Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

Merry Christmas Eve! Have you finished your shopping? Are the presents all wrapped? Not going to lie, I was at Target when it opened first thing this morning, but I think I’m finally ready to say I’m done! I’m not usually this bad, but Shane and I both brought home colds/sinus infections from Florida which definitely set us back last week…

Have you baked your cookies for Santa yet? 🙂 I had a marathon day in the kitchen yesterday and Santa will have his pick of treats when he stops here this year! Some of the recipes will be forthcoming in the next few days – the only repeat were these red velvet cupcakes (not decorated to look like brains this time…)

(That little chocolate pot is one of my favorite totally unnecessary but really fun kitchen gadgets!)

I couldn’t decide whether to share a breakfast/brunch or dessert idea with you today in the final hour so in the end, I went with a recipe I think could work for either.

I was at the store a few weeks ago and was so psyched to see that Meyer lemons were back in season. They’re one of my favorite citrus fruits; I seriously wish I could get them year-round! If you’ve never had them, they’re a cross between a lemon and mandarin orange so they’re a little sweeter than your typical lemon. They’re usually a little smaller and have a smoother, more vibrant yellow skin too.

I used my newly acquired Meyer lemons to make this amazing pound cake. I’m not even normally much of a pound cake fan (they can be so darn dry and heavy), but this cake is perfection, definitely my new go-to pound cake recipe! It’s buttery and tender with a tight crumb and lots of lemon flavor. I called a small slice breakfast a few days, but I could also see putting it out for dessert as a change of pace from all the chocolate and cookies sure to be on your table this year!

Meyer Lemon Pound Cake
adapted from Cook’s Country, April/May 2006

Pound Cake
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 tablespoons Meyer lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons Meyer lemon zest
1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 additional tablespoons
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 large eggs, at room temperature, beaten

Syrup
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup Meyer lemon juice

Glaze
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon Meyer lemon juice

To make the cake: Preheat oven to 325 F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk the sour cream and lemon juice together in a small measuring cup.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the lemon zest and sugar. Rub together with your fingertips until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Add the butter to the bowl and beat the butter/sugar mixture on medium speed until very pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in the eggs in 3 additions, beating well after each addition until the mixture is smooth (stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary). With the mixer on low, alternately add the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the sour cream mixture in 2 additions, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Once all the ingredients have been added, scrape down the bowl then beat on low for another 30 seconds to fully combine. Use a rubber spatula to make sure the batter in the very bottom of the bowl is uniform.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Smooth the top then tap the pan on your work surface to release air bubbles. Bake the cake for 55-65 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted near the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then turn it out.

While the cake is in the oven, make the syrup. Combine the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow to simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside.

Once you’ve turned the cake out of the pan (the cake should still be warm), brush the top and sides with the lemon syrup. It’ll seem like a lot, but use all of the syrup. Let the cake cool completely, about 2 hours.

To make the glaze: Combine the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Pour over the top of the cake, covering completely. Let the glaze set for at least 15 minutes before serving.

This cake keeps well. Store at room temperature tightly wrapped for up to 5 days, or freeze (unglazed) for up to 1 month.