Description
Lemon drizzle traybake cake delivers zesty delight in every slice, perfect for afternoon tea. Tangy citrus and sweet glaze create a classic British dessert that brings sunshine to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) self-rising flour
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk (whole or semi-skimmed)
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsps lemon juice
- zest of 2 lemons
Instructions
- Preparation: Line a rectangular baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete bottom and side coverage for effortless cake removal.
- Creaming: Whip softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture transforms into a pale, fluffy, and voluminous cream.
- Egg Integration: Gradually incorporate eggs into the butter mixture, ensuring thorough blending and maintaining a smooth, consistent texture.
- Dry Ingredient Incorporation: Delicately sift self-rising flour and baking powder over the wet ingredients, using a gentle folding technique to preserve the batter’s airiness.
- Flavor Infusion: Add freshly grated lemon zest, squeeze in lemon juice, and pour milk into the batter, stirring minimally to maintain the cake’s light and delicate structure.
- Baking Preparation: Carefully transfer the velvety batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to create an even, level surface for uniform baking.
- Baking Process: Bake in a preheated oven until the cake develops a golden-brown exterior and a clean skewer test confirms perfect doneness.
- Cooling and Drizzle Preparation: Allow the cake to cool briefly in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack. Simultaneously, whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice to create a smooth, tangy drizzle.
- Finishing Touch: Generously pour the zesty lemon drizzle over the slightly warm cake, allowing it to penetrate the tender crumb and create a glistening, flavor-packed topping.
Notes
- Softening Butter Technique: Ensure butter is at room temperature, soft enough to indent with a finger but not melting, for perfect creaming with sugar.
- Egg Incorporation Strategy: Add eggs at room temperature and mix gradually to prevent batter curdling and maintain smooth, silky texture.
- Zest and Juice Balance: Grate lemon zest before juicing to maximize flavor intensity and prevent dry cake edges.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute self-rising flour with gluten-free alternative and add extra baking powder to maintain light, fluffy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg