Indulge in a cozy afternoon baking with Mary Berry’s special lemon cake – a simple and delightful treat that requires just six ingredients. This recipe, featured in her ‘Fast Cakes: Easy Bakes in Minutes’ cookbook, is a testament to creating deliciousness with minimal effort. Mary herself describes the cake as “special” thanks to its creamy lemon filling, which she recommends making with homemade lemon curd for an extra burst of flavor.
This cake is incredibly quick to prepare, taking only around 10 minutes before it goes into the oven for 20 minutes. So, in less than half an hour, you can have a warm, comforting dessert ready to enjoy. It’s the perfect companion for a cup of tea on a chilly autumn evening, guaranteed to warm you up from the inside out.
What makes this recipe truly unique is its lack of butter or oil. Instead, the magic lies in the creamy filling, which adds a touch of richness and elevates the simple sponge to new heights.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Mary Berry’s special lemon cake:
* 100g caster sugar
* 100g self-raising flour
* 200ml double cream
* Four large eggs
* Six tablespoons of lemon curd
* A little sifted sugar
Instructions:
1. Begin by preheating your oven to 190°C (170°C fan, Gas Mark 5). Grease two round cake tins and line their bases with baking paper.
2. In a large heatproof bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar over a pan of simmering water until the mixture becomes white, creamy, and thick. Remove from heat and continue whisking for two more minutes.
3. Sift the flour into the mixture and gently fold it in with a metal spoon.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the two cake tins and use a knife to level the surfaces.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cakes have risen.
6. Once baked, turn the cakes out onto a wire rack, peel off the baking paper, and let them cool while you prepare the filling.
7. To make the filling, whisk the cream until it becomes very thick, then fold in the lemon curd.
8. Spread a generous amount of the lemon cream filling onto the top of one cake. Sandwich the two cakes together and dust the top with icing sugar before serving.
Enjoy this simple, delicious, and heartwarming treat – a testament to Mary Berry’s culinary brilliance!
