make 1 double-layered cake - 15cm in diameter
or 1 single layer cake - 23 cm in diameter
Ingredients
250gram self raising flour
250gram caster sugar
250gram butter - room temperature
3 eggs
5 ml baking powder
5 ml vanilla grated lemon zest
Preheat oven to 180C or the Air Fryer to 160C. Prepare your baking tins by spraying them with Spray 'n Cook or butter them. Place all the ingredients in the bowl of your mixer and mix at high speed until the mixture is creamy and thick. If you are using the Air Fryer you have to bake 2 cakes, so you will only spoon half the cake batter into the little pan. Place in the Air Fryer and bake for 15 minutes. The cake should now be soft to the touch and a light sand color. Remove from the Air Fryer,remove from the pan and allow to cool and repeat with the other half of the batter. If you are using the conventional oven, spoon all the batter in a 23cm pan and bake for 20-30minutes or until light brown and soft to the touch.Remove from the baking tins and cool.
Candied Lemons
2 organic lemons(no wax)
125ml sugar
50ml boiling water
To make a sugar syrup, pour the sugar into a small bowl and add the boiling water. Stir to dissolve all the sugar. Keep sugar syrup ready. Slice the lemons into thin slices, dip in the sugar syrup and place on a baking sheet. Bake/dry in the oven 120C for about 30-40 minutes or until lemons are slightly sticky and still chewable. The time varies because of the difference in thickness of the melon slices, so keep an eye on it. You can make these candied lemon slices in the Air Fryer, but I happen to have the oven on for something else so I just popped them in there.
Meringue Frosting
200gr caster sugar
4 egg whites
You need an electric beater or a whisk and strong arms. A metal mixing bowl and a pot with simmering water.
Poor the egg whites and sugar into the metal bowl and place over the simmering water. Make sure the bowl does not touch the water. Beat the egg whites and sugar until it is fluffy and white.and can keep its shape. Spread generously over the cake and top with candied lemons.
(My easy cooking)
