Summer Series: Lemon Cake
I made this cake for my dad’s birthday this year on July 4th. I always like to make lemony desserts for summer birthdays, so I usually do a lemon meringue pie or lemon cake like this one! There is just nothing more refreshing in the hot, humid heat of a Virginia summer than a nice lemony dessert paired with a cold iced tea.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups almond milk (unsweetened)
1/3 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 Tbsp lemon zest (about 3 lemons)
For the Glaze:
3 Cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp softened vegan butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup almond milk
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
Continue mixing as you slowly pour in almond milk, followed by olive oil, vinegar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix until homogeneous.
Pour batter into 3 greased and parchment-lined 9” baking tins and bake for 30 min (or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean)
While cakes are baking, make the glaze: Slowly mix lemon juice, vanilla extract, butter, and almond milk into powdered sugar until it forms a smooth, creamy glaze. If too thin, add more sugar. If too thick, add more almond milk.
When cakes are done baking, set aside to cool - but do not cool completely. You want them to still be a little warm when pouring on the glaze.
VERY CAREFULLY, use a serrated knife to cut the dome off of 2 of the cakes to make level surfaces.
Place one of the leveled layers on a plate and spread a layer of glaze. Place the second leveled layer on top, followed by another layer of glaze. Repeat with the domed cake for the 3rd layer. To keep the layers from sliding off, insert a few wooden skewers to keep it in place. Quickly place cake in fridge to set. It’s ok if there is glaze all around the cake on the plate - you can re-plate later, or just leave as is!
When cake has set and is no longer in danger of sliding all over the place, remove skewers, spot-fix the holes with more glaze, decorate, and serve! I put thinly sliced lemon over the holes… :)
Enjoy!
