Tag: dessert

Luscious Lemon Layer Cake

Yesterday I asked my eldest son what kind of cake he would like me to bake. I always hold my breath sightly when I ask this as my kids often come up with some pretty inventive cake ideas.

After a little thought he asked for a lemon cake. Specifically a round lemon cake with a crunchy lemon drizzle topping with lemon curd in the middle.

With a smile of relief I thought I had all the ingredients at home but it turned out I only had a drop of lemon curd left. It was pouring with rain and frankly I couldn’t be bothered going to the shops so I also added a layer of clotted cream, which turned out to be absolutely delicious and the perfect match to the cake’s citrus burst.

This is a wonderfully zingy crunchy lemon cake the like of which I’ve never had before. I’ll definitely be making this again and again…

Luscious Lemon Layer Cake

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 210g self raising flour
  • 25g cornflour
  • 225g caster sugar
  • 225g room temp butter
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 3 tablespoons of milk

For the lemon drizzle

  • The juice of 1 lemon
  • 80g granulated sugar

For the filling

  • 3 tablespoons of lemon curd
  • If you like add cream or butter cream too

Method

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C / gas 4. Grease 2 x 20cm round cake tins and line the bases.
  • Put the flour, sugar and cornflour into a food processor and blitz to combine.
  • Now just chuck in the rest of the ingredients and whiz until combined.
  • Pour and scrape the cake mixture into the prepared tins and smooth over the tops.
  • Bake for 25 minutes until the cake is golden and a skewer comes out of the cakes clean.
  • Leave the cakes in their tins to cool a little (about 10 minutes) and then turn one cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Leave the other cake in its tin.

For the drizzle:

  • Just mix together the sugar and lemon juice. Take the cake that is still in its tin and prick it all over with a fork. Gently pour over the drizzle mixture and leave to cool in the tin on the wire rack.
  • Once both cakes are cool take the bottom cake layer (the one without the drizzle) and place on a plate or cake stand. Spread with the curd and, if you’re using it, the cream and pop the crusty topped cake on top.

rachelshungry4 Comments

Sumptuous Bannoffi Pie

I don’t have to tell you that banoffi pie (banana / toffee) is already oozing with sweet, bronzed caramel so there’s really no requirement for additional caramel in any shape or form. Well, that’s easy for me to say as I confess that I am not overly keen on caramel.

However, I live in a house of rabid caramel adorers to whom there is no such thing as too much caramel. So as I was finishing this sweet treat off with an elegant grating of quality chocolate, along came my son with some chopped up chunks of Cadburys Caramel. It was declared a triumph by all.

If you have a delection for sweet sweet confection you simply have to make this pie. If you did want to tone the sweetness down a notch you could stir a pinch of salt into your caramel and of course go right ahead and omit the chocolate caramel decoration.

Sumptuous Banoffi Pie

Ingredients

  • 250g digestive biscuits
  • 125g butter, melted
  • 1 can (397g) or jar of caramel
  • Optional pinch of sea salt
  • 2 – 3 bananas
  • 300ml of double cream
  • About 20g chocolate, grated
  • 1 – 2 bars of chocolate enrobed caramel

Method

  • First of all pop your biscuits in a large bag and crush them with a rolling pin until your have nice fine crumbs.
  • Mix them with the melted butter then tip them into a 20cm pie dish or springform tin. Press them down firmly with the back of a metal spoon. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.
  • If you have opted for the salted version, mix the sea salt into the caramel. Pour your caramel over the cool biscuit base and spread out gently so you have an even layer.
  • Slice your bananas and scatter them over the caramel.
  • Whip your double cream until it forms soft peaks. Spoon on top of the waiting pie.
  • Finally sprinkle over your chocolately adornments.
  • Chill, preferably for at least a couple of hours, before devouring.

rachelshungry3 Comments