Whilst I have had many alcoholic beverages with a hint of elderflower (don’t judge, the combo of gin and elderflower is EVERYTHING) I have always been hesitant to use elderflower in my baking. Maybe because it reminds me of lavender, something for the garden or perfumes not a cake?! My mind has been well and truly turned after this recipe
The cake itself is super moist and just like a lemon cake, I created a drizzle that seeps into the cake before coating it in icing. The drizzle is made using juice of fresh lemons, a little bit of sugar as I want to keep most of the tartness as well as elderflower cordial by Belvouir. This cordial is DELICIOUS, it’s very sweet and concentrated but is a perfect match for the bitterness of the lemon. Heat it up, let the sugar melt and you have an exquisite drizzle!
If you are looking something to bake this weekend then give this a try! You wont regret it and neither will anyone who comes to visit when given a slice of this! It’s a super summer treat so great for BBQs especially as it can all be made in one pan and sliced into however many you need. Decorate with edible flowers (you probably have some in your garden right now), which you can buy from most supermarkets nowadays! Or candied lemon peel and edible glitter would make a wonderful decoration too, or even some fresh fruit! It’s up to you
Let me know over at @merakibaking on Instagram if you made this or let me know if you made a different traybake which you class as your signiture! I am in love with Bake Off so send me messages on who your favourite is and we can chat all things cake! Have an amazing weekend everyone, recipe is just below! X
Ingredients
For the cake
225g Unsalted butter, softened
225g Caster sugar
4 Large eggs
225g Self raising flour
Zest of 1 lemon (save the juice for the drizzle)
For the drizzle
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
For the buttercream
250g Icing sugar
80g Unsalted butter, softened
3 Tbsp Belvoir Elderflower cordial
2 Tbsp Lemon juice
Edible flowers (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas mark 4.
Grease a 30 x 23cm traybake cake tin or roasting tray and line with baking parchment.
In a bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest together until pale and fluffy, around 5 minutes.
Gradually add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions. If it starts to look curdled, add 1 Tbsp of the flour to the mixture to bring it back together.
Sift over the remaining flour, and using a spatula or large metal spoon, fold together with 2 Tbsp of hot water.
Spoon into the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. It should be golden brown all over, peeling away from the sides slightly and spring back when touched. A skewer should come out clean, if it doesn’t place back into the oven for another 3-5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool for about 5-10 minutes while you make the drizzle.
In a small saucepan, add all the drizzle ingredients. Heat on a medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has melted. Then poke lots of holes into the cake and pour over the warm syrup covering the whole cake, making sure each hole is filled. Leave the cake to cool completely.
Once the cake is cooled, make the buttercream topping. Beat the butter and icing sugar together until combined. Then add the remaining buttercream ingredients and beat until very pale and fluffy around 5-8 minutes.
With the cooled cake still in the tin, cover with the buttercream icing and decorate with edible flowers if using. Leave to cool/buttercream firms up. I tend to place mine into the fridge at this point for around 20 minutes to get the buttercream firm for slicing.
Slice the cake into equal slices, either 16 small slices or 12 larger slices depending on preference. Store cake in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week but remove from the fridge 15 minutes before serving to eat at room temperature.
Notes
* If your butter is too hard, place in the microwave for 10 second bursts, stirring after each one to quickly soften. Be careful not to let it melt!
* Belvoir is a lovely brand which make many different types of drinks and cordials. Any elderflower cordial is fine, but Belvoir is just my preferred brand. Make sure to buy cordial not presse!
* This cake can be made into a normal cake size rather than a traybake. It can go in a 20cm round tin but baking time might take slightly longer, around 5-10 minutes so keep checking on it!
* Decorate with edible flowers. I have different flowers growing in the garden and these violas are the ones available and growing in my garden at the moment. They are so gorgeous to look at, they are edible and actually taste good (they have no aftertaste or bitterness). I got mine from a garden centre for around £3-£4 each punnet and make great decoration for cakes as well as additions to salads.