Sunday, March 20, 2016

Lemon Balm Drizzle Cake & Easter Eggs


If you are looking for a classic lemon drizzle cake recipe with a bit of a twist, then this recipe for my Lemon Balm Drizzle Cake is one to try. This classic cake recipe with some added lemon balm from my lovely herb garden is sweet yet zingy, satisfying yet light. It is full of citrus flavor and is perfect for all baking abilities, from beginners to those who can bake cakes with their eyes closed.




In this recipe, the light and zesty lemon sponge is glazed with a lemon icing, made with a simple sugar and lemon mixture. This lovely cake takes only under an hour to prepare and bake and it serves a small crowd. Plus it is perfect for bake sales or as a potluck dessert as it cuts neatly, is easy to transport and keeps well.




Lemon balm is such a great addition if you want some extra lemon flavor. As its name suggests, this leafy, green herb has a distinct fresh lemony flavor and fragrance. It is a member of the mint family and makes a very refreshing infusion or tea. And it is just perfect for adding to your cake batter. Only use and buy it fresh however as it loses virtually all of its flavor when dried. You could also use lemon thyme here. But do not worry if you cannot get hold of fresh lemon balm or lemon thyme, the recipe will still work without it.




Lemon Balm Drizzle Cake

Ingredients for the Cake
  • 225 g (8 oz) unsalted butter at room temperature, plus extra for greasing the baking pan
  • 225 g (8 oz) super fine baking sugar (caster sugar)
  • 275 g (10 oz) self-raising flour
  • 2 level tsp baking powder
  • 4 eggs (L), free range or organic
  • 4 tbsp milk (I use 3.5%)
  • 2 lemons, untreated or organic, zest only
  • 1 heaped tbsp very finely chopped lemon balm 




Ingredients for the Lemon Glaze
  • 100 g (3.5 oz) granulated sugar
  • 1 lemon, juice only

In addition
  • one  30 x 23cm (12 x 9 in) sheet pan
  • baking paper




Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 180° C (356° F).
  2. Grease the baking pan with butter and line the base with baking paper.
  3. Measure all the ingredients into a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes, or until well blended.
  4. Turn the cake batter into the prepared baking pan and level the top (best done with an offset spatula).
  5. Bake the cake for 35 to 40 minutes until the it springs back when lightly touched with a fingertip in the center of the cake.
  6. Meanwhile, make the glaze: mix the granulated sugar with the lemon juice and stir to a runny consistency.
  7. Leave the cake to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then lift out, with the baking paper still attached, and place on wire rack set over a baking sheet.
  8. Brush the glaze all over the surface of the warm cake and leave to set.
  9. Remove the baking paper and cut into slices to serve.
  10. You can add some powdered sugar on every other piece of cake and top the remaining pieces of cake with freshly picked lemon balm leaves (optional).




NOTES:

It is important to spoon the glaze on to the cake while it is still warm so the lemon juice soaks in properly.
Finely chopped lemon thyme leaves work well as an alternative for lemon balm. But if you can’t get hold of any, do not worry, as the recipe still works without it.
This sheet cake bake can be stored in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days and frozen for up to a month.
If you do not want to use a sheet pan here, you can still use a springform mold (20 cm or 8 in) or two one pound loaf pans.




This cakes comes out light and lemony and when you slice into it, you can see all those lovely green flecks of lemon balm.

There is really no need to poke holes into the cake to help the syrup sink in. It is more important to add the syrup while the cake is still warm. And bear in mind it will always seem like more liquid than the cake could possible absorb, but do not worry, it will always work out. And if you feel like adding the freshly grated lemon zest right at the start to the sugar and before you cream all the ingredients together, that extra step will help to release the oils in the zest, producing an even more lemony sponge.




If anything is worth taking a little tea break for, it is a slice of this lovely Lemon Balm Drizzle Cake. And remember that a "tart drizzle demands sweet cake. And both demand a nice cup of tea".



19 comments:

  1. Such a delightful lemon cake! I'd love to raid your garden---I'm seeing a few chives peek out of the ground, but there's a long way till I'm harvesting anything!!! Happy Easter week to you and your family!!! xo

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    1. Dear Liz, I guess we just have a bit of warmer weather around here, we had a few really warm days but now it looks like it is going to be rather cool again. Still, herbs are out and I am quite thankful for that!
      Thank you very much for dropping by!
      Andrea

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  2. Andrea, this cake look truly delicious! Citrus desserts are my favorites and I can't wait to have a chance to try this cake! The addition of the herbs makes it very exciting to me :) Beautiful pictures too!

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    1. Marcelle, I am quite sure that you as well as your family would love this cake - it is moist, not too sweet or tart, just a perfect snacking cake with some lovely green flecks from the lemon balm (or use lemon thyme here).
      Thank you very much for stopping by,
      Andrea

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  3. Andrea, der Kuchen sieht so hübsch aus mit den grünen Sprenkeln, fuer Ostern genau richtig. Im Garten zeigt sich zaghaft die Zitronenmelisse, ja, warum sollte man nicht damit backen? Mit den wunderbaren Fotos ist Ostern schon ganz nah. Wann benutzt du self rising flour und wann Mehl/Backpulver/Baking Soda? Ich habe noch nie self rising flour gekauft... Macht es einen Unterschied? Eine schoene Karwoche!

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    1. Liebe Wally, also, eine englische, sehr begnadete Bäckerin hat mir das empfohlen und die Niederländer schwören auch darauf, deshalb kaufe ich immer welches wenn wir dort sind - man kann es aber auch selber mischen: Rezept ergibt ca. 270 g self-raising flour: 260 g Mehl plus 1 EL Backpulver plus 1 gute Prise Salz. Also geht der Kuchen natürlich auch ohne dieses spezielle Mehl. Aber wer weiß...Jedenfalls ein richtig schönes Rezept für den Frühling.
      Liebe Grüße und euch auch eine schöne Karwoche - hoffentlich ist das Wetter bei euch besser als hier,
      Andrea

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    2. Ganz lieben Dank, Andrea :-) Heute hatten wir Traumwetter und die Kraeuter spriessen! LG Wally

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  4. Pure
    Utter
    Abundant
    Gorgeousness.
    Happy Easter, Andrea.
    What will you make for Easter Dinner? xx

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    Replies
    1. Dear Kim,
      Easter is always "One Big Fat Picnic" - I cook and bake all Saturday, we pack up the kids and the foods and the Easter surprises Sunday morning and set off to a quiet place. There is always chicken, salads, meatballs, boiled eggs (of course), cakes, fruits & veg of all sorts. I shall take pictures this time...
      Thank you for your wonderful comment,
      Andrea

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  5. I love my lemon balm in my tiny garden and now I have a new recipe for it. I am sure your cake tastes as good as it looks.

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    1. Gerlinde, it does indeed taste as good as it looks - may I say, even better...it is a nice, "lazy" cake with loads of lemon flavor and a bit of a "herby" twist and we loved it!
      Bist du schon in Deutschland in den Ferien? Ist das Wetter auch so kühl bei euch?
      Liebe Grüße,
      Andrea

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  6. Dear Andrea - you know how I love lemon, and I am so lucky to have lemon balm growing year-round in my garden. (Thanks to Mark!) This will definitely be one for us to try soon! Happy Easter! Liebe Grüße, David

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    1. Dear David, I do happen to know that Mark is in charge of your lovely herb garden and lemon balm is a wonderful herb to grow - very prolific and lemony and just plain wonderful!
      It is not Easter yet - there is more to come!
      Andrea

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  7. Hi Andrea, adding lemon balm to my garden this summer, sounds like a wonderful herb. A couple of years ago I grew lemon verbena which smelled and had so much flavor. Beautiful cake for Easter, looks delicious!

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    1. Cheri, I usually bake with lovely lemon verbena but since it is only March and my lemon verben is far from green, I am using lemon balm in my baking etc. and I must admit to being utterly delighted with the results!
      Andrea

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  8. Nein, Ich bin auf den Flughafen Und Es geht gleich los.

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    1. Lieber Gerlinde, hoffe, du hattest eine sichere und gute Reise...
      Ich wünsche dir einen erholsamen Osterurlaub!
      Liebe Grüße,
      Andrea

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  9. I have no idea what lemon balm is, but am now running to the market to find some!

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    1. Well, Colette, lemon balm is prominently featured in my above photos...
      Andrea

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