Triple Lemon Tea Cake

I have been baking.

I had a big supply of lemons, and my friend was coming over for tea, 

 so I made delicious Triple Lemon Tea Cakes.

TRIPLE LEMON TEA CAKE
8 Ounces (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter  (room temperature)
2 Cups Granulated Sugar
1/3 Cup Lemon Zest 
4 Large Eggs (room temperature)
3 Cups Unbleached All Purpose Four
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed)
3/4 Cup Buttermilk (room temperature)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

For the Syrup
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed)

For the Frosting
2 Cups Powdered Sugar (sifted)
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour two 8.5" X 4.5" loaf pans. 

Cream the sugar, lemon zest and  butter.  Beat in one egg at a time. 

In a separate bowl, sift  the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In another bowl, combine the lemon juice,  buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter.


Pour into two pans.
 
Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.   


Make syrup-  mix sugar and lemon juice.


Remove cakes from pans and turn upside down on wire rack.  Poke holes half way through bottom of cakes with a toothpick. Ladle half of the syrup over the the cakes and let it soak in.  Turn cakes over, poke holes into the top and ladle on the remaining half of the syrup, allowing it to soak down into the cakes.  Let cool completely.


Make glaze-frosting- Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice to make a glaze.  Drizzle over the tops of the cakes and down the sides.   Allow to sit at room temperature until it crusts. 


Slice and serve. 


Notes:
You can substitute regular salt for the kosher salt. 
This is a lovely moist cake.  It tastes delicious served with fresh berries.
Wrap in wax paper and plastic wrap to store unused portion in refrigerator.    

Easter is fast approaching, and little bunnies have started making an appearance around the house. 

We have enjoyed drinking fresh lemonade.

We shared our box of lemons with our college daughter and a friend.

(They were home for the weekend.)

And now the lemons are all gone.  Boy, were they delicious!

***

Depression glass pitcher- "Iris", Jeannette Glass Co.

Glass plates- "American",  Fostoria Glass