This recipe comes courtesy of one of my wonderful readers, Diana. I was intrigued by this recipe for multiple reasons. I remember when I was a teenager I had found a recipe similar to this in a cookbook from the 1950’s. I was intrigued by it then (and baked it) and I’m intrigued by it now! Why is this recipe so unique? It’s EGGLESS, has only 1 Tbsp of fat and doesn’t require a mixer. Score!
So, for all of you vegans out there, this can easily be made into a VEGAN lemon spice cake by using vegetable shorting or oil for the fat. The texture is not exactly like regular cake because it doesn’t have the egg but for a low fat, vegan treat, it’s pretty amazing!! Surprisingly moist and flavorful!
Yeah, it still has a ton of sugar but, eh… you gotta pick your battles.
The original recipe that Diana sent me uses lemon extract but I had none so I used the zest from a lemon instead. It turned out really good although I’m sure the lemon extract would have had more of a punch. If you want to use lemon extract, just add 1 tsp when you add the butter and cider vinegar.
Thanks again for the recipe, Diana! It turned out fantastic!
Lemon Spice Cake
Lemon Spice Cake
Servings 8Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour ($0.14)
- 1 cup granulated sugar ($0.16)
- 1 tsp baking soda ($0.05)
- 1 tsp cinnamon ($0.05)
- 1 tsp ground ginger ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg ($0.03)
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves ($0.03)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1 med lemon ($0.50)
- 1 Tbsp vegetable shortening, oil, or butter ($0.09)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar ($0.02)
- 1 cup water ($0.00)
- 1 cup powdered sugar ($0.18)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, cloves and lemon zest. Stir until everything is well combined.
- Make two wells in the dry ingredients and place the cider vinegar in one and shortening,oil or butter in the other (melt the shortening or butter first). Pour the water over everything and stir just until everything is wet. There may still be lumps but that is okay, just make sure there are no large pockets of dry stuff on the bottom.
- Pour the batter into a loaf pan or 8×8 baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Cook for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. The batter will be more shallow in a square baking dish and will therefore cook faster than in a loaf pan. Keep an eye on the top, if it starts to crack, it is probably done. Let cool on a wire rack.
- While the cake is cooling, make the lemon glaze. Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl and stir in the juice from the lemon. Depending on how much juice is in your lemon, you may not need all of it. Wait until the cake has cooled before pouring on the glaze or else the heat will cause the glaze to slide right off.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Placing parchment paper or foil under the wire rack before glazing will help with clean up.
Step By Step Photos
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, cloves and lemon zest. Stir until combined.
Make two wells in the dry ingredients and add the cider vinegar to one and the melted shortening or oil to the other. Pour one cup of water over top and stir just until combined.
There may still be lumps but that is okay, you don’t want to over stir. Just make sure there are no large pockets of dry material.
You can either bake this in an 8×8 dish and then cut into square or bake in a loaf pan and slice. I don’t have an 8×8 dish so I used a loaf pan. The batter will be shallower in the 8×8 dish and you will probably only need to bake for about 30 minutes. In the loaf pan it was deeper so mine needed to bake for about 40 minutes.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes. A good indicator that the cake is cooked through is when small cracks appear on the top. If the top is still indented slightly, that means some of the batter is still liquid.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the lemon glaze. Place the powdered sugar in a bowl and then add the juice from the lemon. Stir until it is a smooth glaze.
Wait until the cake has cooled, place parchment or foil under the wire rack and then pour the glaze over top.
Thanks for a great healthy low fat recipe
Low Fat, Easy weight loss tips
Wow! I love how you broke the cost down for this recipe. I’m going to try it for someone who requested Lemon spice cake. Thank you… I’m about to browse some older post. Great Job!
I was too lazy to go shopping for exact ingredients, so I just used what I had, and it turned out delicious! :) Thank you so much for this recipe! Here’s what I used (baked for 45 minutes at 350).
cake:
1.5 cups all-purpose flour;
1 cup raw sugar;
1 tsp baking soda;
1 tsp cinnamon;
1 tsp ground ginger;
1/2 tsp nutmeg;
1/2 tsp salt;
1 med lime;
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil;
1 cup water;
glaze:
1/2 cup brown sugar;
rest of the lime juice;
I had to stop my husband from eating the glaze plain. He also helped me “clean up” the wire rack after the glaze had cooled. Really enjoyed this recipe and will make again (am going to try it with an orange instead of a lemon, just to compare).
just made this! I feel like the recipe called for a little too much nutmeg which made it almost TOO spicy but it was very easy to make and the glaze was super easy too!
Yes, you definitely could! It’s pretty much the same spices but maybe in a different ratio. :)
would one be able to use pumpkin pie spice? i have a TON left over from thanksgiving.
This sounds and looks like a wonderful cake. I will have to try this one with the family. I sure it will be a favorite. Thanks for sharing.
Just want to say that I love your blog and I visit all the time!
Although I love food and I love cooking, its hard to find a balance between something that is semi-healthy, tastes great, and easy on the budget. So I really appreciate your blog!
So truly delectable-looking, so cost effecive. Must. MAKE!
Interesting.. I really want to try this too! It looks so good! The glaze makes it look especially good :)
This recipe intrigues me too! I’m saving it and hope to try it soon
:-D Thanks!! I am making it RIGHT NOW omg.
I just zested the whole lemon right into the bowl :)
Oooooh…yes. How much lemon zest? Do you zest directly into the bowl, or do you measure it first?