Vibrant Lemon Polenta Cake is a delicious, elegant, gluten-free dessert. Simple and refined. The perfect way to end a meal.
This flourless cake is made with cornmeal and almond flour. Topped with a sweet and tart lemon syrup and a dusting of icing sugar. By far the best polenta cake we have ever eaten.
I love lemon desserts, especially lemon curd. Tangy with a bit of sweetness. Perfect for pies, tarts, muffins, and lemon curd parfaits.
This Italian cornmeal cake is moist and flavourful. You will never believe how easy it is to make. It has quickly become our favourite gluten-free lemon cake recipe.
Cornmeal was something I have loved since childhood. I would often just boil some up and eat it with sour cream. I know that may sound weird, but perhaps that is the Ukrainian in me.
It was all about the savoury polenta dishes. Have you tried shrimp and grits?
I had never tried a sweet polenta dessert recipe until I made this lemon cornmeal cake. In fact, I didn’t even know you could use polenta in cakes.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for the easy polenta lemon cake are at the bottom of the post.
Both my husband and I rate lemon meringue pie at the top of our dessert list. Since making this cake, it seems like this is a very, very close second.
Lemon Cornmeal Cake Requires:
- butter
- polenta (cornmeal)
- superfine sugar (see recipe tip)
- almond flour (ground almonds)
- baking powder
- eggs
- lemon zest
- lemon juice
- icing sugar
Recipe Tips
This cake recipe calls for caster sugar. In North America, we don’t have caster sugar, but what we do have is superfine sugar.
If you have ever bought this before, you know how expensive it is for a small amount. Did you know you can make it at home? Yup, all you have to do is put regular granulated white sugar into your blender and turn it into caster sugar. So much cheaper than paying the high prices at the store for this baking ingredient.
You can also do the same process for the ground almonds to make almond flour. Your blender is so useful when it comes to ingredients like this.
Of course, if you don’t have a blender, you can buy ground almonds and superfine sugar at any grocery store or Bulk Barn if you have one near you.
Making Polenta Cake
I get a lot of inspiration from celebrity chefs. Watching them on cooking shows, collecting their cookbooks and following them on social media. Nigella Lawson is a fun person to watch in the kitchen. Her version of this classic dessert sounded so good I just had to give it a try.
Simple and elegant, this is the perfect way to end a meal.
- Heat the oven and prepare a *(affiliate) springform baking pan.
- Juice the lemons using a *(affillate)citrus reamer.
- Zest the lemons with a *(affiliate)microplane.
- Combine the almonds, cornmeal, and baking powder.
- Combine the butter and sugar.
- Alternate the dry mixture with the wet mixture, adding in the eggs as you go.
- Place batter in baking pan.
- Bake
- Top warm cake with lemon syrup.
Once cooled, remove the cake from the pan. Slice and enjoy. I added some icing sugar and sliced strawberries as a garnish, but honestly, this cake works perfectly as a stand-alone dessert.
Is Cornmeal The Same As Polenta?
- There can be some confusion about what polenta actually is. I grew up only knowing it as ground cornmeal.
- The truth is, polenta is actually a dish made of boiled cornmeal. In the south, it can be referred to as grits.
- It can be found in several varieties like coarse, fine, and instant. Located in the baking section or rice section.
- There is even a pre-cooked version. This can be found in a tube shape in the refrigerated section of the grocery store near the olives, dips, and specialty cheeses.
- Besides the boiled version, you can serve it grilled or baked in both savory and sweet recipes. Polenta fries are always a hit.
- Polenta is cooked in salted water, similar to oatmeal and rice.
This great article by epicurious explains things very nicely.
Can You Use Corn Flour Instead Of Cornmeal?
Yes, you can, however, you will get different end results. Cornmeal produces a slightly gritty texture, like in this polenta dessert recipe. They can be used interchangeably.
This classic gluten-free cake will be a hit with any lemon dessert lover.
Speaking of lemon lovers, I have the perfect no-churn Easter ice cream recipe. The kids are going to LOVE it.
Once the hot summer days start to roll around, these lemon tea popsicles are sure to please. Adults love these fruit-filled treats.
Since you will love this easy to make cake, give this classic coffee cake recipe a try too. A great cinnamon breakfast cake.
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Lemon Polenta Cake (Gluten-free)
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup superfine sugar
- 1 ¾ cups ground almonds
- ¾ cup fine cornmeal polenta
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ tbsp lemon zest
For the Syrup:
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ¾ cup icing sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Line base of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease sides with butter.
- Combine almonds, cornmeal and baking powder in a bowl and set aside.
- In another bowl beat butter and superfine sugar until pale (I used a hand mixer).
- To the butter/sugar mixture add some of the almond/cornmeal mixture, followed by 1 egg, and continue to beat.
- Alternately add the almond/cornmeal mixture followed by an egg until it is all incorporated, beating the whole time.
- Beat in the lemon zest.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes.
- Test using a cake tester, the cake will be done, but might seem a bit “wobbly”, the cake should be shrinking away from the side of the pan.
- Remove and set on a wire rack (leave the cake in the pan).
- Make your simple syrup by combining the lemon juice and icing sugar in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil and cook until all the sugar is dissolved.
- Prick the top of the cake all over with a cake tester.
- Pour the warm syrup over the cake.
- Let cool completely before removing from tin.
- Slice, and if desired garnish with powdered icing sugar and berries.
- ENJOY!
Jamie
This cake has so much lemon flavor I’m in heaven! I love how the glaze gives it a beautiful sheen and the color is just gorgeous! I’m making this tomorrow for my family as we’re all lemon fans!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Well, I hope your family enjoys this lemon cake as much as we do. Simple yet so delicious.
Naiby
It seems anything with lemons is following me! I couldn’t agree more with having a blender, and a good quality one at that. You can save so much money by grinding things yourself. This recipe is worth a try. Thanks!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….this lemon cake is a favourite in our house.
Kushigalu
Lemon desserts are my family’s favorite. Love that the recipe is gluten free. Cake looks amazingly delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
If you are a lemon lover, this dessert is right up your alley. ENJOY!
veenaazmanov
Lemon cake with Polenta sounds so very unique. Love the crumbly texture. This is so very yum for sure.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This classic cake is super delicious and really easy to make. Hope you give it a try.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
This dish looks so deliciously good. I wish I could eat that right this minute!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Well if you decide to make it, I am sure you are going to enjoy it. It really is delicious.
Julia
I’ve never had polenta before but I’ve been shopping so much in the flour aisle and keep seeing cornmeal. This gives me an idea that I SHOULD be making this this weekend. Also I love any lemon desserts, the sourness/acidity gives it such a nice kick.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You really need to give this polenta cake a try. It is a winner in our house. If you are a lemon lover, THIS is for you.
Farrukh Aziz
Looks delicious! I love how it’s so easy and with only a few ingredients! Lemon Polenta Cake is what I’m looking for! I’m having some friends over this weekend, and I think this is just the right recipe to make!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I know right. Simple recipes are still the best. ENJOY….this cake is so delicious.
Natalie
I love polenta cake. Haven’t done it in a while. Thanks for this reminder… I will give your recipe a try. Can’t wait. Looks so delicious! Yum!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This cake is super easy to make and always turns out. A great recipe for company too.
Shelley
My son loves lemon-flavored desserts, and I love working with almond meal and almond flour in my baking … so this recipe is a total win for us! Plus, even though it’s such a beloved classic, I was really happy to read the instructions and see how very easy it is, too! Thank you!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
YES, it is super easy to make. This is a lemon lover’s dream cake. ENJOY,
Chef Dennis
Yum! Your Lemon Polenta Cake recipe looks absolutely mouthwatering! This will be perfect for our weekend meal.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This really is an easy and delicious dessert for any night of the week. ENJOY!
Sandy Salazar
Hi,
I absolutely LOVE this cake. I make it in the summer a lot but am considering making it for some friends for Christmas. Have you ever tried freezing this cake? Would you think it will be okay?
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I would for sure freeze this cake. It should be just fine. So glad you love this recipe, we do too.
Dana Sandonato
Oh goodness gracious. So ok. I’m with you on lemon meringue pie, and I was planning on making one from scratch when my Dad visits in April because that’s his fave, but I’ve decided yo make this instead. SO moist, SO lemony, and SO delicious!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Isn’t it awesome how delicious simple foods are? So glad you liked this recipe.
Trish Bozeman
Is there anything better than lemon desserts in the dead of winter? NOPE! Amazing recipe, Gloria. Totally going to just grind sugar next time instead of buying super fine. 🙂
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Yes, the fact we can make our own superfine sugar at a fraction of the cost is awesome.