Lemon poppy-seed cake

What's a quick and easy Easter dessert? Cake. Lemon cake.

So, lemon poppy-seed cake, adapted from Rose's Heavenly Cakes:

2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
¾ cup plus 1 tbsp sour cream
1 ¾tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups cake flour
1 ¼ cups superfine sugar
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
5 tsp lemon zest
¹⁄₃ cup poppy seeds
14 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
floured baking spray

Pre-heat your oven at 325°F. Meanwhile, prepare your fluted tube pan. Spray the floured baking spray over every surface in the pan. You can't overkill here. Trust me, you don't want to be stingy on this, or you'll destroy the cake, and spend an hour cleaning the pan.

Okay, prep the wet ingredients. Whisk together the eggs and egg yolks until light and fluffy. Mix in ¼ cup of sour cream and vanilla to make a delightful egg emulsion.



Zest the lemon.



Mix the dry ingredients; the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest. When well mixed, and the poppy seeds and gently mix.



Add the butter and remaining sour cream, and mix with an electric mixer until well combined and moistened.



Now, slowly add the egg mixture, while mixing. After everything is added, mix for another 30ish seconds. Scrape the batter into the floured pan.



Place gently into the oven, bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. While it's baking, make the syrup.

½ cup plus 1 tbsp sugar
6 tbsp fresh-squeezed, sieved lemon juice

I managed to get all the zest and juice I needed out of 2 lemons. Sieve the juice before measuring.



Mix the sugar and lemon juice in a microwave-safe measuring cup.



Microwave, for 30 seconds at a time, followed by mixing the sugar/lemon juice mixture. Stop when you've dissolved the sugar. You're aiming to create a lemon syrup.



Remove the cake from the oven when a cake tester comes out clean.



Let sit a moment, then stab it with a chopstick over and over. Gently unleash your rage on this cake. Then, brush one third to one half of the cooled lemon syrup over the cake.



Flip the cake pan over onto a serving plate. Brush on the remainder of the lemon syrup.



Serve.



Don't be surprised when guests go for a third serving. This cake will serve 6ish adults.

By Bbq Dude