Monday, July 20, 2015

Starbucks Copycat Lemon Pound Cake

For me this is the best closest recipe to the moist Starbucks lemon pound cake. I've tried so many times to reach the flavor and texture but none of recipes out there were close enough to perfection except this one.

Ingredients:
250g butter, room temperature
250g caster sugar
2- 3 bio lemon, we need about 3 tsp of grated lemon zest and 120ml of lemon juice
4 eggs (medium)
200g all purpose flour
50g corn starch or maizena
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla paste or extract
150g powdered sugar

  1. In a large mixing bowl, with a hand or standing mixer beat butter, sugar, grated lemon zest until light and fluffy about more than 5 minutes. 
  2. In a separate bowl, stir flour, baking powder, salt until combined. Sift it and set it aside. Preheat oven for 180 °C. Slightly butter 25 cm loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, beat until well combined on each addition. Add vanilla paste and beat for another 2 minutes. 
  4. Take only about 80ml of lemon juice, the rest 40ml is for frosting. Pour 1/3 of the lemon juice to the cake batter and 1/3 of the sifted flour mixture. Beat with low speed until well combined. Repeat process. Mix just until fully incorporated. Do not over mix the batter after the flour went in.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let it cool for about 20 min before frosting.
  6. For the frosting: In a bowl combine powdered sugar and 40ml lemon juice, stir until no clumps are visible.
  7. Drizzle the frosting evenly over the cake. Let it stand for 10 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Mini Vanilla Sponge Cake


Ingredients:
For the cake
2 large eggs
155g granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla paste
120ml full cream milk or half and half
56g butter
130g (about 1 cup) cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

  • In a glass or stainless mixing bowl combine the eggs and sugar. Over double boiler, whisk the eggs and sugar with a hand whisk until the sugar dissolved and the temperature of the mixture reaches lukewarm. 
  • In a bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt, mix until combined.
  • With a hand mixer or standing mixer, beat the mixture until fluffy and pale. Beat over high speed about 6 minutes until reaches ribbon stage.
  • In a microwave safe bowl, add milk and butter. Microwave it for about 30 seconds. Add to the egg mixture, add vanilla paste and continue beating for about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 180 °C, prepare 16 cm round baking form, butter evenly the surface of the baking form or you can line it with parchment paper.
  • Add the flour mixture, beat over low speed for about another 2 minutes or until well combined. Do not over beat the batter!!
  • Pour the batter into a prepared baking form, bake for about 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let it cool completely before frosting.