– 8 oz (226g) package cream cheese, softened (Do not use reduced fat or whipped cream cheese) – ▢1 ½ sticks (168g) unsalted butter, softened (if using salted butter omit the ½ teaspoon salt) – ▢2 cups (400g) sugar – ▢4 large eggs, room temperature (you can warm cold eggs in a bowl of very warm water for 5 min.) – ▢3 cups (342g) cake flour (See notes for substitution) – ▢zest if 1 lemon – ▢2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder – ▢½ teaspoon (3g) baking soda – ▢½ teaspoon (3g) salt – ▢½ cup (121g) Limoncello – ▢½ cup (121g) milk – ▢Juice of 1 lemon approximately ¼ cup – ▢1 Tablespoon (10g) Lemon Extract FOR THE LIMONCELLO SYRUP – ▢¼ cup (60g) water – ▢¼ cup (50g) sugar – ▢⅓ cup (70g) Limoncello FOR THE LIMONCELLO WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING – ▢16 oz Cream Cheese, softened. (We used two 8 oz packages of full fat cream cheese) – ▢2 cups (230g) powdered sugar, measure then sift – ▢2 teaspoons (8g) lemon extract – ▢1 ½ Tablespoons (15g) Limoncello - Add a bit more if you'd like. – ▢3 cups (696g) heavy whipping cream
Set aside after 30 seconds of stirring.In another bowl, mix Limoncello, milk, lemon juice, and extract. Lemon juice thickens buttermilk.Mix softened butter and cream cheese. Smoothly mix.
Add sugar slowly and mix on medium for 2–3 minutes.Add eggs one at a time and mix until yolk yellow disappears.Add flour and liquid ingredients alternately on low speed, commencing and ending with flour. Divide batter between pans.
Heat water and sugar in a pot on medium. Stir regularly over low heat until sugar dissolves and mixture clears.Remove from heat and stir in Limoncello. Cool. Longer low heat thickens the mixture.
Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon extract, and Limoncello in another bowl. Very smooth mix. Fold this into whipped cream gently. This frosting needs refrigeration.