Simple lemon pie
Description
Delicious baked treat for the whole family. When making this cake, the type of lemon doesn't matter—just be sure to pour boiling water over it before starting, as this helps remove the wax sometimes applied to citrus fruits. To prevent the lemon zest from becoming bitter in the cake, remove only the top yellow layer, leaving the white pith on the lemon. Adjust the amount of lemon juice to your taste; 30 ml is perfect for me. For extra flavor, I also add vanilla sugar—this wonderful combination enhances the lemon's aroma and taste, making it more vibrant. One tip: don't add more flour than specified in the recipe, even if the batter seems too soft. Adding extra flour won't make the cake better or larger; instead, it may turn out dry and dense. Let's get started! This recipe is very simple, requiring no special techniques—just an oven, a mixer, and a good mood.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients. The lemon should be medium-sized; wash it thoroughly and pour boiling water over it. Turn on the oven to 180 degrees and let it preheat.
- 2
Step 2
Line the pie pan with parchment paper. My pan has a diameter of 22 cm; you can use a smaller one, in which case the pie will be taller.
- 3
Step 3
Place the butter, sugar, and vanilla sugar into the mixer bowl. The butter should be at room temperature. If you forgot to take it out in advance, don't worry—just put the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds, and it will reach the perfect consistency. Attach the bowl to the mixer and start beating at low speed, gradually increasing to the highest speed.
- 4
Step 4
While the butter is creaming with sugar, prepare the lemon zest and juice. Grate the zest finely, squeeze the juice—only 30 ml will be needed for the cake.
- 5
Step 5
Add the eggs to the butter mixture one at a time. Only after the first egg is fully incorporated should you add the second. Do not turn off the mixer, and do not reduce the speed.
- 6
Step 6
The mixture turns out homogeneous, smooth, and aromatic.
- 7
Step 7
Pour in the lemon juice, add the lemon zest. Mix well.
- 8
Step 8
Add the flour and baking powder. Mix at the lowest speed. Then increase to the highest speed and beat for 3–4 minutes. Do not add more flour than specified in the recipe, otherwise the cake will become dry and will not bake properly.
- 9
Step 9
The finished dough is smooth, like cream. In consistency, it resembles thick sour cream.
- 10
Step 10
Transfer the dough to a baking dish, smooth it with the back of a spoon. Place in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
- 11
Step 11
Check for doneness with a toothpick; if it comes out dry, the pie is ready. Let it cool completely before slicing.
- 12
Step 12
You can decorate a simple lemon pie with icing made from lemon juice and powdered sugar, or use powdered sugar with berries and lemon slices. Choose according to your taste.