Sunday, January 30, 2011

Lemon Buttermilk Sheet Cake


With the bright sunshine and the near 50 degree temperature, it felt like spring here. It has been cold, snowy, and gray for weeks so yesterday's weather called for a celebration. I decided to make a lemon cake to make it feel even more springy.

This cake is kind of like lemonade. Sweet, tart and refreshing. The cake is light, airy and moist and the glaze adds just the right amount of tang. A sprinkling of lemon sugar (sugar mixed with lemon zest) over the top adds a bit more sweet/tart and adds a bit of texture.

I used the cake enhancer from King Arthur Flour for the first time. They tout it as a 'miracle product' that makes baked goods softer and moister and increases shelf life. I have to say this was the lightest crumb cake I have made in a while so maybe it did enhance the recipe. I also used it in another recipe I made yesterday and that one turned out great too!

Cake enhancer aside, this is a fantastic recipe and one that I plan on making again!


I am linking this to Now Serving's Best "Western" Desserts Valentines Special Event.



Lemon Buttermilk Sheet Cake
Cook's Country, August/September 2008

Cake:
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
3 tablespoons grated zest and 1/4 cup juice from 3 lemons
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, room temperature

Glaze:
3 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons buttermilk

1. For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 13-by 9 inch baking pan. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Combine buttermilk, lemon juice, and vanilla in liquid measuring cup.

2. With electric mixer on medium speed, beat granulated sugar and lemon zest until moist and fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer 1/4 cup sugar mixture to small bowl, cover, and reserve. Add butter to remaining sugar mixture and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs and yolk, one at a time, until incorporated. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions of buttermilk mixture, and mix until smooth, about 30 seconds.

3. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes. Transfer cake to wire rack and let cool 10 minutes.

4. For the glaze: meanwhile, whick confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and buttermilk until smooth. Gently spread glaze over warm cake and sprinkle evenly with reserved sugar mixture. Cool completely, at least 2 hours. Serve.
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11 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tip on the cake enhancer - I hadn't heard about it. Your cake sounds delicious, I love lemon. Send some of those 50 degree temps this way please, I'm sick of the cold :)

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  2. I love that lemon combination of sweet but tart. What a great cake!

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  3. This looks great and would probably improve my mood during Chicago's 20 degree weather!

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  4. Love sheet cakes and love this version. Come on over and enter my first give away. Im your newest follower :)
    mickey
    http://monstermama-monstermama.blogspot.com/

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  5. The cake enhancer sounds very interesting, thanks for the tip- either way this cake looks AMAZING! Love Cooks Country! And... I'm jealous that it was 50 degrees where you are :)

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  6. I am fascinated by the cake enhancer - I think I might just try it. And I'm going to browse your recipes for those that don't include lemon. It's best only in lemonade, in my opinion!

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  7. That is such a GORGEOUS CAKE -- Thanks for entering it to my event - I am excited about digging deeper into your site and reading your other recipes ..bookmarking to try out at a future date :)

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  8. I made this cake & threw in a few blueberries. Even though I didn't use the cake enhancer, it had such a velvety crumb. I will definitely make it again! Thanks you!
    http://www.createamazingmeals.com/2011/02/vegetable-samosas-curried-beef-over.html

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  9. Thanks for entering this to my event, CG :) Could you please link this to my event - please take the logo from my blog -- thanks dear!

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  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  11. Hi Cg, you've an award waiting on my blog - do collect and hearty congrats :)

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