Lemon-Lime Pound Cake

I can see Spring is around the corner.  The first day of Spring is March 20th, and I can’t wait for it to get here.  I have noticed that all of my tulips and daffodils are starting to pop up.  I hear the birds already chirping and having fun being free.

I came across this Lemon-Lime Pound Cake recipe in a Southern Living magazine. The cake looked so refreshing and I thought that it would be the perfect cake to make and get me in the spirit of Spring.

Every time I make a dessert with lemon it reminds me of my mom.  My mom’s favorite desserts were all made with lemon.  She loved lemon meringue pie.  The taste of lemon really comes through in this cake because of the lemon zest in the batter.

For the cake I used a stoneware baking pan.  It gives the outside of the cake a beautiful color.  Adding just the lemon-lime glaze over the top was perfect.  The cake turned out really good.  I had  a couple of pieces with my coffee, and gave my neighbors a piece too.  Within a couple of days the cake was gone, a sign that the cake was really good.

The candied lemons were a great addition to the cake and were really tasty.

I cooked the lemon rounds in sugar and water for about 45 minutes, then I placed them on a wire rack for about a couple of hours before decorating the cake.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
2 tbsp lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup lemon-lime soft drink (7up)
shortening
lemon-lime glaze
candied lemons-optional
lime rind twists, garnish-optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch bundt pan with shortening and flour, set aside. Beat butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beat at medium speed 3 to 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in the lemon zest and extracts.

Add Flour to butter mixture alternately with lemon-lime soft drink, beginning and ending with flour. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour 15 or until a long wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, shielding with aluminum foil after 45-50 minutes to prevent excessive browning. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes, remove cake from pan to wire rack. Spoon Lemon-Lime Glaze over warm or room temperature cake. Top with Candied Lemons, if desire.

Lemon-Lime Glaze

2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tsp lemon zest
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp fresh lime

In a bowl whisk together all ingredients until blended and smooth. For a thinner glaze, stir in an additional 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp at a time.

Candied Lemons

2 medium lemons cut into 1/8 inch thick slices
4 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar

In a large, heavy saucepan stir together water and sugar, bring to a light boil, stirring just until sugar dissolves. Add lemons, reduce heat to medium low. Gently simmer 45 minutes or until rinds are very soft and lemons are translucent, turning lemons every 15 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, and place in a single layer on a wire rack. Cool Completely.

Source:  Southern Living

Sinful Layer Chocolate Cake

Why go out and buy a chocolate cake when you can just make it at home.  This Sinful Layer Chocolate Cake is just that, sinful.  This cake is moist and delicious and perfect for any celebration. 

Making a dinner for your significant other for Valentine's Day?  Why not bake this wonderful cake, they are going to be impress.  As you know Valentine's Day is all about chocolate and this cake is just perfect for the occasion.

Another reason to make this cake today is because today is National Chocolate Cake Day.  

Strawberry Shortcake

As promised, here is a fantastic and delicious Strawberry Shortcake recipe. This dessert is perfect for Valentine's Day.  Make this for your significant other, and they will love you even more.  This is a really easy recipe to make and the results are impressive. 

Best Coffee Cake Ever

This is the Best Coffee Cake Ever.  This sweet and delicious coffee cake has a rich crumbly topping that is perfect for breakfast or even as a dessert right after dinner.  I love desserts that I can enjoy with a cup of coffee, and this is one of them.

This is a crumbly topping with cinnamon and pecans.  Super moist and flavorful,  perfect for the holidays.  It's a Christmas morning breakfast cake that everyone will enjoy.

Gingerbread Cake

I wanted to bake something I had not baked before.  I was looking through many of my books and there were so many recipes I wanted to do.  Then, I came across this recipe for Gingerbread Cake.

This recipe is perfect for this time of year.  As it bakes, it fills the house with such a great smell of cinnamon, ginger and cloves.  It makes the house warm and cozy. 

This is a perfect way to end my night, with a  piece of gingerbread cake and a big cappuccino.  The cake tastes just like ginger and it's super moist.  Great recipe choice!

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

zest of 1 lemon

1/2 cup of unsulphured molasses

1 cup milk

Preheat oven 350 Degrees F

Place rack in center of oven.  Butter and flour a 9 inch round or square pan with 2 inch sides.

In a bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.  In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.  Add the lemon zest and molasses and beat to combine.  Scrape the side of the bowl as needed.

Add the dry ingredients and milk, alternately, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat just until incorporated. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from cake pan. 

Source: Joy of Baking

Pineapple, Coconut Carrot Cake

For about a week or so, I kept telling my husband that I wanted to make a carrot cake.  I've made carrot cakes before, but this one has a little twist.  The addition of the coconut and pineapple is out of this world.  The cake is super moist and the combination of flavors with the cream cheese frosting, Amazing!!

Apple Cake

For the last couple of years, I've made this cake for Thanksgiving.  Super easy to make and it's really delicious.  The original recipe calls for caramel on top, but I think that it would make it too sweet.  The cake is super moist and delicious, a sprinkle of confectioners sugar it's all it needs.

Lemon Cake Roll

This luscious Lemon Cake Roll was a hit.  Is super easy to make and takes no time.  It looks elegant on any table. You can always change the filling to something you like.

Fun Desserts in a Glass

Not only are these recipes easy, but they are pretty. They are perfect for a gathering, and you can make them ahead of time. Be creative and try vanilla pudding and sliced bananas in between layers, or crushed Oreo cookies with chocolate pudding and pieces of chocolate cake.  Try different fruits like, blackberries, blueberries, kiwi or even pineapple.  Just make it fun and delicious.

Lemon-Strawberries Parfaits