19 Refreshing Cakes You’ll Love to Bake

If you love bright, refreshing desserts, this roundup of lemon, lavender, and Italian-inspired cakes is for you. You’ll find everything from classic lemon loafs, crinkle cakes, and layer cakes to elegant Italian treats like Pigna di Pasqua and lemon ricotta budino cakes. Lavender-infused options add a floral twist, and there are also creative ideas like lemon eclair cake, lemon icebox cake, and lemon cake pops. Whether you want a light, citrusy dessert for spring or a show-stopping cake for a special occasion, these recipes make it easy to impress and delight.

Italian Lemon Cream Cake

A slice of two-layer vanilla cake with white frosting on a white plate, placed on a wooden board. — Italian Lemon Cream Cake. Photo credit: Maria’s Mixing Bowl.

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Soft lemon cake layered or filled with creamy lemon filling. Frosting or glaze enhances citrus flavor. The crumb remains moist and tender. Each slice shows vibrant yellow layers.
Get the Recipe: Italian Lemon Cream Cake

Italian Lemon Mascarpone Cake

A slice of layered lemon cake with cream filling on a plate, accompanied by two cookies, lemon slices, and bottles of milk in the background. — Italian Lemon Mascarpone Cake. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Lemon-infused cake paired with rich mascarpone filling. Frosting or glaze can highlight flavors. The crumb is soft and slightly dense. Each slice is creamy and tangy.
Get the Recipe: Italian Lemon Mascarpone Cake

Italian Lemon Ricotta Amaretti Budino Cake

A bundt cake topped with powdered sugar and small round cookies is displayed on a light green cake stand. — Italian Lemon Ricotta Amaretti Budino Cake. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Ricotta cheese and crushed amaretti cookies add texture and flavor. Lemon provides bright, fresh notes. The cake is moist and slightly dense. Each slice has creamy pockets and subtle nutty crunch.
Get the Recipe: Italian Lemon Ricotta Amaretti Budino Cake

Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

A slice of lemon cake with powdered sugar on top, served with whipped cream and a lemon slice on a plate, with a fork and a halved lemon in the background. — Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Ricotta adds tenderness and richness to a lemon-flavored cake. The crumb is soft and delicate. Frosting or glaze may finish the surface. Each slice is smooth with a bright citrus taste.
Get the Recipe: Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

Jello Fruit Cake

Colorful layers of Jello set with fruit and sometimes cake or cookie pieces. Chill before slicing to maintain structure. Each slice is firm yet tender. Vibrant colors create visual appeal.
Get the Recipe: Jello Fruit Cake

Lava Cake

Individual chocolate cakes with molten centers. The exterior is set while the interior remains gooey. Serve warm for flowing chocolate inside. Each bite combines soft cake with rich, liquid chocolate.
Get the Recipe: Lava Cake

Lavender Lemon Cake

Lemon and lavender combine in a tender, moist cake. Frosting or glaze enhances the citrus and floral flavors. The crumb is soft and airy. Each slice delivers bright, fragrant flavor.
Get the Recipe: Lavender Lemon Cake

Lemon Blackberry Pound Cake

Juicy blackberries distribute throughout a lemon-flavored pound cake. The crumb is dense yet moist. Frosting or glaze can enhance fruit flavor. Each slice shows pockets of berries and bright citrus notes.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Blackberry Pound Cake

Lemon Bundt Cake

Moist lemon-flavored cake baked in a Bundt pan. Glaze or frosting highlights ridges. The crumb remains soft and tender. Each slice reveals bright, citrusy flavor.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Bundt Cake

Lemon Cake Pops

Five cake pops coated in white icing with yellow decorative toppings and drizzle, arranged on a white plate on a light wooden surface. — Lemon Cake Pops. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

Cake crumbs mixed with frosting, shaped, and coated in chocolate or glaze. Pops are decorated for visual appeal. Tender cake inside contrasts with firm coating. Each bite is sweet and citrusy.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Cake Pops

Lemon Cake Roll

A slice of lemon Swiss roll cake dusted with powdered sugar on a white plate, with lemon halves and bowls in the background. — Lemon Cake Roll. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Thin sponge cake rolled with lemon-flavored filling. The roll maintains shape and structure. Frosting or glaze may cover the exterior. Each slice reveals spiral layers of cake and filling.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Cake Roll

Lemon Chiffon Cake

A lemon bundt cake with white icing drips sits on a wooden platter, with lemons and strawberries in the background against a patterned tile wall. — Lemon Chiffon Cake. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Light, airy cake with prominent lemon flavor. The sponge is tender yet resilient. Frosting or glaze complements the citrus notes. Each slice is fluffy and soft.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Chiffon Cake

Lemon Crinkle Cake

A round pastry with layered, golden flaky crust is topped with a white icing drizzle, served on a white plate. — Lemon Crinkle Cake. Photo credit: Maria’s Mixing Bowl.

Cake has crackled top with soft, tender interior. Lemon flavor brightens the crumb. Glaze or powdered sugar may finish the cake. Each slice is visually appealing and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Crinkle Cake

Lemon Eclair Cake

Layered dessert with graham crackers or sponge cake, lemon pudding, and whipped topping. Chill before serving. Each slice shows creamy lemon layers. The texture is soft and luscious.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Eclair Cake

Lemon Icebox Cake

A dessert bar with layers of graham crackers, creamy filling, and orange topping, garnished with a lemon slice, served on a white plate. — Lemon Icebox Cake. Photo credit: Maria’s Mixing Bowl.

Layered dessert with lemon cream and cookies or graham crackers. Chill to allow flavors to meld. Slices are firm yet tender. Each bite delivers creamy lemon flavor.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Icebox Cake

Lemon Loaf Cake

A loaf of lemon cake covered with white icing, topped with lemon slices, with one slice cut and lying in front on a white plate. — Lemon Loaf Cake. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Compact loaf cake with lemon flavor. Glaze or frosting adds shine and sweetness. Crumb is moist and soft. Each slice is bright and citrus-forward.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Loaf Cake

Lemon Meringue Cake

A round lemon meringue tart with a golden-brown toasted meringue topping and a slice removed, revealing the lemon filling and tart crust. — Lemon Meringue Cake. Photo credit: Baking Capture.

Lemon cake topped with fluffy meringue. The meringue may be toasted for visual appeal. The crumb is soft and moist. Each slice combines tart lemon and sweet meringue.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Meringue Cake

Lemon Poke Cake

A slice of yellow cake with white frosting and lemon zest on top sits on a white plate with a striped cloth in the background. — Lemon Poke Cake. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Cake is poked with holes and filled with lemon syrup or curd. Crumb absorbs moisture evenly. Frosting spreads smoothly on top. Each slice shows pockets of bright lemon flavor.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Poke Cake

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

A slice of poppy seed cake with white icing sits on a plate with a fork, next to the rest of the cake on a cooling rack. — Lemon Poppy Seed Cake. Photo credit: Cinnamon Shtick.

Moist cake studded with poppy seeds. Lemon flavor brightens the crumb. Frosting or glaze may finish the surface. Each slice combines texture from seeds with soft, tender cake.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Cake