lemon cake.

April 26, 2012

lemons, whole

if you’re going to do one thing this weekend, i say, make a lemon cake. there’s no more sure-fire way to get your apartment feeling springy and fresh. bonus points: using a lemon reamer is extraordinarily satisfying. so little effort, so much achievement.
zest
a word or two about the cake: it’s a funny thing, my relationship with this lemony loaf. i usually go about making sweeping statements about how much i don’t like citrusy desserts. for the most part, this is true. give me the choice between chocolate mousse and key lime pie and that poor pie is going to go uneaten. lemon meringue or a chocolate hazelnut confection? the nutella imposter will win. every time.

lemon, slicedso how does this lemon pound cake win my affection? for me, it’s a question of timing and density. a lemony pound cake is something best enjoyed in the late afternoon with a warm cup of tea. the buttery cake is too rich after a heavy meal but the weight of it is just right for the hour when the sun shifts in the sky and you’ve got what feels like eons to go before dinner. there’s enough butter and sugar in this stout little cake to fuel an army and if you’re someone like me, whose level of crankiness is directly proportionate to the amount of food in her belly, afternoon snacks are a wonderful thing. reamer

i used this recipe from deb, but omitted the glaze. too much sweet, not enough sour for this crank. instead, i sprinkled a bit of powdered sugar and added a little garni of fresh thyme shoots from my teeny tiny apartment herb garden. i also opted to make two cakes in loaf pans, rather than break out the bundt, pretty as it is. 
cake

if you’re generous, making two loaves means you have one to share. pause. sometimes i’m not very generous. james made off with half of one loaf this morning and i’m still whimpering. but never fear, i tore through the waxed paper and i’ve been munching on the second loaf since 7 am. turns out this cake suits just as well when the sun is coming up.cake, sliced

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27 Comments

  • Reply Linda Zimmerman April 26, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    This looks outrageous and will be made this weekend! Thank you for sharing!

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  • Reply Carrie April 26, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    After all of that hard work, I don't blame you for wanting to have your cake and eat it too. I smell the lemons from here. Yum.

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  • Reply Olivia James April 26, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    this is SO lovely. looks delicious and refreshing. i want to spend an afternoon in that tiny apartment of yours!

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    • Reply Erin April 27, 2012 at 12:37 am

      anytime, you're welcome! but i might have to trade you for an afternoon in charleston!

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  • Reply Alexa April 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    i love lemon everything and am so excited over this. a weekend project, i think…

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  • Reply Meagan :: Mo Pie, Please April 26, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    This looks so delicious, it's not even funny. I'm a big fan of lemony desserts and it sounds so good on a day like today – sunny and 75!

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  • Reply Jane Flanagan April 26, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    YUMMMM! Citrus is my favourite dessert!

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  • Reply the southern hostess April 26, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    That is one perfect-looking cake. I'm planning on daydreaming about it later this afternoon.

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    • Reply Erin April 27, 2012 at 12:37 am

      do it! though i have to admit the real deal is tastier than the dreamstuff…

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  • Reply Jenn April 26, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Definitely making this! What size loaf pan did you use?

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    • Reply Erin April 27, 2012 at 12:39 am

      hmm. standard? 8.5" x 4.5" maybe?

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  • Reply Tori Bonaventura April 26, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    I love making lemon cake- so delicious! Yours looks way neater than mine though!
    xo, Tori
    http://daisiesandpixiedust.blogspot.com/

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  • Reply the real mia April 26, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    Lovelies lemon photos ever!

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  • Reply she. April 26, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    looks yummy! fabulous photos.

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  • Reply Clare April 26, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    This looks so good, but so does anything lemony to me. I'd always pick the key lime pie!

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    • Reply Erin April 27, 2012 at 12:40 am

      props lady. hear they make a really good one in red hook, if you're local!

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  • Reply (Another) Erin April 27, 2012 at 12:34 am

    These pictures (and cake) are beautiful! I've wanted to make a lemon cake for so long…this may be the final push.

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    • Reply Erin April 27, 2012 at 12:40 am

      hope so! the lemony scent alone is (almost) worth it. the taste makes it a no-brainer.

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  • Reply Kamana April 27, 2012 at 12:45 am

    that looks so good. i am going t try it today.

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  • Reply Mary April 27, 2012 at 1:13 am

    Scrumptious! This is one of the most visually beautiful blog posts i've ever seen. Not an exaggeration. I can taste and smell the tart, sweet cakiness..Yummy yummy yummy!

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  • Reply Alivia April 27, 2012 at 3:28 am

    Um, I want to lick my computer screen.
    Awkward?

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  • Reply leyla. April 27, 2012 at 3:29 am

    i love to cook, but i have yet to bake something. it looks delicious and i bet it's very refreshing as well!

    leyla.

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  • Reply Rhianna Nelson April 27, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    I did have plans to make buckwheat banana bread this weekend to try to cheer myself up about the onset of winter (good old Australia), but now I think I'll make a lemon pound cake with thyme shoots instead, so that I can pretend that the weather is only just beginning to get warm šŸ˜€

    thewildestofdreams.blogspot.com

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  • Reply sweet harvest moon April 27, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    This looks good! Must try it!

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  • Reply Joan April 28, 2012 at 11:06 pm

    Yes, I too would choose chocolate, but there is something about lemon that brings me in. Looks delish!

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  • Reply another feather May 1, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    sounds so so good! I love anything lemon. and probably drink more lemon in my water then is necessary..

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  • Reply Hosanna May 2, 2012 at 8:26 pm

    omg! I LOVE LEMON CAKE!!!!! šŸ˜€
    will try and make it one day!

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