This turned out to be one of my favourite cakes to bake as it makes your kitchen smell so good. The classic cake baking aromas are wafting around with a bit of lemon thrown in for good measure. This is another recipe from my Granny. Some recipes make the cake in two tins and put lemon curd or butter icing between the cakes, I made one cake for optimum drizzle potential.
To make the sponge, butter and line a nice deep cake tin. Beat together 175g each of butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Part of the reason I like making cakes is because I feel the beating, whisking and subsequent reduction in circumference of my arms more than compensates for the rather large slice I’ll help myself to once complete.
Gradually add in three beaten eggs. Sift 175g self raising flour and a teeny bit of baking powder and fold this into the mixture. Grate in the zest of two lemons and mix. Place in a preheated oven at 180C for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Mine took about 55 minutes in the end.
Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before turning out onto a wire rack. Juice the two lemons from earlier until you get about three tbsp juice. Mix this juice with three tbsp of caster sugar. I added the sugar a little at a time to allow it to dissolve but you want it nice and thick so when it dries it leaves a crispy top.
Pierce through the cake (almost to the bottom) with a skewer and spoon the lemon juice mixture over the top. Allow it some time to sink in and drizzle all over the place. Putting a plate underneath has two benefits; one that it stops the kitchen getting a lemon drizzle makeover and two you can lick the plate afterwards.
Once the cake is iced you are meant to wait for the icing to go crispy. I couldn’t wait so I made myself a nice cup of tea and cut myself a yellow, lemony slice. At that moment I could not think of a thing I would rather be eating. It had that wonderful comfort that can only come from warm, just baked sponge but with a zingy freshness that was just perfect. The icing was sweet and bitter and had a lovely shattering texture. What else would you need on a late summer afternoon?
I don’t think this cake was exceptional because I’m some sort of lemon drizzle cake master, I think it’s because there is no denying a homemade cake is in a different league to a cake made in any other way.
All That I’m Eating
This looks fantastic!
Perfect for a quiet contemplative cup of tea or coffee (well, maybe a bad acid combination with coffee).
The cake looks so good.
Your cake looks great and the way you describe “the crispy top” is just too irresistible especially the last pic of it! Look at the dripping part of the lemon+sugar juice=YUMS!
I can see why it was hard to wait for the glaze to cool before having a slice. It looks heavenly. Well done.
Apart from Ginger cake, a lemon drizzle is my top favourite cake and that looks amazing!
Karen
Yes, I agree. Lemon Drizzle Cake has to be homemade to get that real lemonny zing and when you get it right there is nothing to beat it.
I hope you had a great holiday. What did you do and where did you go?
I have a problem waiting for food as well. As soon as it is done I just want to have it, no matter how hot it is. I love the lemon cake and how the icing is dripping on the side.
I absolutely adore lemon cakes. ADORE them…and when the icing drizzles…yeah.
You’ve baked my new favourite thing – I absolutely love lemon drizzle cakes. Lovely pics also.
I love lemon cake. this looks wonderful without the crazy icing and sounds perfect with a cup of tea. I’ll keep it in mind. thanks for sharing
I felt the same exact way about Key Lime Pie until I made my own. So much better and you can make it just how you like it!
It looks beautiful! I wouldn’t have waited for the icing either 😀 I’d love a big comforting slice right now.
YUM! Don’t you just love carrot cake? It is one of my favoritest cakes ever 🙂 This lemon drizzle cake looks wonderful, too! There’s usually a lot of satisfaction with making your own cakes 🙂
I love your final sentiment. Totally agree. Urvashi x
Thank you for all your comments, glad you liked it!
ur cake is looking really fantastic.tempting me to eat.
What tea would you pair with it?
Lemon drizzle sounds amazing! Love the cake.
lemon drizzle cake is one of my favorite ‘english’ cakes and yours look delicious!