Lemon Buttermilk Cakelets
by Mari Vasseur
Soft, tender mini lemon cakes with lemon icing
Lemon Simple Syrup
- Juice of 1 medium lemon
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
Cakelets
- 1 ¼ cups (142g) cake flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (115ml) vegetable oil or neutral oil of your choice
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon pure lemon extract
- ½ cup (118ml) buttermilk
Icing
- 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter, melted
- 3-4 tablespoons (45-60ml) fresh lemon juice
Lemon Simple Syrup
Measure the juice of 1 lemon. Add enough water to equal 1/4 cup (89ml). In a small saucepan, simmer the lemon juice and water mixture with the sugar and lemon zest, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool, then strain out the lemon zest.
Cakelets
Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Grease and flour a 24-serving mini muffin pan* or use liners.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together until well blended.
In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, oil, eggs, lemon zest and extracts together until smooth and well blended. Mix in the flour mixture in 2 additions alternating with half of the buttermilk after each addition. Stir just until combined. Do not over mix.
Fill the muffin cups 2/3 full. (I used a portion scoop). Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 8-10 minutes. Be careful not to over bake to avoid drying out the cakes. Let the cakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove them from the pan and transfer them to a cooling rack. (Repeat with any remaining batter.)
Icing
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Add additional lemon juice as needed to achieve the desired consistency. Whisk until smooth. Spoon the icing over the cooled cakes.
Keyword cake, cupcakes, lemon