Moist Limoncello Mascarpone Cake with Lemon Curd 

Limoncello Mascarpone Cake with Lemon Curd is moist, light, and citrusy.  The tender lemon cake is lightly flavored with Limoncello and layered with a creamy mascarpone frosting and sweet, tangy lemon curd.  This refreshing cake is the perfect springtime dessert. 

My Sicilian family has an undeniable love for anything lemon! I think it must be in our blood—after all, lemons are deeply woven into Sicilian culture and cuisine. That’s probably why you’ll find this zesty fruit in so many of my recipes, from Mediterranean Chicken,  Lemony Grilled Shrimp, and Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings. Honestly, we never need an excuse to add a little lemon to our food!

This Italian liqueur cake is what a lemon lover’s dreams are made of.  Like my Lemon Olive Oil Cake, it is truly hard to resist.  The tender cake layers are subtly flavored with Italy’s favorite lemon liqueur and are incredibly moist.  However, the toppings elevate this cake to a whole new level. The mascarpone cream frosting is light and fluffy, while the addition of homemade lemon curd adds extra lemon flavor to this delicious Italian cake.   

My Italian Lemon Liqueur Cake is the perfect dessert for a spring or summer celebration.   We traditionally celebrate Easter with a lunch consisting of Grilled Lamb Rib Chops, Stuffed Sicilian Artichokes, and Italian Easter Bread, and we end it with this deliciously light Limoncello Cake.   

What is Limoncello?

Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur primarily made in the southern Italian regions of the Amalfi coast and Sicily.  It is the second most popular liqueur in Italy, after Campari, and is typically enjoyed chilled as an after-dinner digestivo.

It is made from the zest of the lemon with the pith removed.  A good limoncello should have a strong, fresh lemon flavor without any acidity or bitterness.  This bright yellow liqueur is so popular that many Italian families take pride in making their own version at home.  

What is Mascarpone?

If you have ever had Tiramisu, then you have had mascarpone cheese.  It is a rich, creamy Italian cheese with a slightly sweet flavor and very smooth texture.  My Italian family often uses it as a key ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes. Foodnetwork provides a good overview of Mascarpone cheese. 

Ingredients, Notes, and Substitutions

For the Cake

• All-purpose Flour:  Measure the flour by spooning it into your measuring cup and leveling it off with a knife or a straight edge.  
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Make sure that your leavening agents are fresh so that your cake layers rise properly.
• Large Eggs: Let your eggs come to room temperature so that they will cream easily with the sugar.  Placing the eggs in a bowl of warm water is the best way to bring them to room temperature quickly.
• Vegetable Oil: I recommend using an oil that will not add any flavor to the cake.  Vegetable oil or another neutral oil will provide moisture without imparting any additional flavors. 
• Plain Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt provides acidity to activate the leavening agents and fat resulting in a moist and tender crumb for the cake.  You can use sour cream as a substitute for the Greek yogurt.  Sour cream is slightly tangier and contains more fat than Greek yogurt, but this should not significantly impact the taste of this cake.
• Limoncello:  The liqueur gives the cake a light lemony flavor.  

For the Whipped Mascarpone Frosting and Lemon Curd Layers

• Mascarpone Cheese and Heavy Whipping Cream:  Both should be cold so they whip to stiff peaks..
• Confectioners Sugar: Use powdered sugar to sweeten the frosting without creating a grainy texture.
• Vanilla Extract: If you want the flavor of lemon in the frosting as well you can substitute Lemon extract.
• Lemon Curd: I use my easy homemade lemon curd, but you can also use a ready-made version.  

Step By Step Instructions for Making this Limoncello Cake Recipe

Make the Cake

Grease and flour two 8″ or 9″ cake pans and set aside.  Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together and set aside.

Photo 1: Using an electric mixer or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs and sugar until fluffy and light yellow.

Photo 2: Beat in the Greek yogurt until blended.

Assemble the Cake

Photo 10: Place one of the cake layers upside down on a serving plate, spread 1/2 of the mascarpone whipped cream on the cake, and then carefully top it with 1/2 of the lemon curd.

Photo 11: Place the second cake layer on top and finish the top of the cake with another layer of mascarpone frosting and lemon curd. Cover and refrigerate the cake for about 2 hours before serving.

Baking Tips

• Don’t over-beat the cake batter. As soon as all of the flour is blended into the batter stop beating so that you don’t introduce too much gluten into the cake. 
• If you are using dark-colored cake pans, I recommend checking the cake for doneness after 20 minutes, as dark pans tend to bake more quickly.  
• Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl frequently to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated. 
• Stop beating the frosting as soon as stiff peaks form so that the mixture does not curdle.

Storage and Make Ahead Recommendations

The assembled cake should be covered and refrigerated until you are ready to serve it.  You can make the whole cake up to 2 days in advance as long as you cover it well and refrigerate it.  

Leftovers will stay fresh for several days in the refrigerator if covered with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a cake dome.

The unfrosted cake layers can be tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.

FAQ’s

More Recipes for Lemon Lovers

If you are cooking or baking for a lemon-loving group, I have you covered!  

Some of my lemon desserts with bright, sweet flavors are soft Lemon Ricotta Cookies, Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie, and Lemon Pistachio Biscotti.  

We love to add lemon to savory dishes as well, especially chicken and seafood.  My Roasted Lemon Rosemary Chicken and Chicken Limone are big on flavor but easy to make. Shrimp Oreganata and  Lemon Pepper Salmon are family favorites perfect for a special occasion or a simple date night dinner.