If you must recognize a cake based on a distinctive shape, Bundt cake must be one of the easiest one. The name itself did not come from a special ingredient or recipe, but the traditional shape to make the cake (Bundt pan).
Lemon Bundt cake has a subtle taste, perfect to accompany afternoon tea or coffee. Adding lemon frosting on top will make the flavor more pronounced. Easy Bundt cake recipe involves simple ingredients and steps, but you can get soft, satisfying cake texture.
History of Bundt Cake
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Traditional Bundt cake was based on a European cake type called Gugelhupf (Bundkuchen). The cake has a texture like a brioche, fluffy, and slightly bouncy. The “Bundt” part in the name started to become popular in America and Canada during the 50s after Nordic Ware manufacturing company released a ring-shaped cake mold called Bundt.
Technically, Bundt cake does not have a specific recipe. Since the name refers to the cake mold, you can make anything with it. However, for this recipe, we will try making a lemon cake, which is a traditional flavor of Gugelhupf. The lemon cake is pretty, delicious, and only need about 90 minutes to make. You can use lemon cake mix as the base ingredient.
Cake Ingredients
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1 pack of lemon cake mix powder
1 pack of instant lemon-flavoured pudding
4 eggs
4 lemons, zested and juiced
1 cup of sour cream
½ cup of vegetable or canola oil
½ teaspoon of lemon extract
1/3 cup of sugar
¼ cup of water
Lemon Frosting Ingredients
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3 cups of sugar
1 tablespoon of heavy cream
¾ cup of butter (room temperature)
1 teaspoon of lemon extract
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
Tools
Two large bowls (for cake batter and frosting)
One small bowl
Spatula and wooden spoon
Electric mixer
Nonstick Bundt cake mold (10-inch diameter)
Instructions (for Cake)
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- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).
- Grease the Bundt mold. Dust the surface lightly with flour.
- Beat eggs, sour cream, lemon zest, oil, lemon extract, lemon juice (four tablespoons), and water in a bowl until smooth.
- Turn down mixer speed. Add lemon cake and pudding powder. Mix the ingredients lightly.
- Pour the batter into Bundt cake mold. Even out the surface.
- Bake the cake for 45 to 50 minutes. Avoid opening and closing the oven door. You risk ruining the cake’s rising ability.
- Cool the cake for five minutes. Invert the mold on top of a cooling rack.
- Whisk 1/3 cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of lemon juice. Brush the surface of the cake until you run out of the mixture.
Instructions (for Frosting)
- Mix butter with ½ teaspoon of lemon zest. Beat with medium mixer speed until the butter turns
- Add 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and heavy cream. Beat with medium mixer speed until the mixture becomes
- Wait until the cake become completely cool. Spread the frosting on the cake.
- Sprinkle with lemon zest, dried fruits, or other toppings as you like.
You can also put the frosting into a pipe. Use it to create attracting design on top of the Bundt cake.
Tips for Successful Lemon Bundt Cake
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Bundt cake with frosting sounds like a simple dessert. However, it is easy to mess up the recipe and create a soggy or burnt cake. Here are several tips for baking a successful Bundt cake:
- Use shortening and pastry brush for the mold
Butter and oil are popular ingredients to grease Bundt mold. However, for the better baking result, you should use shortening. Use a pastry brush to grease the creases, since they often get skipped in greasing process.
- Tap the flour lightly while covering the mold
When applying flour layer to the mold, tap and spin the mold around. It will help to create even distribution on the surface. Use a brush to even out the flour and shortening layer on the surface.
- Remove the cake quickly
Five minutes is the ideal time to remove Bundt cake from its mold after baking. Do it by inverting the Bundt and placing it on the cooling rack. If your cake is baked perfectly, it will slide out in no time.
- Avoid forcing
If you don’t hear the cake sliding out even after inverting the Bundt, let it sit in that inverted position. Wait for one or two minutes. Gravity usually helps to release the cake. If it is still difficult, slide a thin knife between the cake and mold before inverting it again.
With these tips, you will be able to bake a beautiful cake, like professional bakers.
Enjoy Your Bundt Cake!
Since this cake is sweet and fluffy, you should enjoy it with non-sugary coffee or tea. The bitter taste will balance the cake’s sweetness and slight tartness. Bundt cake is also ideal for holiday, family gathering, or other special events. You can also make the cake with kids. Enjoy the delightful combination of batter and lemon anytime you want.