Thursday, February 20, 2014

Cake of the Month: Lemon Velvet Squares


The Cake Slice Bakers Cake of the Month this month was Lemon Velvet Squares. For some reason this cake reminded me of something ladies in the 60's or 70's would have baked. Maybe it was the word velvet. Or maybe it was the fact that my grandmother loved lemon desserts. Or that my great aunt had a recipe for a lemon bundt cake that involved lemon Jello. 
My grandmother passed away this past October and her birthday was February 6th. My mom's extended family got together at one of my grandmother's favorite seafood restaurants to celebrate her life and honor her with the traditional eating of Texas Gulf Coast fried shrimp :). These Lemon Velvet Squares fit perfectly into our celebration. 
I love corner pieces!
I really liked this cake. Especially once I added icing! Since the last few cakes have seemed a little bland, I decided to focus on adding more flavor. So, where the recipe called for water, I added additional orange juice and I added A LOT more lemon and orange zest than the recipe called for. For the icing, I used the recipe in the back of the book, but I added more powdered sugar until the glaze became more of a thick icing. The cake was good both with and without the icing, but I preferred it with the icing because....well... it's icing! 
Fresh out of the oven, without icing.
First piece gone...
With tasty icing. 
Close up of delicious icing. 
Also, somehow I ended up cutting my "squares" into more of rectangles or bars. Apparently, I need to relearn my shapes. No, really I just did that to make more servings and to please people who only wanted a small piece (silly healthy people).

Lemon Velvet Rectangles.
I will admit that I personally ate way too much of this cake! It was so good with coffee - for breakfast or dessert. I'm paying for my sins now. :)


   

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9 comments:

The Ninja Baker said...

First of all, I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother.

Second, I'm so glad we had lemon cake as our choice this month. Funny how different flavors connect with memories.

Thirdly, you are sooo smart to have had the foresight to see the cake required extra lemon and a thicker frosting. Bravo!

Laura@baking in pyjamas said...

They look great! I love how thick that icing is, so glad you enjoyed it!

ImWhisper said...

What a great way to get together and celebrate your grandmother!

I didn't know it was physically possible to cut cake into small pieces. ;) Just a freak event that won't be repeated in this house lol!

Love the thicker icing on your cake - yumminess!
:)
Holly

Unknown said...

Bravo!! simply love your cake!! Sorry to hear your loss take care!!

OvenDelights said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a lovely way to remember your grandmother. For me food always takes me back to great memories. I always sync everything to food, childhood memories, vacations, holidays, people I love. Food takes me back to that place of happiness. I think this is the reason why I love being in the kitchen so much! I tell my children and loved ones that when I pass away the gift I leave them is the memories I have created around our dinner table.
I'm glad this cake brought you back memories of times with your grandmother. I'm sure she was with you, she smiled while you baked. XOXOXO

All That's Left Are The Crumbs said...

I am so very sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Food memories can be a very powerful emotion, but soothing at the same time. Your icing looks so good, and I would be seriously tempted to run my finger through the top of the cake, but i would be good and just cut a nice big slice :)

Paloma said...

I am sorry for your loss... what a wonderful thing that you made this cake and shared it in a moment like this...

Ate too much? Well... for me it was hard not to as well... In times of grief sometimes it's ok to indulge for a day or two though so don't be too hard on yourself.

Emily said...

Love the thickness of your icing! Will remember 'more sugar' when I make it!

Amy @ Spin The Meal said...

So very sorry for the loss of your grandmother, but what a great way to remember her birthday with such a lovely cake!