Paulas Lemon Cake With 7 Minute Frosting Recipes

PERFECT SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a small, heavy-bottom saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, corn syrup, and 4 tablespoons water. Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, about 4 minutes. Rub a bit of the mixture between your fingers, making sure any graininess has disappeared. Raise heat, and bring to a boil without stirring. Continue boiling, occasionally washing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to prevent sugar from crystallizing, until a candy thermometer registers 230 degrees, about 5 minutes. (Depending on the humidity, this can take anywhere from 4 to 10 minutes.) Remove the syrup from heat (temperature will keep rising).
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 1/2 minutes. Gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. With mixer on medium-low speed, pour syrup in a steady stream down side of bowl (to avoid splattering).
• Beat the frosting on high speed until cool, about seven minutes. It should be thick and shiny. Use immediately.

LEMON LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for three 8 inch round pans. Cool cakes completely, then split each in half to make 6 layers.
• For the Lemon Custard: In a large saucepan or double boiler combine sugar and cornstarch. Mix well, then stir in egg yolks, lemon zest and lemon juice. slowly whisk in the boiling water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Set aside to cool.
• Place the bottom layer of cake on a serving plate. Spread with approximately 1/5 of the lemon custard. Repeat layers. Frost top and sides with Seven Minute Frosting (see footnote for link to recipe).

WACKY LEMON CAKE WITH 7-MINUTE LEMON FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Make cake - sift dry ingredients together in 8 x 8 pan and make 3 holes.
• Pour vinegar in first hole, vegetable oil in second hole, and almond extract in third hole.
• Pour cold lemon juice and water over everything.
• Mix all ingredients thoroughly (do not beat).
• Bake in same 8 x 8 pan that ingredients were mixed in for 35 minutes or until center is firm.
• Cool completely.
• Make frosting - combine sugar, water, cream of tartar and salt in saucepan.
• Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• While beating constantly, very slowly add sugar syrup to egg white in mixing bowl.
• Continue beating until stiff peaks form (about 7 minutes).
• Beat in extracts.
• Smooth frosting over cooled wacky lemon cake.
• Enjoy!

PAULA'S LEMON CAKE (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
• To make the cake: Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter, then dropping flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
• To make the frosting: Place sugar, cream of tartar or corn syrup, salt, water, and egg whites in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer for 1 minute. Place pan over boiling water, being sure that boiling water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Beat constantly on high speed with electric mixer for 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
• To make the filling: Place the ingredients in the double boiler over boiling water. Don't let top pan touch the water. Cook and stir until mixture begins to gel or thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• To assemble, add 1 tablespoon of filling to the cake pedestal. Run hands along the side of the cake to remove excess crumbs. Place the cake layers on the pedestal, spreading filling between the layers and on top. Spread the sides and top of the cake with the remaining filling. Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of mint.

CLASSIC SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 cups sugar, the water, and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Raise heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Cook, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming, until syrup reaches 230 degrees on a candy thermometer. Once syrup reaches 230 degrees, remove from heat immediately.
• Meanwhile, with a mixer on medium speed, whisk egg whites to soft peaks. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Reduce speed to medium-low, and pour syrup into egg whites in a slow, steady stream down the side of the bowl. Raise speed to medium-high, and whisk for 6 minutes. Add vanilla; whisk until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Use immediately.

SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Steps:

• In the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a saucepan of simmering water, combine sugar, corn syrup, 1/4 cup water, and egg whites. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 minutes.
• Attach bowl to a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat mixture on high speed until glossy and voluminous, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Use immediately.