I served this cake after church a couple of weeks ago and it was a big hit, so I thought I would share the recipe for all those who asked for it and others that maybe reading this. :)
Lemon Delight Cake
(original recipe was from the 2010 Taste of Home cookbook,
but I modified it.)
They called for a lemon cake mix and poppy seeds,
neither of which I used.
Here is the lemon cake recipe I used:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 cup milk
Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Add lemon extract. Mix the baking powder and salt with the flour. Add with the milk. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.
Spray a 9 x 13" with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 of the batter into the pan.
Now for the filling which should have been prepared beforehand.
It called for a can of lemon pie filling, but I made my own using this recipe:
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon peel
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup water
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter
4 egg yolks, beaten
First dissolve the cornstarch in the water. Place all ingredients, except egg yolks, into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for one minute, stirring constantly. Whisk a small amount of the lemon mixture into the beaten egg yolks. Pour it back slowly into the saucepan, stirring
constantly. Cook 5 minutes longer or until thickened; do not boil. Remove from the heat and cool. Beat in 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese and 1/2 powdered sugar.
Drop by teaspoonfuls and gently spread over the batter. Top with the remaining batter. Combine topping ingredients: 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup chopped pecans, 3 tablespoons flour, 4-1/2 teaspoons melted butter, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract. Sprinkle over batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients: 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 4 teaspoons lemon juice; drizzle over cake.
I will be serving this as dessert on Easter Sunday!
I am going to share the words of one of my favorite Easter hymns that I know we will be singing then:
"Low in the grave He lay -- Jesus, my Savior,
Waiting the coming day -- Jesus, my Lord,
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
"Vainly they watch his bed -- Jesus, my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead -- Jesus, my Lord.
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
"Death cannot keep his prey -- Jesus, my Savior;
He tore the bars away -- Jesus, my Lord.
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!"
