This is a recipe in need of bookmarking. Brunch invite? Break out the lemon cake. Backyard barbecue? It's a perfect dessert. Breakfast for overnight guest? Coffee and lemon cake it is. With a light lemony flavor and the perfect coffee shop icing, it's perfect any time of day. It's also a great excuse to eat cake for breakfast, and that's something we could all use.

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Things You\’ll Need

• 2 tablespoons lemon zest

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened

• 3 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon lemon extract

• ¼ cup lemon juice (1 large lemon)

• 1/3 cup buttermilk

• 1/3 cup vegetable oil

• 1

  ¾ cups all purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon

  baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

Step 1: Zest, Sugar and Butter

Add the zest, sugar and butter to a stand mixer. Mix on high for 3 to 5 minutes. This will help release the lemon oils in the zest for a bigger lemon flavor.

Step 2: Add Eggs and Vanilla

One at a time, add the eggs, the lemon extract, and the vanilla, beating well between additions.

Step 3: Add Remaining Wet Ingredients

Add the lemon juice, buttermilk, and oil, beating until well combined.

Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients

Sprinkle with flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir until just combined–do not over mix.

Step 5: Bake

Grease a 9 inch loaf pan (flour as well if cakes tend to stick to your loaf pan), and spread the batter into the pan in an even layer. Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes.

Step 6: Make Icing

Add the 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons buttermilk and 1 teaspoon lemon extract in a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until well combined. It will be very thick–this will allow it to sit on top of the loaf instead of running down the sides.

Step 7: Cool and Ice

Allow the cake to cool completely before removing from the pan. Ice the top of the cake, allow to icing to set before slicing.

Tip

Want to make it super moist? Just brush all sides with simple syrup! Combine equal parts hot water and sugar, then brush onto the cake with a pastry brush.

Step 8: Slice and Serve

Mascarpone cheese is a main ingredient in tiramisu. Image Credit: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Mascarpone originated in Italy and it is a thick, creamy cheese made from cream and citric or acetic acid. If you cannot locate mascarpone cheese in your grocery store, several everyday ingredients can stand-in for the hard to find cheese. You can also make it at home in lieu of purchasing it in the grocery store.

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Substitutions

If you are out of mascarpone or simply cannot find it in a grocery store, use a mixture of cream cheese, heavy whipping cream and sour cream instead. Mascarpone is a very rich, full-fat cheese; do not use low-fat ingredients in your substitution. Low-fat cream cheese, sour cream or half and half will result in a poorly tasting concoction that may ruin your recipe. If you're concerned about fat content and calories, use full-fat ingredients and eat a smaller serving.

Homemade

If you can't find mascarpone cheese in your grocery store, make your own. Mascarpone cheese requires only two ingredients — whipping cream and lemon juice. For every two cups of whipping cream, use one tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Heat the cream in a double boiler until it reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the lemon juice into the cream and maintain at 190 degrees F for five minutes. The cream will begin to curdle, or separate. Remove it from the heat and cool for 20 minutes. Pour the mixture into a sieve lined with four layers of cheese cloth. Cover the sieve with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours. Once strained, the mixture in the sieve is your mascarpone cheese.

Uses

Mascarpone cheese is famously used in desserts such as tiramisu, cannoli and cheesecake. It is also used in savory dishes like risotto. Added to alfredo sauce, mascarpone adds richness and depth of flavor. Use it instead of butter in pasta dishes or to thicken sauces. Mascarpone may be used as a topping for fresh fruit or cakes as well.

Price

In areas where mascarpone is readily available, it can be expensive. Substituting the cream cheese, whipping cream and sour cream mixture or making mascarpone cheese yourself is extremely cost-effective. Make a test batch to sample before using it in a recipe for a special occasion or get-together to make sure you are happy with the results.

Things You\’ll Need

• 1-1/4 cups heavy cream

• Large saucepan with lid

• 12 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate

• Grater

• Wooden spoon

• Mixing bowl

• 1 cup confectioners sugar

• Sifter

• 3 tbsp. fruit juice (like lemon or berry)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Whisk

• 3 tbsp. heavy cream

• 1 tbsp. light corn syrup

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract or seeds from a 1/4 of a vanilla bean

Glazes are often used on bundt cakes, which are hard to frost.

Making frosting from scratch can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience. A lot of practice is needed to create the right consistency and texture, for which many home bakers may not have the time. Homemade glaze is a fast alternative to frosting, and can be prepared using less ingredients. Some glazes require only three ingredients and don't always need to be cooked. Decorating with glaze is also easier, as it is poured on top. This creates the glaze finish as it cools.

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Chocolate Ganache Glaze

Step 1

Pour 1-1/4 cups of heavy cream into the saucepan. Turn the burner onto medium heat, stirring often.

Step 2

Chop or grate chocolate into tiny pieces. The smaller the pieces the better they will melt.

Step 3

Remove the pan from the heat when it begins to boil and sprinkle the chocolate pieces on top of the cream. Quickly put the lid on the pan.

Step 4

Wait for 5 minutes, then take off the lid and stir until chocolate mixture is smooth. If the chocolate doesn't fully melt, place the pot back onto the stove and heat on low heat until it does.

Step 5

Pour over cakes for a glaze.

Fruit Glaze

Step 1

Sift 1 cup of powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl.

Step 2

Whisk the fruit juice into the sugar.

Step 3

Stir until all lumps are removed. Add more juice if the glaze is too thick and more sifted sugar if it is too thin.

Step 4

Pour over prepared cake.

Vanilla Glaze

Step 1

Sift 1 cup of powdered sugar into a mixing bowl.

Step 2

Add 3 tbsp. of heavy cream, corn syrup and vanilla; stir until blended and shiny. If it is too thick, add 1 tsp. of cream at a time until it becomes smooth.

Step 3

Spoon glaze over cake. If it isn't dripping on its own, encourage it with the back of a spoon.

Tip

Frozen fruit can be cooked until softened, then strained to make fresh juice for glaze.

Cake should be warm when glazed, as it will help the glaze easily fall over the cake.

These glazes are versatile and can be used interchangeably on any kind of cake.