Baked Series: Lemon Lemon Loaf (1 of 7)

Hi Everyone. I’ll be doing seven posts this week (8/8 – 8/14) from the book

Baked-New Frontiers in Baking

by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito

Before I begin with the recipe, I’d like to recap the

COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY DETAILS

for those who are interested.

* * * * * *

Baking is my Zen will be having a COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY

from August 8 through August 14, 2010.

The giveaway will be the ‘not yet released’ cookbook,

Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented

By Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito

New book video teaser ~

Their book is due for release in October 2010. When it is available, the winner of the giveaway will receive a copy from…yours truly…Me.

In addition, you’ll receive a Baking is my Zen T-Shirt.

You’re probably asking, what are the rules to win this book?

Here are THE RULES for all seven posts (8/8 - 8/14):

• Contest starts on Sunday, 8/8/10 at 12a.m. EST.
• Contest ends on Tuesday, 8/17/10 at 11.59p.m. , EST.
• Winner announced on Wednesday, 8/18/10 by 5pm, EST.
• Find the WORD OF THE DAY within each post. Type it in the comment box as follows: Example: word of the day: bake
• You can post your comment daily in each post or all at once.(due by 8/17)
• All seven posts must have a comment with the ‘word of the day’ indicated.
NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS OPEN FOR U.S. ONLY.



To make it easy, for the first post, I have the word of the day very visible for you. Remember, you need to type or copy and paste the word of the day (insert word) in the comment box.

So, today’s word of the day: tangy

This is EXACTLY how it is to appear in the comment box:
word of the day: tangy


Here are a few bloggers who also made the Lemon Lemon Loaf. Check out their great blogs!

Like Mother Like Daughters

Marzipan Mom

Cookie Confession

Phillip Oliver

My Kitchen Snippets

Good Heavens Baking

LEMON LEMON LOAF
From Baked-New Frontiers in Baking Cookbook by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito.
Original Recipe follows below but adapted on the Photo Tutorial by Carmen of Baking is my Zen

Sometimes simplicity speaks volumes. Our lemon loaf recipe is very straightforward. We do not add poppy seeds, pecans, or any other extraneous ingredient. We really feel that the most important aspect of a lemon loaf is the zingy lemon flavor, and we accentuate it by using a combination of freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly grated lemon zest, and a mildly sweet lemon syrup. The sour cream gives this loaf a subtle tang and a dense, moist crumb that cannot be achieved with yogurt. If you want to increase the lemony goodness of these cakes, add the simple glaze after the syrup has set and the cakes are cool. This loaf freezes extremely well, so you can double the recipe and make a few extra loaves.

Baked Note: For zesting purposes, we always recommend using an organic fruit, free of chemicals or pesticides that might reside deep in the rind.

Yield : 2 (9-by-5-by-3-inch ) loaves

FOR THE LEMON CAKE
1½ cups cake flour
1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2¼ cups sugar
8 large eggs, at room temperature
¼ cup grated lemon zest (from about
4 lemons)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
½ cup sour cream, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

FOR THE LEMON SYRUP
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar

FOR THE LEMON GLAZE (optional )
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted, or more if needed
4 to 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice


MAKE THE LEMON CAKES.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray the sides and bottom of two 9-by-5- by-3-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.
Line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the paper.

Sift both flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Put the sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a food processor and pulse until combined.

With the motor running, drizzle the butter in through the feed tube.

Add the sour cream and vanilla and pulse until combined.

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

Sprinkle in the flour mixture, one third at a time, folding gently after each addition until just combined. Do not overmix.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

BAKE in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, rotate the pans, reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F., and bake for another 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Let cool in the pans for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, MAKE THE LEMON SYRUP in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Heat the lemon juice and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Once dissolved, continue to cook for 3 more minutes.

Remove from the heat and set aside.

Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and invert the loaves onto the pan.

Use a toothpick to poke holes in the tops and sides of the loaves.

Brush the tops and sides of the loaves with the lemon syrup.

Let the syrup soak into the cake and brush again.

Let the cakes cool completely, at least 30 minutes.

(The soaked but unglazed loaves will keep, wrapped in two layers of plastic wrap and frozen, for up to 6 weeks.)

If you like, MAKE THE LEMON GLAZE in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and 4 tablespoons of the lemon juice.

The mixture should be thick but pourable.

If the mixture is too stiff, add up to another 2 tablespoons lemon juice and whisk again, adding small amounts of lemon juice and/or confectioners' sugar until you get the right consistency.

Pour the lemon glaze over the top of each loaf and let it drip down the sides.

Let the lemon glaze harden, about 15 minutes, before serving.

The glazed loaves will keep for up to 3 days, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, at room temperature.



Lemon Lemon Loaf ~ PHOTO TUTORIAL
Recipe Adapted by Carmen of Baking is my Zen

MAKE THE LEMON CAKES.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray the sides and bottom of two 9-by-5- by-3-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.

Line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the paper.

Sift both flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Melt butter.

Zest lemons.

Juice lemons.

Crack eggs.

Put the sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a mixer until combined. (I used a mixer instead of a food processor)

Add the butter while mixture is mixing.

Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined.

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

Sprinkle in the flour mixture, one third at a time, folding gently with a spatula after each addition until just combined.

Do not overmix.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

BAKE in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, rotate the pans, reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F., and bake for another 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Let cool in the pans for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, MAKE THE LEMON SYRUP .

Juice lemons and strain through a sieve.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the lemon juice and sugar and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Once dissolved, continue to cook for 3 more minutes.

Remove from the heat and set aside.

Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and invert the loaves onto the pan.

Use a toothpick (I used skewer) to poke holes in the tops and sides of the loaves.

Brush the tops and sides of the loaves with the lemon syrup.

Let the syrup soak into the cake and brush again.

Let the cakes cool completely, at least 30 minutes.

(The soaked but unglazed loaves will keep, wrapped in two layers of plastic wrap and frozen, for up to 6 weeks.)

If you like, MAKE THE LEMON GLAZE in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and 4 tablespoons of the strained lemon juice.

The mixture should be thick but pourable.

If the mixture is too stiff, add up to another 2 tablespoons lemon juice and whisk again, adding small amounts of lemon juice and/or confectioners' sugar until you get the right consistency.

Pour the lemon glaze over the top of each loaf and let it drip down the sides.

Let the lemon glaze harden, about 15 minutes, before serving.

The glazed loaves will keep for up to 3 days, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, at room temperature.

Enjoy all that lemony goodness!

NOTE: To be eligible for the Cookbook Giveaway, all 7 posts must have comments as indicated in the rules.

1st post: Lemon Lemon Loaf

2nd post: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Loaf

3rd post: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

4th post: Black Forest Chocolate Cookies

5th post: Baked Tricolor Cookies

6th post: Sweet and Salty Cake

7th post: The Baked Brownie

Peace in Baking,

Carmen

Baking is my Zen…sweet nibbles for the soul