Directions

For the Lemon Cake

1. Sift collectively the cake flour, baking powder and salt and put aside.
2. Cream collectively the butter and sugar till fluffy.
3. Add the eggs, separately, beating effectively after each addition.
4. Beat within the vanilla extract.
5. Fold within the lemon zest.
6. Gently fold within the dry components in three equal parts, alternately with the milk.
7. When including dry and moist components alternately in any baking recipe, at all times start and finish with the dry components.
8. Pour batter evenly into 2 effectively greased and floured 8 inch cake pans. Bake in a 325 diploma F oven for about 35-40 minutes or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. Watch it rigorously, you’ll not need to over bake this cake, as quickly because the toothpick comes out clear, take away the cake from the oven and let it relaxation within the pans for five minutes earlier than turning it out onto a wire rack to chill fully.

For the Candied Lemon Peel

1. Utilizing a really sharp vegetable peeler take away the surface zest of two giant lemons in giant strips, avoiding the white a part of the peel as a lot as potential. Add to a really small pot together with the lemon juice, sugar and water.
2. Simmer collectively gently for about 15-20 minutes. Take away zest and let it drain on a wire rack. Reserve about half the syrup to brush on the cake layers.

For the Lemon Curd

1. In a small saucepan mix the egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest.
2. Prepare dinner slowly over medium low warmth for about 10 minutes stirring continuously till the combination thickens sufficient to coat the again of a wood spoon.
3. Take away from warmth and stir within the butter a couple of items at a time till fully clean.
4. Cowl with plastic wrap and chill fully within the fridge.

For the Lemon Buttercream Frosting

1. Utilizing an electrical mixer on low, combine the butter and icing sugar collectively till the butter breaks up and get evenly dispersed all through the sugar in small items. The combination will nonetheless seem dry at this level. This stage ensures even distribution and prevents butter lumps in your frosting.
2. Add the vanilla extract, lemon zest, lemon juice and milk.
3. Each of those liquid measures might be adjusted. The milk might be adjusted to make a thicker frosting by including much less or a extra spreadable frosting by including somewhat extra. Use your personal judgement right here. The lemon juice might be adjusted to your personal style too.When the icing reaches the specified constantly proceed to beat it on excessive pace for five minutes to include extra air into the frosting to make it lighter and fluffier.

To assemble the cake:

1. Break up the 2 layers of cake horizontally to create 4 layers. Brush the reserved syrup onto the minimize sides of the cake layers.
2. Place the primary layer of cake on the cake plate and high with a number of the lemon buttercream frosting. Add the following layer and utilizing a piping bag, or a heavy plastic bag with a half inch opening snipped off the nook, pipe a hoop of frosting across the perimeter of the cake. Fill the ring with half of the lemon curd. Add the following layer of cake and high with extra of the frosting.
3. Add the ultimate layer of cake. At this level frost the edges of the cake and pipe a border on the highest and backside. Add the second half of the lemon curd to the highest of the cake and garnish the highest of the cake with items of candied lemon zest. I exploit kitchen scissors to chop 1/2 inch items to embellish the border after which add a small pile of slivered zest to the middle of the cake. Chill for a number of hours or in a single day earlier than serving.