Ingredients:
-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
-2 cups granulated sugar
-2 large eggs
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-1 cup buttermilk
-1 cup fresh blueberries
-3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
-1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
-Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter and dust with flour.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in the vanilla.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat until just combined.
5. Gently fold in the blueberries, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Lemon blueberry cake is a delicious and flavorful dessert perfect for any occasion. The combination of sweet blueberries and tangy lemon is sure to please any palate!
History: Lemon blueberry cake has been a classic choice for dessert recipes since the 1950s. During this time period, cakes with a more light and fluffy texture were popular, and so this combination of lemon and blueberries found its way into cake recipes. The classic recipe was composed of a white batter with fresh blueberries and a zesty lemon topping such as lemon curd or glaze.
Tips and Techniques:
– When baking lemon blueberry cake, use a good quality white cake mix as a base for the batter. You can also experiment with different flavors such as vanilla, almond, or even spice cake.
– If you prefer a denser cake, opt for a pound cake recipe as the base for your lemon blueberry cake.
– To enhance the lemon flavor, add freshly grated lemon zest as well as lemon juice to the batter.
– Be sure to use fresh blueberries for the best flavor. Toss them in a tablespoon of flour before adding them to the batter.
– Before serving your lemon blueberry cake, sprinkle it with powdered sugar and drizzle it with a lemon glaze or a white chocolate ganache. This will add a beautiful finish to the cake, as well as a delightful contrast between the sweet and tart flavors.