Lemon Lavender Layer Cake Food

LEMON LAVENDER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®) generously.
• Measure 5 tablespoons milk into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave until warmed through, 30 to 45 seconds. Add lavender buds. Let steep to release their flavor, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Whisk white sugar and butter together in a large bowl until creamy. Whisk in eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice and lemon zest; mix until well-blended. Stir milk and lavender buds into the batter.
• Sift cake flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Slowly fold into the batter, stirring well to prevent lumps. Pour into the greased tube pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack to cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
• Whisk remaining 5 tablespoons milk, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and confectioners' sugar together in a small bowl to make glaze; drizzle over the cooled cake. Let stand until glaze is set, about 30 minutes.

LEMON-LAVENDER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350, Generously butter a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• To make cake, strip flowers from lavender sprigs. Place in food processor and add superfine sugar, butter, lemon zest and salt. Process until pale and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
• Transfer to large bowl. Add eggs one at a time, alternating with one-fourth of the flour, beating well with a wooden spoon after each addition.
• Gently stir in ground almonds and lemon juice.
• Spoon batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Reduce overn temperature to 325 and bake until a skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around edge of pan and turn cake out onto a rack.
• Place right side up and let cool.
• Meanwhile, make icing: Sift confectioners' sugar into a bowl. Using wooden spoon, stir in the lemon juice, few drops at a time. Icing should be thick but spreadable. If it is too stiff, add a little more lemon juice.
• Using a knife and dipping it in hot water if it becomes to sticky, spread icing over the cooled cake, making sure that it drips down the sides. Let stand until icing is set, about 1 hour. Decorate with fresh lavender flowers if desired. The cake will keep, stored in an airtight container without the flower garnish, for up to 3 days.

LEMON LAVENDER LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 2 (9 inch) round baking pans. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In medium saucepan heat butter, milk, and lavender over low heat just until mixture is hot and butter is melted. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed beat eggs and sugar until thickened and lightened to a cream color. Beat in vanilla and lemon zest. On low speed gradually add flour mixture and mix until blended. Slowly add hot milk mixture and beat until combined.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes then carefully invert cakes onto cooling racks to cool completely.
• For the frosting: In a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. On low speed gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in honey and lemon zest just until blended.
• To assemble: Place one of the cooled cake layers top side down on a serving plate and spread about a ½ cup of frosting over it. Top with remaining cake layer top side up and frost the top and sides of the cake with the rest of the frosting. Garnish cake with long strips of lemon zest and some crumbled lavender flowers. Keep cake in the refrigerator and bring out to room temperature when ready to serve.

LEMON LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• 1. To make the lemon cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans. Dust the pans with flour and tap out the excess.
• 2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir together the dry ingredients with a whisk. Set aside.
• 3. In an electric stand mixer, using the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the butter on medium speed for about 30 seconds, or until creamy. Gradually add the sugar, increase the speed to medium-high, and continue to beat until the mixture is light, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• 4. Add the whole eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and lemon zest. Reduce the speed to low and gradually beat in he lemon juice (the batter will appear curdled at this point smooth out after you add the dry ingredients). Beat in the dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for another 10 seconds. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans.
• 5. Bake the cakes for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 20 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the rakcs and cool completely.
• 6. To make the lemon filling, in a medium nonreactive saucepan, whisk together the yolks and sugar until combined. Whisk in the lemon juice, butter, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the mixture turns opaque, thickens, and coats the back of the spoon. Do not let the filling boil, or it will curdle. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Stir in the lemon zest and allow the filling to cool.
• 7.Cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly onto the surface, and refrigerate for 1 hour, or until chilled.
• 8. In a clean bowl of the electric mixer, using the whisk attachment or beaters, beat the heavy cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Remove the lemon filling from the refrigerator and whisk until smooth. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the filling. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the filling until ready to assemble the cake.
• 9. To make the lemon frosting, in the large bowl of the electric mixer, using the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar on low speed. Add the cream, lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon zest. Increase the speed to medium-high, and beat for about 3 minutes, or until the frosting is light and fluffy.
• 10. To assemble the cake, place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Pile the lemon filling onto the center using a small offset metal spatula, and spread it into an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge of the cake layer. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the lemon frosting. (If some of the filling oozes out from the middle, just blend it with the frosting around the sides of the cake.) Serve the cake immediately, or refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving.