A three-tiered white wedding cake with subtle ombré effect, adorned with fresh flowers and candied lemon slices, displayed on an antique silver stand with a marble surface, featuring a cross-section revealing golden sponge layers and lemon curd, captured in soft natural light.

Lemon Elderflower Wedding Cake: A Royal Celebration of Flavor

Quick & Elegant Layered Cake Perfect for Special Occasions

Key Information

Prep Time: 1-2 hours

Cook Time: 20-40 minutes

Total Time: 1.5-3 hours

Servings: 8-16 slices

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

Dietary Tags: Vegetarian (Vegan Option Available)

Essential Equipment You’ll Need

Must-Have Tools
Nice-to-Have Extras
  • Cake turntable
  • Piping bags
  • Cake scraper

A bright kitchen with marble countertops featuring mixing bowls of flour, fresh lemons, and elderflower liqueur, alongside a stand mixer, eggs, and butter, illustrating the organized setup for baking a lemon elderflower cake.

Ingredients Breakdown

Cake Base
Lemon Curd Filling
  • Egg yolks
  • Sugar
  • Fresh lemons
  • Butter
  • Vanilla extract
Elderflower Buttercream
  • Egg whites
  • Unsalted butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Elderflower cordial

Preparation Method

Cake Layers
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
  3. Add eggs gradually
  4. Alternate dry and wet ingredients
  5. Fold in lemon zest and elderflower liqueur
  6. Bake for 18-40 minutes
  7. Cool completely
Lemon Curd
  1. Combine eggs, sugar, lemon juice in saucepan
  2. Cook on low heat, whisking constantly
  3. Remove when thickened
  4. Add butter, cool completely
Swiss Meringue Buttercream
  1. Heat egg whites and sugar
  2. Whip to stiff peaks
  3. Gradually add butter
  4. Incorporate elderflower cordial

Pro Tips

  • Bring ingredients to room temperature
  • Don’t overmix batter
  • Use room temperature butter for smooth buttercream
  • Cool layers completely before frosting

Elegant three-tiered white wedding cake on a silver stand, decorated with white peonies and candied lemon slices, illuminated by warm afternoon light.

Storage & Make-Ahead

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Freeze unfrosted layers for 1 month
  • Bring to room temperature before serving

Variations

  • Vegan adaptation
  • Cupcake version
  • Alternative citrus flavors
  • Gluten-free option

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overbaking cake layers
  • Splitting buttercream
  • Runny lemon curd
  • Uneven cake layers

Final Decorating Touches

  • Edible flowers
  • Candied lemon slices
  • Powdered sugar dusting
  • White chocolate drizzle

A Note on Origins: This cake gained worldwide fame as the chosen dessert for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 royal wedding, elevating the lemon elderflower combination to iconic status.

Pro Tip: For the most authentic experience, use fresh, high-quality ingredients and take your time with each step. The magic is in the details!

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