese room temperature
- ¼ cup Limoncello for filling
- ¼ cup heavy cream cold
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Optional Drizzle
- ½ cup powdered sugar for drizzle
- 1-2 tbsp Limoncello or lemon juice to thin drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until pale and slightly thickened. Add lemon zest, Limoncello, and heavy cream; mix until smooth.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 20–25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a rack.
- For the mascarpone filling, beat mascarpone, Limoncello, cold heavy cream, and powdered sugar until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Once the cake layers are cooled, spread a layer of mascarpone filling on one cake layer, top with the second layer, and spread remaining filling over the top or sides as desired.
- Optional: Mix powdered sugar with a little Limoncello or lemon juice to make a thin drizzle, then drizzle over the cake.
Notes
This Italian-inspired dessert balances citrus brightness with creamy richness. Letting the mascarpone chill slightly before use helps achieve a smoother filling texture. The cake can be stored in the fridge up to 3 days due to the mascarpone. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}