Description
Silky lemon custard cake blends zesty citrus with creamy richness, offering a delightful dessert experience. Layers of smooth custard and tender cake promise a refreshing treat to savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) whole milk, room temperature
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Pan Preparation: Butter an 8-inch square pan and line with parchment paper, allowing slight overhang for easy removal.
- Egg White Transformation: Whip egg whites using an electric mixer until stiff, glossy peaks form and maintain their shape confidently.
- Yolk Mixture: Cream egg yolks and sugar until the blend becomes pale and voluminous, creating a ribboning effect when lifted.
- Flavor Infusion: Blend melted butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract into the yolk mixture, ensuring complete integration.
- Dry Ingredient Incorporation: Sift flour and salt over the liquid ingredients, folding gently to create a smooth, silky batter without overworking.
- Liquid Integration: Stream milk into the batter, stirring continuously to maintain a delicate, thin consistency.
- Egg White Merger: Fold whipped egg whites into the batter in three stages, using a lifting motion to preserve airiness while accepting slight texture variations.
- Batter Placement: Pour the gossamer batter into the prepared pan, distributing evenly with a gentle shake and surface smoothing.
- Baking Process: Position the pan in a preheated 325F (160C) oven, baking 40-50 minutes until the top achieves a golden hue and the center retains a subtle wobble.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan, then dust with powdered sugar and optionally garnish with fresh berries or whipped cream.
Notes
- Prevent Egg White Deflation: Ensure your mixing bowl and whisk are completely grease-free and at room temperature to achieve maximum egg white volume and stability.
- Master Gentle Folding Technique: Use a spatula with a light, sweeping motion when incorporating egg whites to maintain the cake’s delicate, airy structure without deflating the mixture.
- Check Oven Temperature Accuracy: Use an oven thermometer to verify the exact temperature, as slight variations can dramatically impact the cake’s custard-like texture and golden finish.
- Handle Moisture Carefully: The unusually thin batter is intentional; resist the urge to add more flour, as this unique consistency creates the cake’s signature layered custard-like texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg