Lemon basil cake: A summer delight for afternoon tea

Lemon Yogurt Cake is an ideal recipe for afternoon coffee. It’s intriguing on its own, but the addition of basil elevates it to a new level. It adds aroma, a green note, and a touch of subtle spiciness. No chef would be ashamed of balancing flavors like this.

While mint often finds its way into desserts, basil is mostly added to savory dishes, especially those inspired by Italian cuisine. However, it holds so much potential that it's a shame to limit it to lunches. Combined with moist yogurt cake and lemon zest, it creates a unique dessert.

Imagine a fluffy cake with an intense lemon aroma, complemented by the subtle sweet-spicy note of fresh basil. The acidity of the lemon is softened by the cake's sweetness, and the basil brings an interesting herbal note to the composition. Here, all the ingredients play harmoniously. This cake is perfect for summer, and preparing it involves simply mixing the ingredients and pouring them into a baking pan. It doesn’t get simpler or more delicious.

Ingredients:

                    
• 1 and 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2.5 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 lemons
• 2/3 cup of plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1/2 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup of fresh basil

Glaze for decoration:

    
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of milk

Instructions:

                
1. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Scald the lemons with boiling water and zest them. Be careful not to zest the white membrane, as it is bitter and may change the taste unpleasantly.
3. Add sugar to the lemon zest and mix until it has the consistency of wet sand.
4. Add yogurt and lemon juice to the lemon sugar and mix thoroughly.
5. Gradually pour in the oil, then add eggs, vanilla extract, and very finely chopped basil.
6. Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Pour the batter into a prepared pan.
7. Grease an 8-inch diameter round cake pan or a loaf pan with butter and dust with flour, or use parchment paper instead.
8. Pour in the prepared batter and place it in an oven preheated to 355 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for about 40-50 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
9. Prepare the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, lemon juice, and milk. Once the cake has cooled, drizzle it with the glaze.

The lemon yogurt cake with basil is now ready. Let yourself be surprised by its taste, and you won’t regret your choice. Enjoy!