This Lemon Meringue Cake is the PERFECT celebration cake! The fluffy cardamon scented cake layers are filled with zesty lemon curd then encased in an outer layer of torched Swiss meringue.
The Perfect Celebration Cake
I keep a large Pinterest board full of cake recipes that I save for special occasions. That’s not a surprise, I guess, since that is entirely the purpose of such a Pinterest recipe board. What is surprising is that I hadn’t yet found a special occasion to make this Lemon Meringue Cake until now. This last weekend marked three years of Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen.
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I took some time this last week to think about how far this little blog has come in those three years; about all the delicious food I’ve created, eaten, and shared with you. This blog has taken me to places that I never, ever thought I’d visited both figuratively and literally.
I feel like I’ve become part of something bigger than my own little space on the internet. Probably the best thing I ever did for myself and the blog was to join up with Food Bloggers of Canada. Through FBC I have met like minded, kind people who are always willing to answer any sort of technical question regarding cooking, blogging, photographing. Many have become mentors, friends, and inspirations.
There are Many Reasons to Start a Blog
Since most of what a blogger does takes place at home in the kitchen or in front of a computer, loneliness can often become a factor, especially for someone like me who is so often introverted.
Yes, staying in where it’s cozy and warm is nice and safe, but the city of Calgary has so many great food events and people who share my passion for food. This blog has given me a reason to get out more often to enjoy the company of others.
There really are so many things this blog has given me over the last three years. It’s served as a creative outlet…which is important if you are nerdy and practical as I am.
It’s helped me grow closer to my daughter (we’re now doing our second food project together…a sourdough starter named Pierre) and has helped us to deal with her eating disorder and explore vegan cooking. This blog has helped me remember where I’ve come from and an idea of where I am going in life.
And, this blog has given me a reason to eat cake.
If you make this Lemon Meringue Cake recipe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section or in the ratings. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please share your photos and tag me on Instagram. I hope you like this recipe!
Lemon Meringue Cake
This Lemon Meringue Cake is the PERFECT celebration cake! The fluffy cardamon scented cake layers are filled with zesty lemon curd then encased in an outer layer of torched Swiss meringue.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 3 3/4 cups cake flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
- 3/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 3/4 cup canola oil or another neutral oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- zest of 2 lemons
- 1 1/4 cup boiling water
FOR THE CURD
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- zest of 1 lemon
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 cup + 4 Tablespoons sugar
- 8 Tablespoons butter, diced
FOR THE MERINGUE FROSTING
- 6 large egg whites
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FOR THE SIMPLE BUTTERCREAM
- 1/2 cup unsalted soft butter
- 2 cups icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons milk
Instructions
FOR THE CAKE
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9″ round cake pans and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, poppy seeds and cardamom.
- In a large measuring cup or mixing bowl, stir together the eggs, buttermilk, oil, vanilla and lemon zest.
- Slowly pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Add the boiling water and stir to incorporate. Don't worry if the batter looks quite thin, just make sure it's well mixed.
- Evenly distribute the batter between the three prepared pans. Bake for about 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before removing the cakes from their pans.
- If the tops of the cakes have domed, carefully even out by cutting away with a level knife.
FOR THE CURD
- Place the juice, zest, yolks, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine over medium heat.
- Continue to stir until mixture begins to thicken, about 6-8 minutes.
- Once thickened, remove from the heat and add in the butter. Stir to combine.
- Strain curd into a heat-safe container. Discard the zest.
- Cover curd by placing a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the surface of the curd. Refrigerate until cool and thick.
FOR THE MERINGUE FROSTING
- Place the whites and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk to combine.
- Fill a medium saucepan with a few inches of water and place over medium heat.
- Place the mixing bowl on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler.
- Whisking constantly, heat the egg white mixture until the sugar dissolves and it is warm to the touch.
- Transfer the bowl back to the mixer and whisk the egg whites on high until medium-stiff glossy peaks.
- Add in the salt and vanilla and mix until combined.
TO ASSEMBLE
- Mix up a simple buttercream (1/2 cup unsalted soft butter, 2 cups icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp milk) and spread some in a very thin layer over the tops of the bottom two cake layers.
- Add the rest of the butter cream to a piping bag with medium tip attached and pipe a line of buttercream along the edges of each layer (except the top layer) so that it makes a 'containment system' for the curd.
- Spread half of the curd on one layer, and repeat with the other layer.
- Assemble layers, spread the meringue over the sides and top of the cake, and use a kitchen torch as you like.
Notes
I made the cake and curd on day one, then made the meringue and assembled the cake on the following day.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1003Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 217mgSodium: 839mgCarbohydrates: 148gFiber: 2gSugar: 105gProtein: 12g
Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.
Stunning cake! I could really do with a piece right about now. Congratulations on your three year blog Bernice. I only just discovered your blog recently and check back every week. Wonderful work!
Thank you so much for visiting every week Julia. I try to post at least a couple of times a week for sure. I would love a piece of that cake with my tea just about now…
beautiful cake and beautiful Blog Bernice! Congrats on all your hard work!
Thank you so much xx
Congrats B. That cake is off the fricking hook!!
Congratulations!! What a fabulous cake. Also, I love that you name your sourdough starter. So cute! 🙂
We like to get personal with our bread 🙂
Happy 3rd blogiversary!! Dang, that cake looks good!
Thank you Nicole! Congrats on the food styling gig 🙂
Looks amazing! 🎈🎉
thank you Garance 🙂
Wow – such a beautiful cake. I am impressed!. I can almost smell the citrus through the computer screen. And congratulations on your blog’s birthday!
It’s an instant mood lifter…right when we need it in January 🙂
Bravo! This cake looks worthy of the occasion, it sounds absolutely divine.
Congrats!