Two lemon recipes already this month? I know I recently posted these addicting lemon strawberry thumbprints...Well, what can I say? I`m lemon-obsessed. But, only in the delicious way. ;)
After all the crazy holiday baking, I took a short break. It wasn`t so much a voluntary decision, but I got too busy with work and catching up with friends that I couldn`t afford the time or muster up the energy to bake and clean afterwards. When I started college, I was often told college students can only do two of these three things really well: 1. Get good grades ("A"s & "B"s) 2. Have a social life (this included hobbies, clubs, etc) 3. Sleep (the healthy 8 hrs+).
Even though I thought it was pretty funny, I could definitely see the truth behind it. I realized it was a delicate balance you had to juggle often to achieve all three things well. It was too hard to do ALL three things well. Having graduated and all, grades have been replaced by work. Haha! I feel like time is like a pie and you have to try to divide it as best as you can between all of your duties.
I wasn`t enjoying my new full time job that took so much of my time (I worked 6 days a week!). It was mentally exhausting. I`ve been telling my friends how different being tired from doing something you love and being tired from doing something you dislike is. Well, I just resigned yesterday and I feel so completely relieved! :) Now, I can go back to one of my favorite hobbies: baking! Even if it`ll only be for awhile. :(
Okay, enough of my life and back to lemon things. I made this loaf cake for my mom's birthday last month since she`s not a fan of American sweets/cake. However, I did inherit her love for lemon! The reason this loaf cake stood out to me compared to the others I`ve bake is the lemon syrup you brush on the top. It leaves the bread shiny and oh-so-lemony. I`ve discovered many lemon recipes miss that lemon-kick I`m looking for. Each slice is thick, sweet, and lemony. I loved it, my mom loved it, and so did her co-workers!
I ate a slice for dessert and for breakfast with a cup of milk. You can definitely bake a loaf easily to devour with an afternoon tea, as well.
Lemon Loaf Cake
Adapted: Browned Eyed Baker| Yields: 1 - 9 in
x 5 in loaf | Level: Easy | Total Time: 75
minutes | Print
Ingredients:
Cake:
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1 ½ cups cake flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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1 ½ cups granulated sugar
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4 large eggs
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1 teaspoon lemon juice
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1 teaspoon lemon extract
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½ teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 cup unsalted butter
Lemon Syrup:
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¼ cup granulated sugar
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2 tablespoons lemon juice
|
Materials Needed:
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1 nonstick 9inchx5inch loaf pan
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parchment paper/cooking spray
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2 medium bowls
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2 whisk
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1 rubber spatula
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2 small saucepan
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cooling rack
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pastry brush
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Directions:
Cake:
1.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line
nonstick 9x5inch loaf with parchment paper.
2.
In a small saucepan, brown your butter: Over medium heat, melt the
butter. Whisking frequently, let the butter turn into an amber color. It will
foam a little. Once it subsides and brown specks appears at the bottom of the
pan, it will begin to have a nutty aroma. Once butter turns a light golden
brown color, transfer to a bowl to cool. (I
stick it in the freezer to make it cool faster.)
3.
In medium bowl, whisk the cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
4.
In another bowl, whisk the sugar, eggs, lemon juice, lemon extract and
vanilla extract.
5.
Add and combine in the browned butter.
6.
Shift in one third of the flour mixture into the sugar and lemon
mixture. Mix. Then, continue until all the flour is just combined.
7.
Transfer batter into prepared loaf pan.
8.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes before turning down the heat to
325°F. Continue baking
for 30-35 more minutes, or until tops are a golden brown color. A toothpick entered into the center should
come out clean.
9.
Let cake cool on cooling rack.
Lemon Syrup:
10.
In a small saucepan, heat up the sugar and lemon juice, whisking
constantly until sugar dissolves.
11.
Poke holes randomly throughout the top and sides of the loaf. Brush the
lemon glaze over the tops and sides.
*Notes:
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Cake can be stored at room temperature, wrapped for a week.
