Just right for summer or any season - lemon cake with splashes of sugary lemon !
MAKE THIS GLUTEN FREE - No problem - simply substitute your favorite gluten free flour mix. If it doesn't contain xanthan gum, add 1/4 tsp. |
Makes one 9x5-inch loaf.
Cake Ingredients 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 3 large eggs (room temperature) 1/4 cup whole milk 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 & 1/2 Tablespoons lemon zest 1/2 tsp vanilla "Splash" Ingredients (Glaze) 3/4 cup regular sugar juice of the 2 lemons |
Steps
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease your loaf pan and line the bottom with baking parchment paper, if you have it. I usually just butter up the pan and add a dusting of flour, instead of parchment paper.
- Beat together the butter and sugar. I often don't have softened butter and end up melting it on the stove. That's perfectly OK to use it melted, just let it cool enough so it won't cook the eggs. If your butter is melted, just beat by hand - this recipe is very forgiving.
- Then add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended. I just beat this by hand - no mixer required.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together.
- Slowly alternate adding in the flour mixture, the milk, and the lemon juice to the butter mixture, beating just until it's mixed. Stir in the lemon zest and vanilla.
- Pour the batter into your baking dish and bake in a preheated 325° F oven for about 1 hour. Check to see if it's done - should be springy to touch. I usually stick a knife down the middle - if it comes out clean, it's done.
- Remove from oven when done and let cool for 5 - 10 minutes. Then remove from pan, peel away baking paper, and place on a rack. Put a cookie sheet under the rack. It's going to get messy under there!
- If you want to omit the splash glaze, then stop right here and let it cool enough to slice and eat!
- If you want to glaze - then hurry and make your glaze - you need to put it on the cake while the cake's still warm and cozy.
- For the glaze - whisk or beat together sugar and lemon juice.
- I use a spoon and "splash" the glaze all over the cake.
