Classic French

Lemon cake

Name: Lemon cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: butter, to grease the tin; 5 organic/free-range medium eggs; 300g caster sugar; 140ml double cream; finely grated zest of 3 lemons; 25ml dark rum; 1 pinch sea salt; 80g unsalted butter, melted; 240g plain flour; ½ tsp baking powder; 50g apricot jam, warmed; finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 3 tbsp juice; 150g icing sugar

As light as a cloud

Prep 15 minsCook 60 minsServes 12

Lemon cake with tea is a grand tradition at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, and it has been served here for more than 30 years, so I challenge you to make a better one than this! If you follow my lemon cake recipe, the result will be fresh, zesty and as light as a cloud. A real winner with family and friends, plus you can make the lemon cake in advance; the glaze will prevent it from drying out. That makes it an excellent option for bake sales.

Ingredients

For the lemon cake

butter, to grease the tin
5organic/free-range medium eggs
300gcaster sugar
140mldouble cream
finely grated zest of 3 lemons
25mldark rum
1 pinchsea salt
80gunsalted butter, melted
240gplain flour
1/2 tspbaking powder

For the glaze

50gapricot jam, warmed
finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 3 tbsp juice
150gicing sugar

Method

1
Have all the ingredients at room temperature before you start. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.
Lightly grease the loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper. Leave some paper overhanging the sides when you line the tin; this will enable you to lift out the cake by the paper, making it easy to de-mould.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, cream, lemon zest, rum, salt and melted butter. Sift the flour and baking powder together, then whisk into the egg mixture until smooth.
2
Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin and gently level the surface.
Bake for 50 minutes – 1 hour, turning the tin around halfway through cooking.
To test the cake, insert a small knife into the middle – if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked.
Turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool for 10 minutes.
Do not leave your cake to cool in the tin, as this would prevent the steam from escaping, making your cake heavier.
3
Lightly brush the cake all over with the warm jam. The jam creates a barrier, so the lemon glaze is not absorbed.
Leave for 5 minutes. Mix the lemon zest and juice with the icing sugar in a small pan and warm over a low heat to 35°C, until smooth.
If the glaze is any hotter, it will re-crystallise, losing its shine and crispness. Brush the lemon glaze evenly over the top and sides of the cake and leave for a few minutes to set.
4
Place the cake on a baking tray in the oven, turn off the heat and leave for 3–5 minutes to dry the glaze – it will become translucent.
Allow to cool before slicing.

Chef's Tips

“
"The lemon glaze must be even and thin; if it is too thick, it will run in the oven." "Replace the lemons with other citrus fruit, such as oranges or grapefruit, using marmalade in place of the apricot jam."

Cooking is always an expression of care and generosity. Enjoy this dish.

Bon appétit!