Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze

STAR HOME COOK: Sally Searby’s Lemon Drizzle Cake

Servings

8people

Servings

8people

Ingredients

For the cake

6ounces, plus 2 teaspoons baking powder all-purpose floursifted (this mimics the self-rising flour Sally used in England)
1level teaspoon baking powder(in addition to what you mix in with the flour)
6ounces caster sugar (or granulated sugar made fine in a blender)
6ounces butterat room temperature
3 eggs
Juice of half a lemon
lemon zest

For the lemon curd

For the icing

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3.
Measure all the cake ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat until you have a smooth, creamy consistency. (Tip: Sift the flour over a bowl from a height so it is very light.) Divide the mixture evenly between the two 7-inch round baking tins and bake them on the center shelf of the oven for about 30 minutes or until the centers feel springy when lightly touched.
While the cakes are cooking, make the lemon curd. Place the sugar and grated lemon zest in a bowl, whisk the lemon juice together with the eggs, then pour over the sugar-zest mixture. Then add the butter cut into little pieces, and place the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir frequently until it gets thicker- about 20 minutes.
When the cakes are cooked, remove them from the oven and after about 30 seconds turn them out on to a wire rack. When they are absolutely cold, spread the curd thickly and put one sponge on top of another.
For the icing, zest and juice a large lemon. Put zest aside. Put the sugar into a bowl and gradually stir in 2-3 teaspoons lemon juice until you have a runny consistency.
Spread it on top of the cake with a knife, almost to the edges of the cake. Then scatter the lemon zest over the top and leave it for half an hour for the icing to set before serving.