I forget.
I sometimes forget that we have a thing here. A thing that’s more of a weird Internet friendship than a simple fling. Forgive my forgetting.
I’ve gotten a lot of urgent emails and tweets and random Internet shouts about why why why WHY I picked up and moved my little world to New Orleans. (I also respect the fact that some of you couldn’t care less… that’s cool.)
The answer is probably far less exciting that you’d like it to be. I moved from California to New Orleans because I wanted to. I wanted a change in place, a jolt of inspiration, more crawfish on my plate, adventure. I wanted to feel out of my element and get to know a new place. New Orleans, with its little bit of magic, seems like the place my heart wants to be. So… this is that!
Can I be honest with you about something? The more people asked me why I was moving to New Orleans, the more I wanted to hold that information close and keep it to myself. I try to keep a balance of what I share with the big wide Internet (with its supporters and haters) and what I keep to myself. Mostly I’m trying to protect you from things like… my weird love for One Direction and all those times I feel too many feelings.
I’ve created a place where I can share, where we can share, where we can hang out and bake together. Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want all of the nitty-gritty. I just forget that sometimes I have to explain myself. It totally makes sense that you would want to know the why. (Again, it also makes sense if you don’t give a care.)
Anyhow… I’m still trying to figure this whole ‘sharing on the Internet’ thing out… six years into the game.
At least now you know the not terribly interesting reason I moved to New Orleans. Did I mention the crawfish? That has a lot to do with it.
I’m still figuring out how I want to photograph in my new space, I’m learning the quirks of my new oven (which are many), and I’m trying to figure out if there’s a single surface that my cat can’t jump on. I appreciate that you’re along for that ride.
Learning curve: steep. Still there’s cake.
Oh, all the flavors we can pull from a lemon.
Lemon zest is rubbed together with the granulated sugar for this pound cake. The essential oils really add a kick of lemon. Definitely don’t skip the lemon + sugar rub down.
When our newly crafted lemon sugar, we cream butter into the most lovely, sweet and whipped cake fat.
It’s not called pound cake because it’s fat free.
The batter has some body! It’s not all the way dense, but it’s a thick (not pourable) batter.
I have a thing against springform pans. I’m fully against them where cheesecake and water-baths are involved. You want me to wrap this pan in foil in order to bake a cake and it’s not going to work and I’m going to have a soggy cheesecake that I had to wait a full day to eat!? NO.
I’ve been burned (not literally) by the unreliable springform pan one too many times.
BUT! For making a thick batter pound cake… springform and I are friends again.
A regular 9-inch round cake pan will also work very well, and will save you lots of feelings and emotions.
Our simple, single layer cake. It smells soooo good! Scratch and sniff, you wish.
While the cake was baking, I whipped up a simple buttercream.
You know the deal… butter and powdered sugar, lemon juice for continuity, salt for balance, and poppy seeds because we’re fancy.
You know what’s nice? Just letting it be a single layer cake. Not fuss about stacking and frosting the sides. Just a tender and sweet lemon pound cake with a generous layer of creamy frosting.
The poppy seeds add a nice crunch. If you’re feeling extra poppy, feel free to add an additional tablespoon to the cake batter.
This cake is not light and fluffy like a lemon layer cake. The crumb is a bit more dense, but still soft and moist. Take care not to over bake the sucker. There are some crimes that even buttercream can’t hide.
Lemon Cake with Lemon Poppy Seed Buttercream
makes 1 single layer 9-inch cake
adapted from The Joy of Baking
For the Cake:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
zest of 1 large lemon
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped and pod discarded (or 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
For the Buttercream:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
splash of milk or cream as needed for consistency
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan. If you don’t have a springform pan, a regular 9-inch cake pan will also be fine. Just make sure that the cake pan has high sides (3-inches or so). Set aside the greased pan.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using an electric hand mixer) beat the butter until pliable and soft, about 1 minute.
In a small bowl toss together sugar and lemon zest using the back of a small spoon. The sugar will become moist and super fragrant.
Add the sugar to the butter and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Mixture will be pale in color.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute between each addition. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Beat in the vanilla extract once all of the eggs are mixed in. The batter may look curdled. That’s ok!
Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat on low speed until almost incorporated. Add the lemon juice and beat to combine. Stop the mixer and finish combining the batter with a wooden spoon or spatula. Scrape down the bottom of the bowl to make sure you’ve completely incorporated all of the ingredients.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth. Allow to bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the frosting, cream together the butter, 2 cups of powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-ugh until smooth and creamy. Add up to a cup more powdered sugar to thicken the consistency. Add a splash of milk or cream for a thinner consistency. I prefer my buttercream not too thick as to not tear the cake when frosting. Once you get your consistency where you’d like it, beat in the poppy seeds. Add a touch of yellow food die if you’d like.
Spoon and spread the buttercream over the completely cooled cake. Don’t worry about frosting the sides. Leave them bare. Allow the cake the rest in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. Cake will last, well wrapped at room temperature, for up to 4 days.
autumnalaina
I love lemon, but I have never baked with poppy seeds, so I will certainly give this a try.
I know Joy said that the cake would be dense but I wonder how it would work as a cupcake? (I love making things into cupcakes) I’ll give it a go as a cake first though.
Rachel Nair
New Orleans is magical. My husband and i visited last year and would love to move there. You are indeed very lucky. And this cake… this cake is everything i want in a cake. Simple, tart, sweet and most of all, lemony!
Thank you for sharing!
Anna
It’s not called pound cake because it’s fat free…
Amazing.
I’m going to be in New Orleans for a long weekend and a wedding on May 24th. I keep thinking we should meet, as if we know each other! If I recognize you in the street, we will eat beignets together, though.
Renee @ Awesome on $20
Two and a half years later, people are still asking us why we moved to Hawaii, and are still confused when we just say “because we could.” I hope you’re madly in love with your new adventure. May you have many more.
joythebaker
you’re a gemstone!
Meg
I made this cake this weekend — it was fantastic! Great recipe! The texture is really nice and it has a good lemon flavor.
The recipe as written made waaaaaay too much frosting. It could be cut in half for sure, and the cake might also be nice with just a dusting of powdered sugar.
DA E
your pictures make me feel nostalgic for a cake i haven’t even made yet (and for a kitchen i’ve never seen)…i cannot wait to make this and thanks for sharing your (short) story of your move. you ever have a “boyfriend” who doesn’t know he’d dating you? i feel like we’re friends. i love to read your posts and even if you don’t know i exist…just know we are friends…my kick ass sister from another mister.
-dani e
Romy
A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. I get it. You truly learn what you’re made of when you leave it all behind. I love your blog no matter where your are. Congratulations!
Frank
That buttercream sounds delicious, Thanks for sharing!
Anne
I like your blog exactly because you don’t share too much. I’m here for the quality of the recipes, the global aesthetic, for your good spirit and humor, not to know every deep thought you have on life, the details of your days, etc. So many “food blogs” transform themselves in some sort of daily/mommy/healthy blogs and I’m so fed up with these. Maybe it is the age.
Lauren Moe (@laurenpeters)
Oh Joy, you are just awesome. And I can’t wait to try that lemon pound cake.
Heather
This looks likes the perfect Sunday cake :)
sundiegoeats
I think a lot of people have that urge to just pick up and move sometimes….awesome that you actually did it! And sometimes simple is best. And often simple is best with lemons…
alyssa
I’ve been tasked with making a cake for a friend’s birthday tomorrow and I’ve been wanting to make this cake from the moment you posted it. Does he like lemon? I don’t know!! (I don’t care!!) I’m making it!!!! Can’t wait to bite into this sucker
marijke
Love this. Have been needing something simple after the easter madness! Need to make this weekend :)
Vickie
lemon cake = awesome :)