Lemony Cherry Or Berry Poke Cake Food

LEMON POKE CAKE

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray.
• Dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water. (I measured the water into a large measuring cup, then stirred the gelatin right in. You could also do this in a heatproof bowl.) Let cool to room temperature.
• In a medium mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the oil, applesauce, and eggs until combined. Beat in the cooled gelatin. Reduce the speed to low, then slowly add in the cake mix, stopping as soon as the dry ingredients disappear.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top springs back lightly when touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it.
• While the cake bakes, in a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
• While the cake is still warm, use the tines of a fork to poke holes all over the top. Pour the glaze slowly and evenly over the top, allowing it to drip down into the holes. Let cool to room temperature. Enjoy warm or hot with plenty of fresh berries and whipped cream.

LEMONY CHERRY OR BERRY POKE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, cream together the mascarpone cheese, egg whites and oil. Make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Add the cake mix, lemon zest, lemon juice, and water. Beat with mixer until it's well combined.
• Stir in the fruit.
• Spread batter into a 13x9 baking dish (I used glass).
• Bake for 35-40 minutes until it tests clean and is light brown on top.
• While the cake is baking, stir the jello into the boiling water until it's dissolved then stir in the cold water. (I used a 2 cup pyrex and the microwave for this step.) Set aside.
• When the cake is done, remove from oven and poke holes through the whole cake with a fork. Pour the liquid jello over the cake and let it cool to room temperature.
• When cooled put a cover on the baking dish and put it into the refrigerator. Let chill for 4 hours or more until the jello is firm.
• Spread the top with Cool Whip Lite.
• This cuts into nice firm squares for serving.

LEMON-BERRY ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Toss 1 cup each strawberries and mixed berries with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and the juice of 1/2 lemon in a medium bowl; set aside to macerate, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, puree 1 cup mixed berries in a blender until smooth. Refrigerate the remaining 2 cups each strawberries and mixed berries for topping.
• Beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, the zest of both lemons and the juice of 1 lemon in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the heavy cream and beat until slightly stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer half of the whipped cream mixture to a separate bowl and fold in the berry puree.
• Line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang on all sides. Spread 1 cup of the plain whipped cream mixture in the pan (refrigerate the rest for topping). Cover with a single layer of cookies. Spread 1 cup of the berry whipped cream over the cookies, then top with half of the macerated berries and another 1 cup berry whipped cream. Repeat with another layer of cookies, berry whipped cream and the remaining macerated berries and berry whipped cream. Top with another layer of cookies (you may have some left over). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, toss the remaining 2 cups each strawberries and mixed berries with the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and juice of 1/2 lemon in a large bowl; set aside to macerate, 30 minutes.
• Uncover the cake and invert onto a platter; remove the plastic. Cover with the reserved plain whipped cream. Top with the macerated berries.

LEMON AND BERRY ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Place the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in a large bowl and, using a hand mixer, whip until stiff.
• Spoon one-third of the whipped cream mixture into a 10-inch round springform pan, smoothing evenly with a spatula. Top with half of the lemon cookies. Stir the raspberry preserves and disperse as evenly as possible over the cookies. Sprinkle over half of the raspberries, then top with another third of the whipped cream, followed by the remaining cookies. Stir the blueberry preserves and distribute as evenly as possible over the cookies. Sprinkle over half of the blueberries, then top with the remaining whipped cream and spread evenly. Garnish with the remaining fresh berries. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours.
• Run a paring knife around the springform pan and release the wall of the pan from around the cake, leaving the cake on the bottom of the pan. Transfer to a serving platter, top with the mint leaves and slice.

LEMON CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Pat cherries dry with paper towels; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon zest and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk., Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with cherries. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For topping, in a bowl, beat cream cheese, lemon juice and peel until smooth. Beat in enough confectioners' sugar until mixture achieves desired consistency. Cut cake; top each piece with a dollop of topping.

LEMON-BLUEBERRY POKE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the lemon cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides, and lightly coat with nonstick spray.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk lemon zest into sugar in a large bowl until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add eggs, oil, and vanilla and whisk until light in color and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Whisk in half of the dry ingredients, then whisk in yogurt. Whisk in remaining dry ingredients. Add lemon juice and whisk to combine. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Bake cake, rotating pan halfway through, until top is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool, about 2 hours.
• Make the blueberry filling:
• Bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add blueberries, then reduce to a simmer. Smash blueberries with the back of a spoon and continue to simmer 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 1/3 cup cold water in a small bowl; let sit 10 minutes to soften.
• Strain blueberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pressing blueberries with the back of spoon to release juices. Whisk about 1/3 cup blueberry syrup into gelatin mixture, stirring to dissolve, then pour gelatin mixture over remaining blueberry syrup and stir to combine. Chill at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Run a knife around sides of cooled cake to loosen. Using parchment overhang, transfer cake to a baking sheet or cutting board. Starting at 1 end of cake, use a 1/8" dowel or the thin handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes in rows spaced about 3/4" apart, alternating between 2 and 3 holes per row (you should have about 11 rows of holes).
• Transfer chilled blueberry filling to a pastry bag, turkey baster, or squeeze bottle. Carefully squeeze filling into holes.
• Make the lemon glaze:
• Whisk powdered sugar, lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp. water in a medium bowl. Transfer cake to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Spread glaze over cake with a spatula, covering the holes. Toss blueberries in glaze bowl to coat, then sprinkle blueberries and lemon zest over cake. Chill until filling and glaze are set, about 1 hour.
• Do Ahead
• Lemon cake can be made 1 day ahead. Cake can be baked, filled, and glazed 3 days ahead; chill in an airtight container.