Lemon Drizzle Cake

If there is one thing which I enjoy more than almost anything else, it is a good Lemon Drizzle Cake.   Back home we always called it Lemon Loaf, but over here they call it Lemon Drizzle.  I think Lemon Drizzle sounds tastier don't you?



This recipe I have used today comes from this lovely little book entitled Comfort, Recipes to Warm the Heart and Feed the Soul, by Carolyn Caldicott.  Winter is the time of year for comfort foods and this book is jam packed full of hale and heart, wholesome, warming, quick and easy favourites, designed to pick up your mood!



With seven chapters designed to take you from the moment you get up in the morning until you are ready to go to bed at night, Carolyn Caldicot offers up a myriad of tasty and uncomplicated ideas . . .

 

These Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Egg Muffins with Herby Creme Fraiche look like the perfect lazing around on a Saturday Breakfast . . .



Mmmm . . .  Creamy Fish Pie.   Just one of the offerings in the chapter entitled Hearty Meals For Friends and Family . . .  along with recipes like Sausages with Leek Mash and Onion Gravy . . .  Roast Chicken with all the trimmings . . .

 

There are soups . . .  like a lovely looking Cinnamon Spiced Butternut Squash Soup with Cheesy Crouton Topping . . .



Deliciously stodgy desserts such as Rum and Raisin Bread and Butter Pudding . . .

 

A traditional Victorian Sponge with Jam and Cream . . .



Warming mugs of Homemade Hot Chocolate.   It's infinitely better than those packaged hot drinks.

And that is not all . . .  this delightful little book packs in 128 pages of Comfort Food Recipes designed to warm the heart . . .  and yes, feed the soul.   What better time of year to indulge than right now when Winter is bashing us with it's last hurrah!

 

I have never been able to turn down a slice of lemon anything and so it was an easy choice for me to choose this recipe from the book to highlight here on the blog.   Lemon Drizzle Cake.  Moist and delicious  . . .  with a bit of a crunch on top from the sugar drizzle and loads of lemon flavour.  It was fabulous!  I am quite sure you will love it as I did!

*Lemon Drizzle Cake*
Makes one 9 by 5 inch loaf

Printable Recipe 

Everyone's favourite buttery lemon loaf, with a zesty sugar topping.

175g of soft butter (3/4 cup)

175g of caster sugar (14 1/2 TBS)

3 medium free range eggs

175g of self raising flour, sifted (1 1/4 cup)
the  juice and zest of one lemon

Sugar topping:

50g of caster sugar (1/4 cup)

the juice and zest of one large lemon

Preheat the oven to  180*C.350*F/ gas mark 4.  Butter and line a 9 by 5 inch loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

Beat the butter and sugar together until pale in colour and light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time and gently fold in the flour.  Stir in the lemon zest and juice.  Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake on the middle shelf of the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until golen brown.   The top should spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into the centre should come out clean.

To make the lemon drizzle topping, gently warm the caster sugar with the lemon juice and zest until the sugat has completely dissolved.  While the cake is still warm, liberally prick the cake all over with a fork or a toothpick and pour the prepared syrup over the cake whilst it is still in the tin, allowing it to soak in.   Turn out and remove the grease proof paper.  Cut into slices to serve.

For many years, Carolyn and Chris Caldicott owned the World Food Cafe in London's Covent Garden, where they cooked and served delicious vegetarian food from recipes collected on their travels.  They are the co-authors of World Food Cafe, The Spice Routes, World Food Cafe 2, World food Cafe Quick and Easy, The Vegetarian Bible and Bombay Lunch Box, all published by Frances Lincoln.



Carolyn now works as a full time author, food stylist and cook.  As well as writing on food and travel for Elle magazine, she is the author of Vintage Tea Party and Rosehips on a Kitchen Table, also published by Frances Lincoln.



Comfort
Recipes to Warm the Heart and Feed the Soul
by Carolyn Caldicott
Photographs by Chris Caldicott
£9.99 UK, $14.99 USA, $16.99 Canada
Hard cover, full colour
128 pages
Published by Frances Lincoln
a part of the Quarto Publishing Group UK
ISBN 978-0-7112-3491-8



In all honesty, I think it's a delightful little book filled to the brim with delicous sounding recipes and beautiful looking photographs.  It would be a lovely addition to any cookbook library.   Although I was sent the book for free to review, any and all opinions are my own.  Many thanks to Jessica and the Quarto Publishing Group for sending this book to me.