Lemon Bundt Cake

Am I still in summer thoughts or what? Well you can say so, I am missing summers and all the fall recipes on internet is making me crave for summer recipes even more. I can’t get over the beautiful sunshine yellow color. I get this rigid summer mood from the tree that I see from my bedroom. It is in adamant mood, when all trees have turned into skeleton this tree stays strong engulfing all its leaves. Nature, I tell you can be so inspiring.

So this lemon cake happened the other day in my kitchen .These days I have many people with whom I share my bakes- my friends in the building where I have shifted and my colleagues in office. Initially I used to bake only on special days as eating sweet bakes everyday made me and my husband gain weight. Now when I have many people to share it with I am sure many baking actions are going to happen. Can’t wait! Happy Dance!

This cake you guys! Lemon Cake. Lemon Bundt Cake. Bundt cake is a cake made in bundt shaped pan which gives it distinct ring shape. Check out One Bowl Chocolate Bundt Cake and also Coffee Whiskey Bundt Cake. This cake has everything that a good cake must have- its light, soft, fluffy, airy and so buttery. Tangy flavored cakes are my favorite, the tang from citrus fruits and sugar balances each other really well. I have made eggless orange cake and orange cupcakes as well. This is a full proof Lemon Cake recipe made with eggs, I have made 1 pound lemon cake recipe made in loaf pan in which I used yogurt (dahi).

Basically I believe that a good lemon cake must have good amount of lemon zest, lemon juice and butter. Always use fresh lemon juice, don’t even think about bottled lemon juice, it’s such a waste. Next, make sure everything is in the room temperature; else the cake will not turn soft. Beat the eggs slowly on low speed; doing so will give you light airy cake. Finally when the cake is hot, pour lemon sugar syrup on it, this is optional but I really recommend it- just for extra zing and flavour. Yeah so that’s about it. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

For Cake

All Purpose Flour /Maida- 175 grams (1 and 1/3 cup )

Sugar - 175 grams (2/3 cup)

2 large eggs

Butter - 125 grams (2/3 cup)+ 2 tablespoon
Pinch of salt

Baking powder – 1 and 1/2 teaspoon

Milk - 1/4 cup

Zest of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

For syrup

Juice of 1 and a half lemons

Icing sugar -100 grams 

2 tablespoons water

Method:

1. Grease the bundt with 2 tespoons butter and keep aside.
2. Preheat the oven at 180C for 10-12 minutes.
3. Mix lemon juice and milk and keep aside.
4. Sieve all purpose flour, salt and baking powder and keep aside.
5. Beat butter and sugar on low speed till butter becomes light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat slowly on low speed.
6. Add dry sieve ingredients and lemon zest. Also throw in lemon juice and milk mixture.
7. Beat slowly on low speed till the batter is mixed properly without lumps.
8. Pour the batter in the greased pan and bake in the oven for 35 minutes at 180C. Insert the skewer or knife in the centre of the cake, it should come out clean.
9. Cool on wire rack.
10. Make the syrup-Mix water everything together and microwave for 10 seconds.
11. When the cake in hot, prick some holes with skewer on the cake. Pour the syrup.
12. Turn the cake on serving plate and serve.

Notes:

Do not grate the white part or lemon skin/peal, else it will get bitter.

You can use the same recipe for loaf pan too.

I used this Farberware Nonstick Bundt Pan.

I love to have this cake plain so I can’t recommend any frosting, but feel free to dust some sugar.

Eggless Chocolate Strawberry Cake With Fresh Cream Frosting- 50th Post

Hmmm...So it my 50^th post and I want to make something special. Let me check what’s in the fridge...Oh I have a lots of yogurt in there..So! Let’s make eggless chocolate cake with some strawberries.

Ingredients:

(For Sponge)

1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar (add 1/4 cup more if not using frosting)
1/2 cup plain yogurt / curd
1/4 cup butter
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder

¼ cup melted chocolate

5 tbsp grated chocolate

5 strawberries (4 finely chopped and 1 chopped in 4 parts)
A pinch of salt if using unsalted butter

(For Frosting)

2 cups heavy or whipping cream 
5 Tbs. granulated sugar 
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 350F / 180 C. Grease a medium cake pan and set aside.

Sift together flour, salt (if using), cocoa powder and baking powder or just mix well in a bowl until combined well. Mix sugar and butter at room temperature. Beat well until frothy (2-3 minutes on an electric mixer, 7-8 minutes by hand using a whisk).

Once frothy, add yogurt and vanilla. Mix well.

Fold in the flour mixture until just combined. The batter will be a bit thick, it’s supposed to be that way, don't worry.

Transfer batter to the greased tray and bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.

When the cake cools down, slit in two parts and apply melted chocolate on both the parts.

On the bottom layer of the cake lay finely chopped strawberries. Cover it with top layer.

Chill the bowl which you are using for whipping cream in the refrigerator or 5 minutes in the freezer. Pour the heavy cream into the bowl and whisk on medium-high speed until it just starts to thicken. Slow the speed down to medium and gradually pour in the sugar. Continue to whisk until soft peaks form.

Add the vanilla extract and continue to whisk by hand until the cream is smooth and stiff peaks form. Do not overbeat otherwise it will curdle.

Cover the complete cake with the whipped cream and decorate it with quartered strawberries and grated chocolate.

 I used some gems/ M&M to bring some colour to the cake.

Isnt it yummy....I am gonna eat it right now!!!

 Tip:Any fruits that you like can be used instead of strawberry

Any fruit jam can be applied on the layers of cake instead of melted chocolate