Lemon polenta cake recipe

This moist lemon polenta cake is gluten-free and a wonderful choice for afternoon tea or an impressive, light dessert. 

Lemon drizzle cake is a crowd-pleasing bake but if you need something gluten-free that everyone can enjoy and still delivers a punchy zesty flavour, this polenta cake is a fantastic option. The combination of ground almonds and polenta keeps the cake nice and moist and means it will keep for a few days without drying out. 

Ingredients

• 250g butter, softened
• 250g caster sugar
• 3 medium eggs, beaten
• 250g ground almonds
• Few drops of vanilla extract
• Rind and juice of 1 lemon
• 2tbsp milk
• 125g fine polenta
• 11⁄2 level tsp gluten-free baking powder

For the lemon syrup:

• Juice of 2 lemons
• 6tbsp honey
• 50g icing sugar

For the topping:

• 150g raspberries
• 150g blueberries
• Sprigs of mint, for decoration (optional) 

Method

1. Heat the oven to 160C (140C fan, Gas 3). Grease and line a 23cm (9in) round cake tin, non-stick is preferable.
2. Beat the butter until soft and pale. This can take around 10 minutes if not soft when you begin. Add the sugar and beat until light and creamy. Whisk in the egg, a little at a time. Don’t worry if it looks split, it will come together when you add the remaining ingredients.
3. Gently fold in the almonds, vanilla, lemon rind and juice, milk, polenta and baking powder. Pour the mixture into the tin and level the surface.
4. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean after being inserted into the cake. Remove from the oven and leave it in the tin.
5. To make the syrup, place the lemon juice and honey in a pan and stir in the icing sugar until it has dissolved. Spoon half the syrup over the cake while the cake and syrup are hot.
6. When you’re ready to serve, pile the fruit on top and re-warm the syrup if it’s too thick to drizzle. Garnish with some small mint leaves, if liked.

Top tips for making lemon polenta cake

For serving suggestions and information on what to do if the cake is going too dark on the top before it’s baked, read our tips below. Don’t worry if your cake sinks in the middle too, we explain why this might happen. 

This cake is a real beauty once fully assembled and decorated, give it the presentation it deserves by serving on an attractive cake stand. It’s a simple way to make your cakes look professional and will impress your friends and family. Food editor Jessica Dady did a round up of the best cake stands for 2022 and this was one of the favourites. 

Mango Wood Cake Stand - View at H&M

The chic wooden cake stand has a sleek design and is made from 100 per cent wood. The rustic appearance will compliment your homemade cake perfectly and it’s easy to wipe clean. 

Lemon is a popular cake flavour and it’s a cost effective option too. For more citrusy bakes, try our lemon cake with poppy seeds or our lemon curd cake for something really special. If you like a moist cake then our lemon cake with olive oil is one of our favourites.