Go Back

Lemon "Velvet" Sheet Cake

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Cake
Author: Jessie Sheehan

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour sifted
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup tightly-ish packed lemon zest about 4 large lemons
  • 1 tsp lemon extract optional
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup neutral olive oil – not extra virgin
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 yolks
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 cup crème fraiche you can sub sour cream

For the glaze

  • 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar sifted
  • 5 Tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

To make the cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9x2-inch pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and the zest and, using your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar until fully incorporated. Add the extracts and oil and whisk. Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time, whisking between each addition. Add the juice and whisk again; and then the crème fraiche, whisking a final time to incorporate – don’t be afraid to whisk relatively vigorously throughout all of this.
  • Add the dry ingredients all at once, and using a rubber spatula, very gently fold the dry into the wet.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 33 minutes, rotating at the halfway point, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a moist crumb or two.
  • Set the pan on a cooling rack and let the cake cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Invert the cake right side up on to the rack, and rest it in a baking sheet with sides.
  • To make the glaze, place the confectioners’ sugar and the lemon juice in a large bowl. Whisk vigorously until smooth.
  • Gently pour the glaze over the cake, using an offset spatula to spread the glaze if it pools, and let the cake cool until room temperature (you can poke the cake with a toothpick to help the glaze seep in).
  • The cake is super moist and will keep tightly covered at room temp for 3 to 5 days.