Lemon Butter Cake
There’s something very nostalgic about a plate of glazed buttery cake squares. Their squidgy texture is something between a cakey brownie and densest cake you’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. I call these “butter cake” because they’re so buttery and smooth, but with a bright lemon personality quirk. I love the low buy-in for these types of bakes. Often, they take one bowl, one spoon, one pan and a short nap in the oven with a pay off that is way more than the sum of its parts. Isn’t that why we bake, why we spend a bit of our seemingly non-existent free time creating homemade sweetness in our kitchens? We crave a bit of magic, a bit of extraordinary from our meager offerings of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. If you love a lemony treat, these might be your new favorite thing.
Ingredients:
Makes one 8×8 cake.
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
zest and juice of 3 lemons
1 ½ cups flour
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
juice and zest of 1 lemon
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grab your favorite 8x8 pan and a square sheet of parchment paper. Crinkle the parchment up into a ball and then flatten smooth again. This helps it nestle into the corners of your pan. Once you’ve settled the parchment into the pan, set it aside. In a large bowl, whisk your eggs and sugar together until frothy. Add the melted and cooled butter, salt and vanilla extract and give it another whisk. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice and whisk once more. Sift (or dump :) the flour into the bowl and use a wooden spoon or spatula to fold it in. Pour the batter into the lined pan and pop it in the oven for 25-30 minutes. The edges will just be brown and the center will feel firm when lightly touched with your finger. While they bake, grab a small bowl and stir the powdered sugar together with the juice of one lemon to make the glaze. When the blondies are done baking, let them cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before removing with the parchment sling. Pour the glaze over top with a bit of lemon zest if desired. Cut into squares and enjoy!
