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Raymond Blanc’s Lemon Cake Recipe

Follow this Raymond Blanc’s Lemon Cake recipe and the result will be fresh, zesty and as light as a cloud. A real winner with family and friends, plus you can make the lemon cake in advance; the glaze will prevent it from drying out.
British 15 Mins 60 Mins Medium Serves 12
Image: Raymond Blanc

Ingredients

For the lemon cake
  • butter, to grease the tin
  • 5 organic/free-range medium eggs
  • 300g caster sugar
  • 140ml double cream
  • finely grated zest of 3 lemons
  • 25ml dark rum
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 80g unsalted butter, melted
  • 240g plain flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
For the glaze
  • 50g apricot jam, warmed
  • finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 3 tbsp juice
  • 150g icing sugar

Method

Step 1

  • Have all the ingredients at room temperature before you start.
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.
  • Lightly grease the loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper. Leave some paper overhanging the sides when you line the tin; this will enable you to lift out the cake by the paper, making it easy to de-mould.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, cream, lemon zest, rum, salt and melted butter.
  • Sift the flour and baking powder together, then whisk into the egg mixture until smooth.

Step 2

  • Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin and gently level the surface.
  • Bake for 50 minutes – 1 hour, turning the tin around halfway through cooking.
  • To test the cake, insert a small knife into the middle – if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked.
  • Turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool for 10 minutes.
  • Do not leave your cake to cool in the tin, as this would prevent the steam from escaping, making your cake heavier.

Step 3

  • Lightly brush the cake all over with the warm jam. The jam creates a barrier, so the lemon glaze is not absorbed. Leave for 5 minutes.
  • Mix the lemon zest and juice with the icing sugar in a small pan and warm over a low heat to 35°C, until smooth. If the glaze is any hotter, it will re-crystallise, losing its shine and crispness.
  • Brush the lemon glaze evenly over the top and sides of the cake and leave for a few minutes to set.

Step 4

  • Place the cake on a baking tray in the oven, turn off the heat and leave for 3–5 minutes to dry the glaze – it will become translucent.
  • Allow to cool before slicing.
Raymond Blanc's Lemon Cake Recipe

Recipe notes by Raymond Blanc

Lemon cake with tea is a grand tradition at Belmond Le Manoir au Quat’Saisons, and it has been served here for more than 30 years so I challenge you to make a better one than this!

If you follow my lemon cake recipe, the result will be fresh, zesty and as light as a cloud. A real winner with family and friends, plus you can make the lemon cake in advance; the glaze will prevent it from drying out. That makes it an excellent option for bake sales.

The lemon glaze must be even and thin; if it is too thick it will run in the oven.

Replace the lemons with other citrus fruit, such as oranges or grapefruit, using marmalade in place of the apricot jam.

Raymond Blanc

About this recipe

This Raymond Blanc’s Lemon Cake recipe is adapted from the book Kitchen Secrets by Raymond Blanc – Chef Patron of Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons  – a country house hotel and 2 Michelin starred restaurant in Great Milton, Oxfordshire.

Discover more at raymondblanc.com

Kitchen Secrets by Raymond Blanc

About Kitchen Secrets

Raymond’s love of delicious food is lifelong. Years of experience have given him a rich store of knowledge and the skill to create fantastic dishes that work time after time. With a range of achievable and inspirational recipes for cooks of all abilities – and useful tips throughout – this book brings Gallic passion and precision into the home kitchen.

Buy it on amazon.co.uk Buy it from Blackwells

 

 

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