Lemon Zucchini Bundt Cake

Published July 3, 2025

Lemon Zucchini Bundt Cake
Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi
Total Time
1½ hours, plus cooling
Prep Time
35 minutes
Cook Time
55 minutes
Rating
5(49)
Comments
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It seems like everyone has a glut of zucchini in the summer, and this is a great way to make a dent in that pile of produce. This simple cake batter has a hint of cinnamon and a generous amount of lemon zest, and the finished cake is coated with two layers of lemon glaze for a crackly, sweet and tart finish. The classic Bundt shape and its long shelf life makes this the perfect cake to have on your counter for both afternoon snacks and unexpected guests all season long. 

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 12 servings 
  • ¾cup/170 grams unsalted butter, softened to cool room temperature, plus more for the pan
  • cups/290 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 2lemons
  • 1cup/200 grams granulated sugar
  • 3large eggs
  • 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • ½teaspoon baking soda
  • 3cups/300 grams grated zucchini (use the large holes of a box grater), from about 2 medium zucchini
  • 2cups/240 grams powdered sugar
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

431 calories; 16 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 69 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 45 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 356 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and lightly flour a 10-cup Bundt pan.

  2. Step 2

    Zest the lemons into the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl. Add the granulated sugar and use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar. Add the butter and beat on medium until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Add the eggs one at a time, mixing each egg in completely before adding the next. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure the mixture is evenly mixed. Add the cinnamon and 1 teaspoon salt and mix to combine.

  4. Step 4

    Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda, and mix on low until evenly combined. The batter will be thick. Use a flexible spatula to fold in the zucchini. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles and to help it settle in the pan.

  5. Step 5

    Bake the cake until puffed and golden and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, 55 to 65 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan set on a rack for 10 minutes. Then carefully turn it out onto a wire rack or serving plate to glaze and finish cooling.

  6. Step 6

    While the cake cools, make the glaze: Juice one of the lemons. (You should have about ¼ cup.) Add the powdered sugar, a pinch of salt and about three-quarters of the lemon juice to a bowl. Whisk until smooth, adding more lemon juice as necessary to make a thin but opaque glaze.

  7. Step 7

    Immediately brush a thin layer of glaze over the warm cake, and let the glaze set until the cake has cooled to almost room temperature. When the cake is mostly cool, brush the remaining glaze over the top. Let cool completely, then slice and serve. (Store any leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 4 days; the glaze may get a bit sticky as it sits.)

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Ratings

5 out of 5
49 user ratings
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Comments

I've found that two standard bread pans = 1 Bundt pan. Since it's just me and my husband at home now I'll frequently halve Bundt recipes for a sweet treat for just the two of us. Our neighbors however prefer I make the entire Bundt and share!

I used a combination of zucchini and summer squash, as that was what my garden had provided. Also zested an additional lemon into the batter and a bit more juice into the glaze as the recipe directs. Simple and delicious and one of those cakes that mysteriously gets better as it sits.

really nice, moist not very sweet cake with a thin layer of lemony sweet glaze - a great cake we will make again and again!

I used a small bundle pan and a s.all cake pan. Wonderful moist cake, definitely will make again. Used measure for measure gluten free flour with short 5 minute proof time, worked great!

Added lime juice to the glaze for a slightly more zip. Otherwise, followed the recipe. Suggestions for writer: A measurement for lemon zest would be helpful. Lemons come in various sizes. The amount of salt needed for the cake should have been listed in the recipe ingredients. The ingredients simply said salt. The tsp needed for the cake wasn't mentioned until a step in the recipe We bakers like to have all of our measurements and not be surprised in the middle of the recipe.

I can't bear the taste of powdered sugar. I've switcher to caster sugar (superfine sugar), and while not a powder, it works beautifully in buttercream frosting and glazes.

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