sweet delights

the square cake

I bought a new baking tin.

I laid my hands on a 20 x 20 cm form because there are mainly the 2 of us … Any larger baking tin is not convenient. (Even when having a dinner event this baking tin will produce enough cake for a dessert for 4 or even 6 people.)

I’m not a hoarder concerning baking tins or any other cooking/baking equipment or any kitchen equipment in general. My kitchen is small & space is limited. So I only store things I really use … I found – years ago – that you only need a rather small basic set of things for creating a lot of food. (I assure you that I haven’t got any boxes filled w/ things in my cellar … just in case.)

It is a soft cake, fluffy, airy … however not dry! The lemon icing invaded the cake & makes for a nice crunchy top. I cut 16 pieces out of the square & each is just fine when having an espresso or when you like to have some sweet finish to your dinner.

Let’s start!

This is my new baking tin. It’s non-stick, however, I added some oil & baking parchment – just to be able to lift the cake easily after the oven session. The oil is just applied because so the baking parchment sticks nicely to the bottom & the sides.

What do we need?

  • fine sugar
  • eggs
  • butter
  • cream
  • all-pupose flour & baking powder …

… & organic lemons!

The butter has to be melted; then just leave it for cooling down.

The zest of the lemons has to be grated. (Also squeeze the lemon juice – you’ll need it for the icing.)

… & another to do: Preheat the oven to 160° C fan.

Grab your handheld electric mixer & whisk the eggs & the sugar until almost foamy. Add the molten butter & whisk until well incorporated.

Add the flour w/ the baking powder & whisk … add the cream & whisk.

Finally fold in the lemon zest & pour the mess into the prepared baking tin. The tin marches in the oven for about 30 min. (Make the famous test w/ the wooden pin …)

… ready!

At once prepare the lemon icing:

  • lemon juice
  • icing sugar.

Yes – the cake has just left the hot oven & the icing will be applied at once.

To encourage the soaking you may make some holes in the hot cake.

Just pour the icing all over the hot cake … & let it cool down to room temperature. Then lift the cake out of the baking tin & remove carefully the baking parchment.

Voilà!

I cut the big square into 16 small squares.

Enjoy!

the square cake
Servings: 16 pieces
ingredients:
  • 200 g fine sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 75 g butter (molten)
  • 175 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder (heaped)
  • a pinch of salt
  • 120 ml cream (32%)
  • 1 tbsp zest of lemon (2 lemons)
for the icing:
  • 100 g icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
equipment:
  • handheld electric mixer (beaters)
  • square baking tin (20 x 20 cm)
  • baking parchment
  • cooling rack
how to:
  • Preheat the oven to 160° C fan.
  • Melt the butter & set aside to cool down.
  • Line the baking tin with baking parchment; add some oil to the bottom & the sides to allow the baking parchment to stick appropriately.
  • Grate the lemon zest & squeeze the lemon juice.
  • Whisk the eggs & the sugar with your handheld electric mixer (beaters) until foamy.
  • Add the molten butter & whisk until well incorporated. It's rather liquid.
  • Mix the flour, the baking powder & the salt. Add the liquid mess & whisk until incorporated.
  • Add the cream & whisk …
  • Fold in the lemon zest with a spoon.
  • Pour the mess into the prepared baking tin & bake for about 30 min.
  • Make the famous test with the wooden pin … If necessary add 5 – 10 min to the oven session.
  • For the icing mix the lemon juice & the icing sugar with a spoon until creamy w/o any tiny lumps of sugar.
  • Distribute the lemon icing all over the cake as soon as the cake is out of the oven & chills on the cooling rack. If you like you may pierce some little holes in the cake with the wooden pin to enhance the soaking.
  • Let the cake rest until at room temperature before removing the baking tin and the baking parchment.
storing:
  • You may store the cake on the kitchen counter (covered) at least for 2 days.
  • You may store the cake in your fridge (also covered) for almost a week. The cake will set in the fridge.
  • Sorry: no experience with freezing!