Lemon and Poppyseed Cake with Elderflower Drizzle

Serves: 8

Time: 1 1/2 hours

INGREDIENTS

For the Cake

- 160g Salted butter at room temperature

- 2 Lemons( Zest and Juice for drizzle and icing)

- 160g Caster sugar

- 3 Medium Eggs

- 200g Self Raising Flour

- 2 tbs Poppyseeds

- splash of milk

For the drizzle

- Juice of 1 lemon reserved from cake

- 3-4 tbs Elderflower cordial to taste

- 3-4 tbs Caster Sugar

For the icing

- Icing sugar

- Juice of 1 lemon reserved from cake

- Splash of Elderflower cordial

2lb Loaf tin either greased and base lined or use lining paste– see note below

METHOD

1) Preheat oven to 160C (fan) 180C (conventional)

2) In a bowl beat together butter, caster sugar and lemon zest until pale and fluffy.

3) Beat in the eggs one at a time

4) Fold in the flour and poppyseeds, add a splash of milk to give a dropping consistency

5) Transfer mixture to prepared tin and bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until a cocktail stick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

6) While the cake is cooking make up the drizzle by mixing all the ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside

7) Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes then poke holes in the top to allow the drizzle to soak into the cake and spoon over the drizzle. You may not need all of it, you want it to soak into the cake but not make it soggy. Allow to cool completely.

8) Mix together some icing sugar, lemon juice and elderflower cordial until you have a smooth, runny icing. Drizzle across the top of the cake. You can add some extra grated lemon zest and poppyseeds if you fancy.

9) Delicious, a perennial favourite!

NOTE:

Lining paste – this stuff is genius and will stop your cakes sticking. The recipe is from Nancy Birtwistle winner of The Great British Bake Off 2014

· 100g Trex (vegetable shortening) I’m told you can use butter but haven't tried it

· 100g Plain flour

· 100ml Vegetable oil

Whisk everything together and keep in a jar in the fridge. Brush tins liberally with the mixture and cakes pop out a treat. Inexpensive and magical!