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Mini lemon cake for two, made in ramekins. Small batch serving cake.
Lemon cake for two made in ramekins.

Fun fact: I only own 2 ramekins.

So, while Iโ€™ve been on this self-imposed journey to miniaturize all the cakes into ramekins (see: chocolate cake for two), Iโ€™ve been washing a lot of ramekins. More specifically, Iโ€™ve been washing them when theyโ€™re still scalding hot, right out of the oven.

Whenever I have a cake failure, I have to remove the evidence immediately. If I donโ€™t trash my cake fails, then I eat them. All of them. By myself, in the kitchen. Itโ€™s not a good scene.

I had a lot of failures with this lemon cake in ramekins, because the lemon juice played games with the baking soda. But rest assured: we got it right.

Mini lemon cake in ramekins. Serves two.

Well, almost.

I wanted a soft, fluffy cake, not a domed muffin-like cake. So, we have to accept a leetleย compromise: a teeny tiny divot after baking. ย Donโ€™t worry, itโ€™s going to be TOTALLY FINE. Just bake the cake all the way through (use a toothpick to be sure), and then let it cool. The slight dimple that forms while it cools is just making way for moreย lemon glaze frosting, ok?

Trust me on this one. If I gave you a lemon cake for two recipe that didnโ€™t slightly sink, it would have the texture of a scone. Lemon scones are good. Tender, moist, fluffy cake is better.

Cake made in ramekins to serve two. Lemon cakes.

Do you see the tiny dimple?

No, no you donโ€™t. Because itโ€™s full of bright lemon glaze.

Are you a lemon lover like me? I crave these little lemon cakes almost weekly, but just know that Iโ€™m working on a spice cake version, a red velvet version, and a funfetti version. My fingertips are already burning at the thought. But I do it all for YOU.

Me, you, and mini cakes in ramekins. We have a sweet life, donโ€™t we?

These are the exact ramekins I use.

Yield: 2 ramekins

Lemon Cake for Two

Mini lemon cake for two made in a ramekin. Small lemon layer cake.

Two mini lemon cakes for two baked in ramekins.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream (or full-fat yogurt)
  • 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons neutral oil
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

For the glaze:

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice, as needed

Instructions

  1. First, spray 2 6-ounce ramekins very well with cooking spray, and set them on a mini baking sheet.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and pinch of salt. Set aside.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, sour cream (or yogurt), oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  5. Add the dry ingredients in two batches to the wet ingredients, and stir gently to combine.
  6. Divide the mixture between the two ramekins.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  8. While the cakes cool, make the frosting: whisk together all ingredients, adding more lemon juice to thin it out to a pourable consistency.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 448Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 197mgSodium: 252mgCarbohydrates: 77gFiber: 2gSugar: 54gProtein: 8g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

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About Christina Lane

Christina Lane is the author of 5 cookbooks all about cooking and baking for two. She has scaled down hundreds of recipes into smaller servings so you can enjoy your favorite dishes without the leftovers! Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday.

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82 Comments

  1. maria says:

    Amazing

  2. S says:

    Delicious and easy! Great taste and texture.

    I substituted full fat for lowfat greek yogurt and it turned out well. I also used unrefined coconut oil which adds a wonderful flavor. Enjoyed warm with a glaze of butter, raw honey, a pinch of sea salt, and a couple drops of lemon juice.

  3. Anne M Turner says:

    This is an awesome recipe โ€“ followed exactly and cakes came out perfect ! Thank you for cutting recipes down for us now that we are empty nesters !

  4. Peri says:

    As much as I want to try these, is the carbohydrate count of 77g correct? Yikes! Thatโ€™s more than entire meals worth of carbs. Even as a special treat, I canโ€™t!

  5. Kylie says:

    This was so delicious and easy to make!! Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

  6. pam baran says:

    Thanks for a wonderful recipe. I was upset at my husband and he knows lemon cake is my favorite. It was a grand slam. He made it and now I guess thatโ€™s his sorry. Maybe I should get upset more often

  7. Sarah K says:

    This was delicious! Really hit the spot :) I used gluten free 1-to-1 flour and it was perfect.