Best Lemon Ginger Cake Recipes

LEMON GINGER MOLASSES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch round baking pan, line with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, one at a time, the molasses, and the 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and mix until combined. (The batter may look curdled.)
• Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, scraping down the sides. Mix until smooth. With a rubber spatula, fold in the 1/3 cup of crystallized ginger.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick just comes out clean. Don¿t overbake it! Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, turn out onto a baking rack, and cool completely. Spread the top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crystallized ginger and grated lemon zest.
• Place the cream, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, creme fraiche, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed, until it forms soft peaks. Serve cold.

LEMON-GINGER MOLASSES CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch-round baking pan, line with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, one at a time, the molasses and the 2 teaspoons lemon zest and mix until combined. (The batter may look curdled.)
• Sift together the flour, ground ginger, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk, scraping down the sides. Mix until smooth. With a rubber spatula, fold in the 1/3 cup crystallized ginger.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick just comes out clean. Don't overbake it! Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, turn out onto a baking rack and cool completely. Spread the top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crystallized ginger and grated lemon zest.
• Place the cream, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, creme fraiche and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed, until it forms soft peaks. Refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving.

STICKY STEM GINGER CAKE WITH LEMON ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4. Butter and line an 18cm round, 7cm deep cake tin with greaseproof or parchment paper.
• Put the flour, bicarbonate of soda and all the spices into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Put the sugar, treacle, syrup and milk in a medium saucepan and heat, gently stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring the mixture to just below boiling point.
• Add the stem ginger to the flour mixture, then pour in the treacle mixture, stirring as you go with a wooden spoon. Break in the egg and beat until all the mixture is combined and it resembles a thick pancake batter. Pour this into prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes-1 hour, until a skewer pushed into the centre of the cake comes out fairly clean. Leave to cool completely in tin before turning cake out. (To freeze: wrap in greaseproof paper, then in cling film. Freeze for up to 1 month.)
• To make the icing, mix together icing sugar and lemon zest, then gradually add lemon juice until you have a smooth, slightly runny icing, adding more juice, if needed. Drizzle icing in a zig-zag pattern over surface of cake, turn cake around and drizzle again to create the cross-hatched finish (see below). Cake keeps for up to 2 weeks stored in an airtight container.

LEMON GINGER ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and lemon zest until creamy. Beat in lemon curd until smooth. Gradually add cream, beating on medium-high speed until soft peaks form., Line bottom of an 8-in. square dish with 9 cookies; spread with about 2/3 cup cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers 6 times. Sprinkle with crystallized ginger. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours or overnight.

LEMON GINGER CAKE W/ LEMON-CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For Cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Butter two 9-inch diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides.
• Line bottom of pans with waxed paper; butter paper.
• Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix in lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla (mixture may look curdled).
• Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt into medium bowl; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions each, beginning with dry ingredients.
• Divide batter equally between prepared pans.
• Bake until golden brown and tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer pans to racks.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Using small sharp knife, cut around sides of pan to loosen cakes.
• Turn out cakes onto racks and cool completely.
• Peel off waxed paper.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly in plastic and store at room temperature.) For Frosting: Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon peel and vanilla in large bowl until smooth.
• Add powdered sugar and beat until frosting is smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on platter.
• Spread 1 cup frosting over top.
• Place remaining cake layer atop.
• Using icing spatula, spread remaining frosting over sides and top of cake in decorative swirls.
• Sprinkle top of cake with remaining 1 teaspoon lemon peel.
• (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let cake stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.).

LEMON GINGER CAKE WITH LEMON-CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 °F. Butter two 9-inch diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper; butter paper. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla (mixture may look curdled). Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt into medium bowl; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions each, beginning with dry ingredients.
• Divide batter equally between prepared pans. Bake until golden brown and tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer pans to racks. Cool 10 minutes. Using small sharp knife, cut around sides of pan to loosen cakes. Turn out cakes onto racks and cool completely. Peel off waxed paper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly in plastic and store at room temperature.)
• For Frosting:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon peel and vanilla in large bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat until frosting is smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 1 cup frosting over top. Place remaining cake layer atop. Using icing spatula, spread remaining frosting over sides and top of cake in decorative swirls. Sprinkle top of cake with remaining 1 teaspoon lemon peel. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let cake stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.)

LEMON-GINGER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter pan, then flour it, knocking out excess. Chill 10 minutes.
• Finely grind together fresh ginger and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor (mixture will be wet).
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, ground ginger, and salt.
• Stir together milk and vanilla in a small bowl.
• Beat together butter, remaining 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and zest in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Alternately add flour and milk mixtures to butter and eggs in 4 batches, beginning with flour and mixing at low speed until each batch is just incorporated. Mix in ginger sugar until just combined, then lemon juice.
• Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top, and bake in middle of oven until golden brown on top and a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes (about 1 hour for loaf pan). Carefully loosen edges with a knife and immediately invert cake onto a rack to cool completely.
• Make glaze:
• Gradually add confectioners sugar to 1 tablespoon lemon juice, whisking until smooth and adding more juice, 1 drop at a time, if glaze is too thick. Drizzle decoratively over top of cake.

LEMON GINGER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Generously butter a 4 to 5 cup nonstick bundt, kugelhopf or loaf pan, and then flour it, knocking out excess.
• Chill 10 minutes.
• Finely grind together fresh ginger and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor (mixture will be wet).
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, ground ginger, and salt.
• Stir together milk and vanilla in a small bowl.
• Beat together butter, remaining 1/2 cup plus 2 TBS sugar, and zest in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Alternately add flour and milk mixtures to butter and eggs in 4 batches, beginning with flour and mixing at low speed until each batch is just incorporated.
• Mix in ginger sugar until just combined, then lemon juice.
• Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top, and bake in middle of the oven until golden brown on top and a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes (about 1 hour for loaf pan).
• Carefully loosen edges with a knife and immediately invert cake onto a rack to cool completely.
• Gradually add confectioners' sugar to 1 TBS lemon juice, whisking until smooth and adding more juice, 1 drop at a time, if glaze is too thick.
• Drizzle decoratively over top of cake.
• Serve to six very lucky friends or family members!

LEMON-SOAKED GINGER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• grease and flour a 10 inch bundt pan.
• Sift together in a large bowl: flours, ground ginger, baking powder and soda, salt.
• Set Aside.
• Beat butter in a separate bowl until light and creamy about 2 minutes.
• Gradually add the sugar at medium high speed until the mixture is light in color and texture, about 3 minutes.
• Beat in one egg at a time, beating 30-40 seconds after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Beat in the grated ginger, crystallized ginger or puree, lemon zest and vanilla extract.
• At low speed, add the sifted mixture in three additions, alternating with the sour cream ( or creme fraiche) Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth with a spatula.
• Bake the cake 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto another rack.
• Slide a baking sheet under the cake to catch the glaze drippings.
• While the cake is baking, combine the lemon juice and sugar in a small, nonreactive saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring, just until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from heat.
• Using a pastry brush, dab the syrup generously all over the surface of the warm cake, allowing it to soak in before reapplying.
• Use the whole pan of soaking syrup.
• Dust the cooked cake with confectioners sugar.

LEMON-GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Generously spray 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with baking spray with flour.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, sour cream, ground ginger and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in crystallized ginger. Pour batter into pan.
• Bake 43 to 48 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Place cooling rack or heatproof serving plate upside down on pan; turn rack and pan over. Remove pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In small bowl, stir frosting ingredients until well blended. Spoon over cake. Store loosely covered.

LEMON-GINGER BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a standard 12-cup bundt pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, lemon zest, ginger, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; mix in lemon juice.
• With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture in 3 parts and sour cream in 2, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until incorporated (do not overmix). Spoon batter into prepared pan, and smooth top with a rubber spatula. Firmly tap pan on a work surface to level batter.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes (if cake browns too quickly, tent loosely with aluminum foil). Let cake cool in pan 30 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely. (To store, wrap cake in plastic, and keep at room temperature, up to 3 days.) Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

PRESERVED GINGER CAKE WITH LEMON ICING GLAZE

Steps:

• First prepare the cake tin by greasing it lightly and lining it with the silicone paper: press it into the tin, folding the corners in to make it fit neatly.
• The paper should come up 1 inch (2. 5 cm) above the edge.
• Preheat oven to 325*F.
• To make the cake, take a large mixing bowl and cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Next break the eggs into a jug and beat them with a fork until fluffy, then gradually beat them into the mixture, a little at a time, until all the egg is incorporated.
• Next fold in the ginger syrup and molasses; the best way to add the molasses is to lightly grease a tablespoon, then take a tablespoon of molasses and just push it off the spoon with a rubber spatula into the mixture.
• Sift the flour and ground ginger on to a plate, then gradually fold these in, about a tablespoon at a time.
• Next fold in the almonds, followed by the milk, and lastly the grated root ginger and pieces of stem ginger.
• Spread the cake mixture evenly in the cake tin, then bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the cake is risen, springy and firm to touch in the centre.
• Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out on to a wire rack and make sure it is absolutely cold before you attempt to ice it.
• For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and mix with enough of the lemon juice to make the consistency of thick cream - you might not need all the lemon juice.
• Spread the icing over the top of the cake, and don't worry if it dribbles down the sides in places, as this looks quite attractive.
• Cut the remaining ginger into 15 chunks and place these in lines across the cake so that when you cut it you will have 15 squares, each with a piece of ginger in the centre.
• It's absolute heaven.
• If you'd like one or two of these cakes tucked away for a rainy day, they freeze beautifully - simply defrost and put the icing on half an hour before serving.

STICKY GINGER CAKE WITH LEMON ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4. Butter and line an 18cm round, 7cm deep cake tin with greaseproof or parchment paper.
• Put the flour, bicarbonate of soda and all the spices into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Put the sugar, treacle, syrup and milk in a medium saucepan and heat, gently stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring the mixture to just below boiling point.
• Add the stem ginger to the flour mixture, then pour in the treacle mixture, stirring as you go with a wooden spoon. Break in the egg and beat until all the mixture is combined and it resembles a thick pancake batter. Pour this into prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes-1 hour, until a skewer pushed into the centre of the cake comes out fairly clean. Leave to cool completely in tin before turning cake out. (To freeze: wrap in greaseproof paper, then in cling film. Freeze for up to 1 month.)
• To make the icing, mix together icing sugar and lemon zest, then gradually add lemon juice until you have a smooth, slightly runny icing, adding more juice, if needed. Drizzle icing in a zig-zag pattern over surface of cake, turn cake around and drizzle again to create the cross-hatched finish.
• Cake keeps for up to 2 weeks stored in an airtight container.

LEMON GINGER ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in sugar and 2 tbsp of the lemon zest.
• Spread a very thin layer of the cream in the bottom of a 8 x 12 pan. (You can use a 9x13 pan also but the cake will be thinner.) Place the gingersnap cookies in an even layer over the cream, breaking some in half to fill in holes if necessary.
• Very carefully heat the lemon curd slightly over a pan of boiling water, or microwave it for 10-15 seconds (be very careful or it will burn!) Drizzle some lemon curd over the cookie layer.
• Spread a layer of cream over the cookies and lemon curd.
• Repeat each layer with the lemon thins, curd, and cream, ending with a layer of cream on the top. Sprinkle with the remaining lemon zest and coconut.
• Refrigerate overnight and cut with sharp knife to serve.

LEMON GINGER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Position the oven racks so that they are evenly spaced and one rack is in the center. Preheat the oven to convection bake at 325°F. Butter and flour four 7 1/2 × 3 1/2-inch loaf pans or two 9 × 5 × 3-inch loaf pans.
• In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the dry ingredients; mix until the butter is thoroughly incorporated into the dry ingredients.
• Add the eggs, milk, lemon zest, and ginger, and beat at low speed for about 2 minutes, until blended. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat for 3 to 5 more minutes, until the batter is light and fluffy.
• Turn the batter into the prepared pans. Place the pans in the center of the oven and bake the small loaves for 25 to 30 minutes, the large loaves for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean and dry.
• While the cakes bake, make the lemon glaze by mixing together the sugar and lemon juice. Brush the tops of the hot cakes with the glaze. Remove the cakes from the pans and cool on a wire rack.

WHITE PEPPER AND GINGER LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• Set an oven rack a third of the way up from the bottom and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Thoroughly butter a 10- to 12-cup Bundt (fluted) pan, even if it has a nonstick finish, and include all the crannies of the fluting and the center post; dust all, including the center tube, with fine, dry bread crumbs; invert and tap to shake out excess crumbs; set aside.
• Finely grate the zest of the two lemons; juice the lemons, putting 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice in a cup with the lemon zest; set the rest of the juice aside;add the fresh ginger to the zest-juice mixture and set aside.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and pepper; set aside.
• In the large bowl of the electric mixer, beat the butter until it is soft; add 13/4 cups of the sugar and beat about 1 minute; add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• With the mixer at low speed, add the flour mixture in thirds, alternating with the buttermilk (starting and ending with the flour).
• Stir in the lemon-ginger mixture; taste and add more pepper and/or ginger if desired, stirring well; the full amounts of ginger and pepper might be too hot for some folks- if you suspect you're among them, start small and taste a bit of the batter; you can always add.
• Pour and scrape into the prepared pan; Smooth the top by twisting the pan sharply back and forth once.
• Bake 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the middle comes out dry.
• While the cake is in the oven, add to the set-aside lemon juice enough to total 1/3 cup; combine with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar.
• When the cake comes out of the oven, let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Cover with a rack, invert and remove the pan; put the rack and cake over a plate or sheet of waxed paper or foil to catch drips of glaze.
• Stir the glaze mixture and brush it all over the cake, including the inside of the center hole; let stand until cool.
• Use two spatulas to transfer the cake to a serving plate.

LEMON-GINGER LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Beat cream cheese, butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer on medium speed until well blended.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Gradually add flour and baking powder, mixing on low speed until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into greased and floured 9x5-inch loaf pan.
• Bake 1 hr. 20 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 min.; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

LEMON-GINGER CAKE WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• For lemon curd:
• Whisk eggs and yolks in large bowl. Combine lemon juice, butter, and sugar in medium metal bowl. Set over saucepan of simmering water; stir until sugar dissolves. Gradually whisk hot lemon mixture into egg mixture. Return mixture to bowl set over water; whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer registers 180°F, about 5 minutes. Pour curd through fine strainer set over bowl; stir in lemon peel.
• Place plastic wrap directly on surface of curd. Refrigerate until cold, at least 8 hours or overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• For cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F. Lightly butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with parchment rounds. Sift first five ingredients into large bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Add butter, milk, and lemon peel and beat on medium-high speed until thick batter forms, about 2 minutes. Add 4 egg whites; beat until smooth. Add remaining 4 egg whites; beat until well blended and smooth. Divide batter between prepared pans (about generous 4 1/2 cups for each); smooth tops with offset spatula.
• Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into centers come out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool in pans on rack 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks; remove parchment and cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil and store at room temperature.)
• Cut domed tops from both cakes, making each cake 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 inches high. Using long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 3 cake layers on separate cardboard rounds or plates (reserve fourth cake layer for another use). Spread 1/3 cup preserves over top of each of 3 cake layers.
• Transfer 1 cup curd to large bowl; reserve for mousse. Divide remaining curd among layers (generous 3/4 cup for each); spread evenly over preserves to edge of layers. Refrigerate layers separately while preparing mousse (do not stack cake layers).
• For mousse:
• Pour 1/4 cup water into small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 15 minutes. Place saucepan over low heat, stirring until gelatin dissolves, about 2 minutes (mixture will be lukewarm). Stir gelatin into reserved 1 cup lemon curd.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and 3 tablespoons sugar in large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold egg whites into curd mixture in 2 additions; set aside until mousse begins to set slightly, about 10 minutes. Spoon 1/3 of lemon mousse (scant 1 cup) atop each layer, then spread gently to edges using offset spatula. Chill layers until mousse firms up slightly, about 30 minutes.
• Place 1 cake layer on platter. Gently top with second, then third, being careful not to press down firmly. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and keep refrigerated.)
• Garnish top edge of cake with white chocolate curls. Sprinkle pistachios and crystallized ginger in center of cake.

WHITE PEPPER AND GINGER LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Adjust the oven rack one-third up from the bottom and preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour a 10- to 12-cup bundt pan. In a small cup, combine the zest and juice. Grate the fresh ginger and add it to the lemon juice mixture. Set aside. Sift together the flour, baking soda and powder, salt and pepper and set aside. In an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat for about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour in 3 parts alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour. Stir in the lemon and ginger mixture and blend just until combined. Scrape the batter into the pan and bake for 70 to 80 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean and dry. ( Let the cake stand in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn out onto a rack over a large piece of aluminum foil to catch the glaze. Glaze the cake while it is still warm. Use a pastry brush, brush the glaze over the warm cake, allowing some to drip into the hole. The cake will easily absorb all the glaze. If some of the glaze drips onto the foil, pour the glaze back over the cake. The cake is even better if it ages for a day or two - the spicy hotness cools a bit as it ages. Lemon Glaze Mix as soon as the cake is put in the oven to allow the flavors time to meld. For the glaze: In a bowl, combine the juice and sugar and let stand while the cake is baking.

VANILLA ROASTED BLACK PLUMS WITH TOASTED LEMON CAKE AND GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Split plums and remove seeds. Place skin side up in a baking dish. Split vanilla bean in half and scrape out seeds, mix with sugar until distributed throughout. Pour evenly over plums and add vanilla pod. Bake until plums are very soft. This may take 1 hour, depending on the variety of the plum. Check every 15 minutes.
• Remove the fruit and reduce the liquid in a saucepan until it is a syrup-y consistency. The fruit and sauce may be prepared the day before serving.
• Lemon Pound Cake: Cream butter and 4 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl and add egg yolks, scraping between additions. Add lemon juice and zest, scraping again. Add sifted dry ingredients, alternating with buttermilk. Whip egg whites with 4 ounces sugar until soft peak, and fold into batter. Scoop into prepared pans and bake until an inserted skewer shows no remaining batter on the skewer.
• Do not open oven for the first 20 minutes or cakes may collapse. Cool slightly in pans, then turn over onto parchment paper to fully cool. May be frozen after completely cool, wrapped well in plastic wrap.
• Assembly: Cut cake into slices. Warm plums and sauce. Place cake on serving plate, arrange 3 plum halves, and some of the sauce. Just before serving, add a scoop of ginger ice cream (or your favorite).