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If you are still undecided about what dessert you will be making this weekend, here is another idea to throw into the mix.
We had dinner with family this past weekend and I offered to bring dessert. A nice byproduct of bringing dessert was the opportunity to make this cake. This is one of those recipes that I tore out years ago (Martha Stewart Living, April 2003, page 207 to be exact) and filed away in my stack of to-dos. It is a simple white cake studded with poppy seeds, layered with lemon curd that is lightened with whipped cream, then blanketed in a white, marshmallowy seven-minute frosting. It is light, lemony, sweet, and just perfect for this time of year.
The only change I made was to use a packet of whipping cream stabilizer for the heavy cream to keep it from weeping once folded with the lemon curd. Overall this is a great recipe, but preparing the cake does require a bit of time in order for the filling to set properly. However, the filling and the cake can be made the day before, then assembled the morning of and frosted. Just remember– due to the lemon curd filling, the cake needs to be chilled. I don’t know why it’s called “Lady Cake”. I do know that this layered beauty gets a thumbs up from men and women alike.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Lady Cake
Equipment
- 8-inch cake pans
- Candy thermometer
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pans
- 3 cups sifted cake flour, plus more for the pans
- 1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
- 1 ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
- 1 cup milk, at room temperature
- 8 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
- ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
- 1 .35 ounce packet of whipping cream stabilizer
For the Lemon Curd
- 6 extra large egg yolks
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
For the Seven-Minute Frosting
- 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- ¼ cup water
- 6 extra large egg whites
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment circles, butter, and dust the bottom and sides with flour, tapping out the excess.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 ½ cups of the sugar and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat in the vanilla, poppy seeds, and lemon zest. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk. Beat until thoroughly combined. Scrape down the side of the bowl and beat for 10 seconds more; set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar on low until foamy. Increase the speed to medium-high and gradually add the remaining ¼ cup of sugar. Whisk until peaks are just stiff. Gently fold whites into cake batter in three additions; do not over mix. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until golden, about 40 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Lemon Curd
- In a medium saucepan, combine the yolks, sugar, lemon zest, and juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 8-10 minutes. Press the mixture through a fine mesh sieve set over a medium bowl. Add the butter and stir until the butter is completely incorporated. Press a sheet of plastic wrap against the surface and chill until firm, about 1 ½ hours.
For the Filling
- In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream and packet of stabilizer to soft peaks. Gently fold in the chilled lemon curd, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled and firm, at least 2 hours
To Assemble
- Invert the cooled cakes from the pans and peel off the parchment. Using a serrated knife, slice each cake in half horizontally to make a total of four layers. Place one of the bottom layers on a serving plate with several small squares of parchment under the edges to make for a clean finished edge once frosted. Spread ⅓ (about 1 cup) of the filling over the surface and place another cake layer on top. Repeat with remaining filling and cake layers. Place five 10-inch wooden skewers in the cake (one in the center and four around the edge) to keep it from sliding. Loosely cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
For the Frosting
- Combine 1 ½ cups sugar, corn syrup, and ¼ cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring gently until sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil, washing down the sides with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystallization. Continue boiling until a candy thermometer registers 230ºF, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining ¼ cup sugar. When the sugar syrup has reached 230ºF, reduce the mixer speed to low and carefully pour the syrup into the egg whites. Beat the frosting until it is cool, fluffy, and glossy, about 7 minutes. Remove the wooden skewers. Frost the top and sides of the chilled and set cake. Garnish with additional poppy seeds. Carefully remove the squares of parchment from under the cake. Slice and serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Looks good! I would imagine that the term "Lady Cake" comes from the Lady Baltimore Cake. I have several older cookbooks which feature that recipe, and it was a favorite of mine to prepare when I didn't live in the Rocky Mountains. I've only recently taken up baking from scratch again, and have had good results with a few recipes.
Here is something I found about Lady Baltimore. Not sure if it's true, but if I learn something else I'll pass it along.
https://www.theoldfoodie.com/2007/03/lady-baltimore-cake.html
Vicki-
Thank you for sharing the info.
What a lovely cake! Though I imagine if I made it with four layers it would topple over onto the table and end up looking like scalloped cake!
In place of the stabilizer, 1T. cornstarch mixed w/ 2T. cold water, boiled till clear then cooled and whipped into the cream should work. My mother would do that w/ her meringue and it makes a big difference.
Boy I wish I had a slice of that cake right now, I can taste every bit of it!
The Chocolate Covered Kitchen-
Another good stabilizer idea if you don't have a packet on hand. Thanks for sharing.
this is a very impressive looking cake! I never would have thought poppy seeds could work in cake! awesome!
piece of art or just a cake???
I can't keep up. Another unbelievable delicious looking treat. We love poppy seed and I have some in the freezer. Thanks.
i make this cake with a cream cheese frosting and then cover it in toasted coconut. It makes it absolutely delectable. I also candied some lemon peels and sprinkled them on top. This cake is a little jewel and is just as good to eat as it is to look at!
What an impressive cake. I'm glad you finally got the chance to make it.
WOW! This is one beautiful cake!!! Gorgeous!
What a gorgeous cake! I'll be looking for an excuse to make this asap!
I love lemon poppy seed cake and can just imagine how good it would taste with the lemon curd. The pictures are mouth watering. Not fair! I feel like having a piece now!
WOW, that is one TALL, beautiful, yummy looking cake!
My to-do tear outs are turning into a library 🙂
Lovely blog!
Gorgeous! I love this and will bookmark it as well!
Hi!I'm reading your blog from Greece and I loved this cake the minute I saw it.I want to make it for my birthday but I don't know what whipping cream stabilizer is.Can you tell please so I can find something similar in the greek market?thak you!!!
Dionysia-
You can substitute the stabilizer with some gelatin. allow 1 teaspoon of powdered gelatin to bloom in 2 Tablespoons of water. Using a small saucepan or microwave, melt the gelatin in the water. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. As you beat the cream slowly pour in the cooled gelatin mixture. Hope this helps!
wow what a cake..amazing!!! Have no other words! Masterpiece!
This cake is beautiful. It brought a tear to my eye. My grandma and I loved to bake together and after she passed away I tried to keep baking to keep her memory. I will try this cake for my birthday coming up in may.
Thanks for making this website. It is wonderful.
when do i add the sugar to the curd? the isntructions dont say when thanks, JC
Thanks for catching a typo– recipe edited. Add the sugar along with the yolks, zest, and juice.
this cake looks devine. I love lemony cakes.
When do you add the milk?
Second paragraph– Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk.
I am going to attempt to make this as cupcakes, injecting them with the filling and doing a simple frost with the icing… I will try baking them for about 15 minutes. Hoping it makes a bunch!
Tried twice.. ive done everything step by step.. failed twice. Cake just wont rise. End off. Rubbish recipe.
I'm sorry you have had difficulty. It's not a "rubbish"recipe. I have made it many of times, each with great success. You may want to check your baking powder and see if it is still fresh.
This is definitely NOT a rubbish recipe! I made this cake several years ago (and I was VERY NEW to baking anything like this) and it turned out great! My only problem was getting the layers to stack right (which was my lack of knowledge in cake making techniques). I'm hoping to make it again this year!