Prep time:

Cooking time: 1 hour

Total time:

Serves: 16

350g self-raising flour

350g caster sugar

300g baking margarine (or 150g softened butter & 150ml sunflower oil)

5 medium sized eggs

1tsp baking powder

2tbsp soured cream

100ml lemon juice

2 zest of lemon

1tsp vanilla essence

2tbsp poppyseeds

2tbsp milk (depending on batter consistency)

For the simple lemony icing:

150g icing sugar

1tbsp lemon juice

edible flowers – (I picked violas and primroses) to decorate – optional

‘Bundt’ refers to the shape of the pan – round and decorative, with a hole in the middle. They are often plain, but can be dusted with sugar or iced.

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 160°C. Grease the inside of the bundt tin really well – it is easy for this cake to get stuck in the tin, so I brush with oil and then sprinkle with flour.
  2. Cream together the fat (baking margarine keeps a large cake light in texture) and sugar for 5 mins (with electric mixer) until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs one at a time, beating well to prevent curdling. Sift flour into the mixing bowl and add the other ingredients. Stir carefully to combine – don’t over mix. Add some milk if too thick – it should just about drop off a spoon. Spoon into the tin and place in the centre of the oven. Bake for 50 mins, then check – it could take an extra 5-10 minutes (a skewer should come out clean).
  3. Wait for the cake to cool to room temperature, as it should shrink back from the tin a little, then carefully invert over a plate and gently encourage the cake out. If it gets stuck, do your best to repair, and then cover with icing – no one will know.
  4. Combine the icing sugar and lemon juice – consistency is all here – too thin and it will slide off the cake, too thick and you won’t get the nice ‘drip’ effect, so add the lemon juice slowly, testing the consistency as you go. Use edible flowers to decorate for a lovely spring flourish.

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether

You may also like

Sausage & apple rolls

Apples go so well with pork and with pastry. Choose a good cooking variety and some high quality sausage meat for these deliciously simple-to-make sausage rolls – perfect to serve at Halloween or Bonfire Night.

Apple, cauliflower & Stilton salad

This crunchy salad is ideal for the autumn – whatever the weather. It is hearty enough to serve for a light lunch or supper on its own, but equally good as a side dish. Use firm, tangy dessert apples like...

Hedgerow harvest cake

Celebrate the season with a delicious combination of fruits and nuts gathered from the hedgerows (or the supermarket). Apple is a very useful ingredient in general for cakes, either grated or as apple purée, as it will help to keep...