Spring is in the air and April is the season of citrus fruits. A lemon cake is a great way to start anyone’s April.

The ingredients for the lemon cake are:

• 2 sticks of butter

• 1 C sugar

• 5 eggs

• 2 ¼ C cake flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 ⅔ C milk

• ½ C lemon juice

• ⅓ C oil

• Zest of 3 lemons

• 2 tsp lemon extract

The ingredients for the lemon frosting are:

• 1 stick softened butter

• 4-5 C powdered sugar

• ½ tsp lemon zest

• ⅔ C lemon juice

The recipe is as follows:

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Grease and flour 13x9 pan or two 8” round cake pans.

3. In a small bowl, whisk cake flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and zest together.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk milk, oil, lemon juice and lemon extract.

5. Beat butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add sugar and mix on medium speed for 3-5 minutes or until fully incorporated.

6. Add eggs one at a time.

7. Add flour mixture, alternating with the wet mixture. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Mix until combined.

8. Pour in pans and bake for 30-40 minutes.

9. While the cake is baking, combine the butter and lemon juice until creamy.

10. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time until frosting is smooth.

11. Add zest.

12. When the cake is done, let rest for 10 minutes before taking it out of the pan.

13. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.

As April has started, so has spring. Be sure to make these for friends and family.