Cakes
Lemon drizzle traybake cake
lemon drizzle traybake cake has been a hit since the 1960s, and this is the recipe she is most asked for when stopped in the street.
Equipment and preparation: for this recipe you will need a 30x23cm/12x9in tray bake tin.
Ingredients
- 225g/8oz butter or baking spread at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
- 225g/8oz caster sugar
- 275g/10oz self-raising flour
- 2 level tsp baking powder
- 4 free-range eggs
- 4 tbsp milk
- 2 unwaxed lemons, finely grated zest only
- 1 heaped tbsp very finely chopped lemon verbena (optional)
For the glaze
- 175g/6oz granulated sugar
- 2 lemons, juice only
Method
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Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease the tin with butter and line the base with baking paper.
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Measure all the ingredients into a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes, or until well blended. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and level the top.
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Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the cake has shrunk a little from the sides of the tin and springs back when lightly touched with a fingertip in the centre of the cake.
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Meanwhile, make the glaze. Mix the sugar with the lemon juice and stir to a runny consistency.
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Leave the cake to cool for 5 minutes in the tin, then lift out, with the lining paper still attached, and place on wire rack set over a tray.
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Brush the glaze all over the surface of the warm cake and leave to set. Remove the lining paper and cut into slices to serve.
Recipe Tips
Tip 1: It is important to spoon the lemon drizzle on to the cake while it’s still warm so the lemon juice soaks in properly.
Tip 2: Lemon balm works well as an alternative for lemon verbena if you can’t get hold of any, or you could use finely chopped lemon thyme leaves.
Tip 3: Mary’s lemon drizzle cake can be stored in an airtight container for 3–4 days and frozen for up to a month.
Lemon drizzle traybake cake