Thursday, April 9, 2009

Nathan's Lemon Cake...

This is my second Foodie Friday which is hosted by Designs by Gollum so head on over and have a look at some wonderful recipes.

I belong to a cooking light supper club. One of our themes was casseroles and cakes. Since I like to perform my Flour Power it was an easy decision for me to volunteer to make a cake. I love the taste of lemon and this cooking light recipe was a BIG hit with our group. This is a perfect cake for Spring or Summer. Try it you will like it!


Nathan's Lemon Cake

Ingredients:
  • Cake:
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup nonfat buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon rind
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • Icing:
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon lemon rind
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • Lemon rind strips (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. To prepare cake, coat 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray; line bottoms of pans with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray. Dust pans with 2 tablespoons flour, and set aside.

3. Lightly spoon 2 cups flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.

4. Place granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and nonfat buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat in 2 tablespoons lemon rind and 2 tablespoons lemon juice.

5. Pour batter into prepared pans; sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 32 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack; remove wax paper from cake layers.

6. To prepare icing, combine powdered sugar and the remaining ingredients (except lemon rind strips) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk until smooth. Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread half of icing on top of cake. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining half of icing over top of cake. Garnish with lemon rind strips, if desired. Store cake loosely covered in the refrigerator.

* As you can see I play with Flour well but obviously I am icing challenged*

*The little red toothpicks were only for transporting the cake and not for decoration*

*Trust me it tastes a whole lot better then it looks*

~SMILE~

JOYCE



16 comments:

  1. I love anything lemon! If you say it's "light" that's enough for me :)

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  2. I love Lemon cake! Looks like a really good recipe! And I love the name of your blog!

    Thanks so much!
    ~Really Rainey~

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  3. I love anything lemon and your cake looks good -- red toothpicks and all!

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  4. Thanks for visiting my blog. I have enjoyed reading your blog back to the beginning this morning. It seems we enjoy many of the same hobbies. This lemon cake recipe looks yummy and is perfect for spring. Hope you have a wonderful Easter.

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  5. Simply delicious! Wonderful flavor combinations and easy to do. What's not to like?

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  6. What a beautiful cake. Yummy, and I'd like just one small piece please! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  7. Oh so refreshing! This is the cake I want for my birthday! ~ Robyn

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  8. This looks wonderful -- enjoy your crock pot - I've got two and couldn't live without them in cold weather!

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  9. Spring and lemon cake go together like bunnies and Easter. This is all the more wonderful because it's healthy with that wonderful buttermilk! Thank you so much for this winning contribution to FF. I wish you and yours a wonderful Easter.

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  10. Traditional my husbands birthday cake has been lemon. He's had many and yet it is what he looks forward to each B-day.
    He loves his lemon in or on everything. looks like I've a new recipe to try.

    I've been on a blogging break a medical hiatus...so now, I've been enjoying the stroll through posts I've missed. Come for a visit I've got some fun Easter confections.

    Sweet wishes,
    Sara

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  11. Yum! Thanks for stopping by to see my felted flowers. Happy Easter!

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  12. I love anything lemon.....and what did I miss about a crock pot...someone left a comment about a crock pot....I love the crock pot...it saves you from your house burning down when your cooking and you forget and you leave the house.....Oh, did I do that once?

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  13. Hello Joyce...

    Mmmmm...yummy!!! Girl, this lemon cake looks absolutely divine!!! In fact, it's 11:30pm here at my place and now...thanks to you...I'm hungry for cake or something sweet! hehe!!! Thanks for including the recipe...I'll have to give this lemon cake a whirl sometime!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  14. Joyce, I think it looks wonderful! Copying down your recipe - I can't wait to make it myself!

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  15. I am loving all the lemon treats this week.
    It seems we were thinking alike. Your cake looks yummy and I agree Lemon and spring time seem to go together.
    I cheated and used a mix...
    Happy Easter!

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  16. Hello Joyce, thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I'm noticing this Lemon Cake---my son in law's name is Nathan and he loves anything made with lemons... looks like I'd better try this recipe for the next time he visits!

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