This cake is pure lemony goodness and is made completely from scratch (I can't believe I used an entire carton of eggs!). I guess that's what makes it so good, along with loads of butter, sugar, and fresh lemon zest.
(Recipe adapted from PAULA DEEN and LIFE IS GREAT).
Cake:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 lemons zest
Frosting:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar or 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
2 egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Filling:
8 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
3 lemons, zest grated and juiced
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. To make the cake: Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Zest 2 lemons and mix it into the batter. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter, then dropping flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
To make the frosting: Place sugar, cream of tartar or corn syrup, salt, water, and egg whites in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer for 1 minute. Place pan over boiling water, being sure that boiling water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Beat constantly on high speed with electric mixer for 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
To make the filling: Place the ingredients in the double boiler over boiling water. Don't let top pan touch the water. Cook and stir until mixture begins to gel or thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
To assemble, add 1 tablespoon of filling to the cake pedestal. Run hands along the side of the cake to remove excess crumbs. Place the cake layers on the pedestal, spreading filling between the layers and on top. Spread the sides and top of the cake with the remaining filling. Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. (I took a blow torch to the frosting to harden it and keep it from sliding off the cake. I also liked the look it created. It reminded me of roasted marshmallows with a light brown crisp).
To make your triangle banner you will need these items:
-Pencil
-String
-Glue
-Scissors
-2 Skewers
Draw triangles onto the paper with a pencil. Cut the triangles out. Glue two triangles together with the string in between the triangles (I made six triangle flags, but it may vary depending on the size of your triangles and the size of your cake), then tie each end of the string onto the skewers.
Once your banner is complete top it onto your cake. This is a fun way to spruce up a birthday cake or to impress your guests with what you made for dessert.
Happy Baking!
-Christal from MUSTARD ME YELLOW
Cake:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 lemons zest
Frosting:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar or 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
2 egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Filling:
8 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
3 lemons, zest grated and juiced
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. To make the cake: Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Zest 2 lemons and mix it into the batter. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter, then dropping flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
To make the frosting: Place sugar, cream of tartar or corn syrup, salt, water, and egg whites in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer for 1 minute. Place pan over boiling water, being sure that boiling water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Beat constantly on high speed with electric mixer for 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
To make the filling: Place the ingredients in the double boiler over boiling water. Don't let top pan touch the water. Cook and stir until mixture begins to gel or thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
To assemble, add 1 tablespoon of filling to the cake pedestal. Run hands along the side of the cake to remove excess crumbs. Place the cake layers on the pedestal, spreading filling between the layers and on top. Spread the sides and top of the cake with the remaining filling. Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. (I took a blow torch to the frosting to harden it and keep it from sliding off the cake. I also liked the look it created. It reminded me of roasted marshmallows with a light brown crisp).
To make your triangle banner you will need these items:
-Pencil
-String
-Glue
-Scissors
-2 Skewers
Draw triangles onto the paper with a pencil. Cut the triangles out. Glue two triangles together with the string in between the triangles (I made six triangle flags, but it may vary depending on the size of your triangles and the size of your cake), then tie each end of the string onto the skewers.
Once your banner is complete top it onto your cake. This is a fun way to spruce up a birthday cake or to impress your guests with what you made for dessert.
Happy Baking!
-Christal from MUSTARD ME YELLOW
15 comments:
I don't cook (I know, shame on me), but I'll gladly make these cute banners if I can talk a family member or friend into making this yummy sounding cake. Thanks for 2 projects in 1.
Mmmm, sounds delicious! And the darling banner is the perfect finishing touch!
I love this idea! I am going to use this on my son's birthday to cake to add a little handmade "something". I have never had that lemon cake, but if its from Paula, I am sure it ROCKS!
Wow, what a cake. I really love your cute SEI paper banners strung across the cake.
OMG. That cake looks so good. I need to make sure to keep the recipe. I love the banner.
Wow! that's such a good idea! Cake looks yummy!
Gads that looks good AND it's from scratch! yay!!!
The recipe, cake and decorating ideas are beautiful. TFS!
cake looks yummy (banner too) thanks for the recipe.
Super cute idea! Thanks for the cake recipe too - looks to die for!
Great work Christal! Love the colors and versatility of Destert Springs collection! -Alisa
Cute banner and thanks for the reciepe
Looks pretty tasty! Cute banner!!
Thanks for the tutorial AND the recipe!
Yumm~O!! I love any recipe from Paula Dean! And your cake turned out beautifully with the banner!
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