Lemon Drizzle Cake

www.shropshirebreakfast.co.uk

Every guest who arrives at Hopton House Bed and Breakfast, a luxury B&B here in beautiful South Shropshire,  has a whole cake waiting for them in their room to enjoy during their stay. Usually, unless I've had a special request, this will be a lemon drizzle cake.

This recipe is based on one of Mary Berry's, though I've adapted it to fit into 3 1lb loaf tins rather than making it up as tray bake. I've also upped the temperature which gives a nice cracked top to the cake which I like.
Replacing Mary's recommended milk with buttermilk makes the cake even lighter and fluffier

You need 3 1 lb loaf tins - I line mine with ready made paper liners.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees ( for fan oven )

Ingredients

For the Cake
10oz SR flour
8oz caster sugar
2 tsp baking powder
8oz softened butter ( I normally just use a whole pack of butter which is slightly over 8 oz)
5 Hopton House eggs ( which is about 4 large eggs )
4 tablespoons buttermilk
grated rind of 2 large lemons

For the Drizzle
6oz granulated sugar
juice of 2 large lemons

Put all of the ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 2 minutes.

Divide the mixture between the 3 loaf tins.

Put in the oven for 30 minutes - check after 30 minutes to see if the cake is firm on top. You will probably need longer but only allow 5 minutes at a time. You want just cooked.

Take out of the oven and leave for 5 minutes. Prick all over with a skewer ( I use my meat lifting forks - creates 4 holes at  a time - how lazy is that? )

Mix the sugar & lemon for the drizzle and pour over the cakes. After another 10 minutes take out of the tins & place on a wire tray - this is where is really helps having the ready made paper liners because it keeps any of the drizzle that has fallen down the sides in place.

This will keep for several days as it's so moist and they also freeze well.