Lemon chiffon cake is soft and spongy, with a luscious buttercream frosting. You’ll want to eat this cake quickly, as chiffon cakes don’t last very long—but that shouldn’t be a problem, given how delicious it is.

Lemon Chiffon Cake
Lemon chiffon cake is soft and spongy, with a luscious buttercream frosting. You'll want to eat this cake quickly, as chiffon cakes don't last very long—but that shouldn't be a problem, given how delicious it is.
Ingredients
- 7 large eggs separated, room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
frosting:
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 4-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- Dash salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°.
- Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together twice; place in another large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks, water, oil, lemon zest and vanilla until smooth. Add to flour mixture; beat until well blended.
- Add cream of tartar to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on medium speed just until stiff but not dry. Fold a fourth of the whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites.
- Gently spoon batter into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on lowest oven rack 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert pan; cool completely in pan, about 1 hour.
- Run a knife around sides and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate.
- In a small bowl, combine frosting ingredients; beat until smooth. Spread over cake.