Ingredients
- 16 tbs. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus 1 tbs., softened,
- for greasiwng the pan
- 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) cake flour, plus 1 tbs. for dusting
- powder
- 1 tbs. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/4 cups ( 8 3/4 oz.) sugar
- 2 tbs. grated zest plus 2 tbs. juice from 2 med. lemons
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Preparation
Step 1
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9 X 5" loaf pan with 1 tbs. softened butter, dust with 1 tbs. of cake flour, tapping out excess. In med. bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
In glass measuring cup or microwave safe bowl, miicrowave butter, covered with plastic wra[, at full power until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Alternatively melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk melted butter thoroughly to reincorporate any separated milk solids.
In food processor, process sugar and zest until combined, about five, 1 second pulses. Add lemon juice, eggs and vanilla; process until combined, about 5 seconds. With machine running, add melted butter through feed tube in steady stream (this should take about 20 seconds). Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Sift flour mixture over eggs in three steps, whisking gently after each addition until just combined.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temp. to 325 degrees and continue to bake until deep dolden brown and skewer inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking time. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto wire rack and brush on Lemon Glaze, if desired. Cool to room temperature , at least 1 hour. Cooled cakee can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored at room temperatue for up to 5 days.
Lemon Glaze:
Brush this glaze onto the warm cake to give it a fresh sweet-tart lemon kick.
1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz.) sugar
1/4 cup of juice from 1 or 2 med. lemons
While cake is cooling, bring sugar and lemon juice to boil in a small nonreactive saucepan, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to law and simmer until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. 'Apply glaze to cake after poking holes with a toothpick over the entire tip and sides. Brush the glaze onto the caake and let cool to room temperature.