Posted By Laura in Family Recipes | 2 comments

Thanks to the Archers, I’ve been wanting one of these all week. And today, feeling rather *cough* fragile (in a gin-and-dancing induced fashion), I succumbed. Oh, the joy. The sheer heavenly perfectness that is Lemon Drizzle Cake. Be careful though – one slice is just never enough. With a large mug of tea (and a hangover *ahem* ), TWO slices may not do it either.

*supposedly* Serves 10… (yuh. right.)

Prep Time – 15 minutes

Cooking time – 35 minutes

What you Need:
2 small lemons (unwaxed, scrubbed)
275g granulated sugar
175g butter, softened (plus some for tin greasing)
200g self-raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
3 large eggs

What You Do:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 ºC/fan 160ºC/Gas 4.
2. Line the base of a 900g (2lb) non-stick loaf tin with baking parchment and butter the tin well.
3. Finely grate the zest of the lemons.
4. Put 175g of the sugar in a food processor with the butter, flour, baking powder, eggs and lemon zest and blend on the pulse setting until the mixture is just combined and has a thick, smooth texture.
5. Spoon the cake batter into the prepared tin and level the surface.
6. Bake for 35 minutes or until well risen and pale golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for 5 minutes.
8. Squeeze one of the lemons to get about 3 tablespoons of juice and mix this with the remaining 100g of granulated sugar.
9. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack set about a tray or plate. Remove the baking parchment and gently turn the cake the right way up.
10. Stab the cake with a skewer, making around 50 deep holes.
11. Slowly and gradually, spoon over half the lemon sugar, allowing it to thoroughly coat the top of the cake and drizzle down the sides.
12. Leave the cake to stand for 5 minutes, then do the same with the remaining lemon sugar.
13. Leave to set for at least an hour or until the sugar and lemon has crystallised.
14. Serve the cake in thick slices with a good strong cup of tea.
15. This cake actually improves on leaving for a day. So I’m told. Mine never seem to make it that far.