Lemon cake

Lemon Cake - a quick and delicious dessert

Discover the fresh allure and invigorating aroma of lemon cake, a simple recipe that will delight your taste buds! This dessert is not only an excellent choice for a sweet snack but also a perfect way to bring a touch of sunshine to gloomy days. Whether you serve it at a family gathering, a party with friends, or simply during your moments of indulgence, the lemon cake will surely please everyone.

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 50-60 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Number of servings: 12

Ingredients for 2 cakes:
- 8 eggs
- 400 g sugar
- 3 large lemons
- 150 ml oil
- 350 g flour
- 150 g starch
- 1 baking powder
- vanilla sugar

For the syrup:
- 500 ml water
- 200 g sugar
- juice from lemons

A Brief History of Cake

Cake is a dessert that has traversed generations, being popular in many cultures around the world. It combines simple, accessible ingredients and offers amazing versatility. From chocolate cakes to fruit cakes, each variation is unique, but all share a common denominator: the love for cooking and for moments spent with loved ones.

Details about the ingredients

- Eggs: They are the key to a fluffy and moist texture. Make sure they are at room temperature for easier incorporation.
- Sugar: Used both in the batter and in the syrup, sugar adds sweetness and helps achieve a beautifully browned crust.
- Lemons: Fresh and juicy, they provide a vibrant flavor. Grated lemon peel adds an extra intensity and freshness.
- Oil: Using oil instead of butter gives the cake a lighter texture.
- Flour and starch: Starch helps achieve a delicate texture, while flour provides the necessary structure.
- Baking powder: This will help the cake rise beautifully during baking.

Preparation Techniques

1. Beating the eggs: In a large bowl, beat the eggs together with the sugar and a pinch of salt until the mixture becomes light in color and frothy. This step is essential to introduce air into the batter, ensuring a fluffy texture.

2. Adding liquid ingredients: Squeeze the juice from half of the lemons and add it to the egg mixture. Also, add the grated peel from the three lemons, which will enhance the aroma.

3. Incorporating the oil: Gradually add the oil while continuously mixing to achieve a homogeneous emulsion.

4. Mixing the flour: In another bowl, combine the flour with the starch and baking powder. Then, sift this mixture over the egg mixture, gently folding it in with a spatula from the bottom up to avoid losing air in the batter.

5. Pouring into pans: Prepare two loaf pans by greasing them with oil and dusting with flour or by using parchment paper. Pour the batter evenly into the pans.

6. Baking: Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F) and bake the cakes for 50-60 minutes. Check if they are done by inserting a toothpick: if it comes out clean, they are ready.

Preparing the syrup

While the cakes are baking, you can prepare the syrup. In a saucepan, combine the water with the sugar and the remaining lemon juice. Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the syrup thickens slightly.

Finishing the cake

After the cakes are baked, carefully remove them from the pans and poke them in several places with a skewer. This will allow the syrup to seep in and provide extra moisture. Once cooled, pour the syrup evenly over the cakes, allowing them to absorb all the sweetness and aroma.

Serving and variations

This lemon cake is delicious served plain, but you can also add some variations to personalize it. Here are a few suggestions:
- For a lemon poppy seed cake: Add 100 g of poppy seeds to the batter.
- For a lemon blueberry cake: Incorporate 200 g of fresh or frozen blueberries into the batter before baking.
- Serving: You can serve the cake alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or with a berry sauce for a sweet-tart contrast.

Useful tips

- Storage: The cake keeps well at room temperature for a few days, but you can freeze it for longer storage. Make sure it is well wrapped in plastic wrap.
- Enhancing flavors: You can experiment with vanilla or almond extracts to give the cake a different taste.
- Customization: Feel free to add nuts or chocolate for an extra texture and flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use other types of oil?
Yes, you can use sunflower or canola oil. Avoid oils with strong flavors, such as olive oil.

2. What can I use instead of starch?
If you don't have starch, you can use flour, but the texture will be slightly different.

3. How can I enhance the lemon flavor?
By adding a few drops of lemon essence to the batter or using organic lemons, you can intensify the flavor.

Enjoy every slice of lemon cake and cherish every moment spent in the kitchen! This quick dessert will not only delight your taste buds but also bring you closer to your loved ones. Enjoy!