FEATURE RECIPE
Lemon and thyme sponge cake

Lemon and thyme sponge cake

Serves 8

Cooking Time Prep time 30 mins, cook 1 hr 10 mins (plus cooling)



12   eggs, at room temperature
330 gm (1½ cups)   raw caster sugar
2   lemons, finely grated rind only
370 gm (2½ cups)   plain flour, triple sifted
120 gm   butter, melted and cooled
2 tbsp   thyme leaves
300 ml   pouring cream, whipped to soft peaks
For dusting:   sugar
Lemon butter
165 ml   lemon juice
220 gm   butter, coarsely chopped
165 gm (¾ cup)   caster sugar
4   egg yolks
2   eggs
Lemon and thyme syrup
180 gm   raw caster sugar
60 ml (¼ cup)   lemon juice
2   lemons, zested rind only
8   thyme sprigs
50 ml   limoncello


1 For lemon butter, combine lemon juice and butter in a heavy-based saucepan and stir over low heat until butter melts. Whisk sugar, egg yolks and eggs in a bowl until combined, add to lemon juice mixture and stir continuously for 4-5 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly, transfer to a container and refrigerate until completely cold. Makes about 2 cups.
2 For lemon and thyme syrup, combine sugar, lemon juice and ¾ cup water in a small saucepan and stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves, add lemon zest and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium, simmer for 15-20 minutes or until zest is translucent, add thyme and simmer for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add limoncello and stir to combine. Cool completely.
3 Preheat oven to 160C. Using an electric mixer on high speed, whisk eggs, sugar and lemon rind for 7-8 minutes or until tripled in volume. Sift over flour, then fold through using a large metal spoon, add butter and thyme and fold through. Pour into a buttered and floured 28cm-diameter cake pan, filling to 3cm below rim (there may be mixture left over). Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden and centre springs back when pressed gently with a fingertip. Cool for 5 minutes in pan, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
4 To serve, halve cake horizontally, spread base with cream and lemon butter and sandwich with top. Scatter top with white sugar, drizzle syrup over and serve.


Drink Suggestion Grapey, sherbety Moscato.

RECIPE Emma Knowles PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Emma Knowles DRINK SUGGESTION Max Allen


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