Lemon Cakes With Lemon Basil Syrup Recipes

LEMON POUND CAKE WITH LEMON SYRUP

Steps:

• Beat the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy.
• Add the sour cream, egg whites, lemon juice, and lemon rind, and beat until smooth.
• Add the flour, baking soda, and nutmeg and beat until smooth.
• Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.
• Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 40 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Spoon the warm lemon syrup over the cake, allowing it to soak in.
• Lemon Syrup: Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Cool slightly before pouring over cake.

LEMON CAKES WITH BASIL LEMON SYRUP

Steps:

• Make cakes:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly brush 8 muffin cups with some of melted butter and chill 2 minutes, then butter again and chill 1 minute more. Dust cups with matzo cake flour, knocking out excess.
• Beat together softened butter, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, then add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until well blended. Beat in lemon juice and 2 teaspoons zest until combined. Add flour and mix at low speed until just combined.
• Beat whites with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt in another bowl with cleaned beaters until they hold soft peaks. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, a little at a time, beating, then beat until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir one fourth of whites into yolk mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Spoon batter into 8 prepared muffin cups.
• Blend remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon zest with your fingertips and sprinkle over batter, then bake until cakes are puffed, edges are golden, and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pan on a rack 15 minutes, then lift out cakes carefully (tops will break easily) and cool completely on rack.
• Make syrup:
• Bring all syrup ingredients to a boil, covered, in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, then remove lid and boil 10 minutes. Pour syrup through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids. Cool to room temperature.
• Assemble dessert:
• Beat cream in a bowl with cleaned beaters until it just holds stiff peaks.
• Spoon 1/4 cup syrup into each of 8 shallow bowls and top with cakes. Spoon whipped cream on top of cakes.