Tuesday 17 April 2012

Lemon Loaf Cake : "TWD : Baking with Julia"

The summer heat is taking over my life and the choices I make. As the heat saps at my existence, the eye searches for the soothing, the mind yearns for the sublime and the palate desires something refreshing. The lemon in the 'lemon loaf cake' for the 'TWD: Baking with Julia' seemed like it would hold promise for the sentiment in mind. Right from its fragrance, to its taste, to its colour, a lemon is a refreshing antidote for summer. The citrusy tang providing a much-needed zing to an otherwise heat-drenched existence!!


The cake in question is along the lines of a regular pound cake with a lemon flavouring that is achieved by the use of lemon zest. I enjoy pound cakes for their sheer simplicity and taste and are perfect for your everyday, no-fuss baking.

I wasn't going to mess around with the recipe until I read other people in the group being underwhelmed and claiming that the cake was not lemony enough. So, to up the lemon quotient, I added a tablespoon of lemon juice to the batter and decided I would pour a lemon sugar drizzle on the cake once it's baked. The former a suggestion from a group member, the latter my sister's.


The recipe instructions couldn't be simpler. There is no beating, no electrical equipment needed... just a bowl and a hand whisk!! Even better, once you've done your mise-en-place, it takes five minutes before you put it in the oven. Everything went according to the script, the batter rose, a dome formed and it even cracked on the top, just as the book said it would.

Once taken out of the oven, while the cake was still warm, i spooned a lemon sugar drizzle on the top. It's nothing but lemon juice and granulated sugar mixed together and drizzled before the sugar melts completely. As a result, the sugar sets on top of the cake while the lemon juice seeps into the cake.


That sugar drizzle was probably the smartest thing I did. The cake, as everyone claimed, was not as lemony as I thought it would be. But what the cake lacked, the lemon sugar drizzle more than made up for. The lemon juice had seeped in places and that gave the cake a real lemony zing. As for the granulated sugar on top, it gave a slight crunch which was a welcome addition on the textural front. If it were not for the drizzle, the cake would not have held my attention.

The cake itself was moist and delicious but if you enjoy lemon-based cakes, you want the lemon to shine through. On that count, the recipe doesn't really deliver. You need to think of adding something. In my case, the lemon sugar drizzle, helped the recipe along.

 

Due to copyright considerations, only the person hosting the recipe for the group 'TWD:Baking with Julia' can post the recipe on their blog. The recipe for the lemon loaf cake will be available on the blogs of Truc and Michelle. Alternately, you can write to me at bakerindisguise@gmail.com and I will mail you the recipe.

On another note, with extreme humility, I would like to share with you that 'Baker-In-Disguise' was given the Liebster Blog Award by Tierney Marie. The award is given by fellow bloggers to blogs with a following of less than 200 (on that count..I definitely qualify!!). It's a  great way to introduce people to new blogs.

Tierney and I have gotten to know each other's blogs through the "Baking with Julia" group and another thing we share in common is that we both started writing our blogs in January this year. She writes a lovely blog about her life and adventures in Texas. You can go and check it out here.

To say that I was gobsmacked when I read her message would be an understatement. I actually read it thrice wondering if she had made a mistake!! For someone who thought that no one besides her mother or sister would read her posts, it is reassuring to know that I must be doing something right with this blog! So, thank you to everyone who stopped by this blog even if it was just for a few seconds.. you have no idea how much I look forward to it!!

I am to nominate other blogs, but honestly, am still deciding on that list because there are so many excellent ones out there, it is mind-boggling!! I'll leave that for another post... till then... I'll allow myself, just for today, to walk a few millimetres above the ground!!!


57 comments:

  1. Lemon drizzle was a fabulous idea!!! Beautifully done!

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    1. Thanks Lizzy.. yup.. the lemon drizzle was one of my smarter ideas in recent times!! :)

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  2. Very pretty! Im glad you enjoyed this recipe. The lemon drizzle looks wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Flourchild.. the lemon drizzle was necessary if this needed to be called a lemon loaf!! there was a barely a hint of lemon otherwise...by just using the zest!! :)

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  3. The lemon sugar on top is an amazing idea, I wish I could eat a piece right now!!!

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    1. Thanks mireia!! I'll give you a piece if you can send over yours with the apricot jam!!

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  4. Lemon sugar?! I totally wish I'd thought of that! It sounds divine! Fantastic photos, by the way!

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    1. Thanks tierney!! :) The drizzle just changed the cake completely.. keep it in mind if you ever make a pound cake..its soo simple!!

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  5. Such a beautiful post! This looks and sounds amazing! I will definitely be making it sometime!

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    1. Thank you!! :) Do let me know when you want to try it..I will mail you the recipe. Although don't forget to up the lemon quotient or else a lemon lover like you would be disappointed with the recipe as it is..

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  6. A really beautiful lemon loaf and it looks really moist!

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    1. Thank you!:)It was a moist cake just not lemony enough... and that seems the universl opinion.. thats why it needed a lemon glaze or drizzle..Thank you for stopping by!!

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  7. Lemon sugar drizzle sounds like a great idea.. I make a Zucchini cake which has lemon glaze on top similar to what you did (as extra it has icing sugar), and I love it..

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    1. I agree ferda..its so simple to make but adds so much in taste and texture to the cake!! Lovely!!!

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  8. Congratulations! It's always lovely to be recognized by your peers!

    I'm sure your lemon glaze added just the right touch to this simple cake - nicely done!

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    1. Aww.. Thank you Susan!! It is a good feeling!! Am still thinking of the limoncello and blueberries...:)

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  9. Your photos look great. The lemon sugar drizzle sounds like a wonderful addition to the cake! Thank you also for the warm welcome to the TwD group and congratulations on receiving the "Liebster Blog" award!

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    1. Thank you Andrea.. for stopping by and for your words!! :)

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  10. The lemon drizzle was a smart addition to the cake. Gorgeous loaf. I love the color.

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    1. Thanks wendy and plus it was so easy.. no cooking involved with the drizzle!!! :)

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  11. I agree, it definitely needed an extra lemon kick! Good choice on the lemon sugar!

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    1. Yeah.. without it you couldnt call it a lemon loaf.. it would have been an ordinary pound cake!!

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  12. Thank you for having left your comment on my blog.
    Mmmm Lemon drizzle...that's the trick!
    Your cake looks great - and so do your fotos.

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  13. Congratulations on your award! I enjoyed checking out your blog and am one of your new Facebook followers. Your lemon cake is a beauty! Next time I make this cake I will remember your lemon drizzle;-)

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    1. I know I know.. I saw that. Thank you patty!! and remember the lemon drizzle whenever you want to jazz up a cake.. its the simplest and fastest way!!! no cooking involved!! :)

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  14. Looks beautiful! I love the texture of the sugar on top of the cake.

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    1. It also gave it a little crunch when you bit into it!!

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  15. the lemon drizzle sounds great! And your cake looks absolutely moist and lovely!

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  16. Congratulations on your award! You must be so excited!!
    I was surprised at how much your loaf looks like mine. As the saying goes, great minds think alike. ; )

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    1. I know it does, doesnt it!! complete with the lemon sugar and all...

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  17. Totally delicious. Congrats for the award!

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  18. Love the lemon drizzle idea!

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    1. Thank you Steph!! It really helped the cake along...

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  19. Lemon glaze sound delicious. Congrats on the Liebster Award!

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    1. It was!! But still just a bit underwhelmed with the recipe as it was...

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  21. Adding that lemon drizzle was a fabulous idea! Your loaf looks incredible. :)

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    1. Thank you!! :) Luckily my sister suggested the lemon drizzle...

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  22. Your cake looks absolutely lovely, with a tender texture. And the lemon sugar drizzle sounds fantastic.

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    1. Thanks Yvonne!! was just telling someone about your thai basil and coconut cream twist to this cake!! :)

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  23. So pretty, it's making me want to make it again, even though I said I wouldn't!

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    1. Aww.. thanks amanda!! But i'll join you in agreeing that I couldnt help feel a bit underwhelmed with this recipe!!

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  24. Love the lemon drizzle idea - and love how the sugar stays on top. It definitely makes it a prettier (and I'm sure tastier) cake.

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    1. It definitely made it tastier jora!!! and the sugar on top an added crunch!!

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  25. Very lovely - I am sure the lemon drizzle added just the touch. And congrats on your award - it is well deserved.

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    1. Thank you so much Cher!! Really appreciate the kind words!! :)

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  26. Lemon drizzle sounds lovely. I also added some lemon juice and think it was much needed.

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    1. It was much needed Julia.. i think that's pretty much the majority verdict on the recipe!!! The drizzle was just right... simple and fuss-free!!

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  27. I bet you have used eggs from very happy hens - the color of the cake is so rich - loving it!

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  28. Your cake looks so satisfying. Love the look of the sugar drizzle. Congrats on your award!

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    1. Thanks Cathleen!! :) as i said without the sugar drizzle.. the cake by itself was quite underwhelming!!

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  29. I wish I would have done some sort of glaze - there's always next time I guess! :) Your cake looks lovely and sorry I'm a little behind but there are so many great blogs in TWD that it takes forever to get through them!

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    1. Thanks Maggie!! Do keep the sugar glaze in mind.. and u are wlecome to this blog any time!!!

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