Lemon Layer Cake with Curd and Blueberries

(75)
lemon layer cake with curd and blueberries
Photo: Elizabeth Watt
Servings:
10

Layered and light, the tiers of this lemon cake with curd call for cholesterol-free egg whites and skim milk; the berries in between are thought to be brain boosters.

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE

  • Vegetable oil, cooking spray

  • 1 ½ cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

  • ½ cup skim milk

  • cup canola oil

  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

  • 4 large egg whites, room temperature

  • 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

FOR THE LEMON CURD

  • 4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten

  • Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon, plus 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

  • 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar

  • cup cornstarch

  • Pinch of salt

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 ⅓ cups blueberries, lightly crushed

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Coat two 8-by-1 1/2-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment. Spray parchment; set aside.

  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk together 1/4 cup sugar, the milk, oil, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large bowl; set aside.

  3. Put egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until foamy. Raise speed to medium-high. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.

  4. Add half of the flour mixture to the milk mixture; whisk until smooth. Fold in remaining flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the egg white mixture. Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn out cakes onto rack. Remove parchment; reinvert. Let cool completely.

  5. Make the lemon curd: Put egg yolks into a medium heatproof bowl; set aside. Whisk together lemon zest, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add 1 1/2 cups water and the lemon juice; whisk until sugar and cornstarch have dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; gradually whisk one-third of the lemon mixture into the reserved egg yolks. Pour mixture into pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 2 1/2 minutes.

  6. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour into a bowl; place plastic wrap directly on surface. Refrigerate until firm and cold, at least 1 hour (up to 1 day).

  7. Fold blueberries into curd; set aside. Trim top and bottom of one cake to be flat. Cut each cake in half horizontally. Set untrimmed bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup curd. Repeat with trimmed halves for second and third layers. Top with untrimmed top layer. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

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