Lemon Polenta Cake

I always keep one of these cakes in the freezer, cut into slices, for emergency entertaining, because it freezes so well. The combination of the almond meal and polenta create a cake with a dense texture that’s moist from the soaking syrup. Serve it with some sliced fruit.

Yield: 16 slices

Active time: 20

Start to finish: 11/2 hours

2 lemons

2 cups almond meal

3/4 cup gluten-free fine polenta

11/2 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/4 teaspoon salt

14 tablespoons (13/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs, at room temperature

11/4 cups confectioners’ sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, and grease the parchment and sides of the pan. Grate zest and squeeze juice from lemons, and set aside separately.

2. Combine almond meal, polenta, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt ion a mixing bowl, and whisk well.

3. Combine butter and sugar in another mixing bowl and beat at low speed with an electric mixer to combine. Increase the speed to high, and beat for 3–4 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat 1 egg into butter mixture, and then one-third of polenta mixture. Continue adding eggs and dry ingredients alternately, then beat in lemon zest.

4. Scrape batter into the prepared pan, and bake in the center of the oven for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached and the cake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack.

5. Combine lemon juice and confectioners’ sugar in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Prick cake all over with a toothpick, and spoon warm syrup over cake. Cool completely, then remove cake from the pan.

Note: Cake can be prepared up to 1 day in advance and kept at room temperature, tightly covered with plastic wrap.

Variation

Images Substitute blood oranges for the lemons.

If your butter is too hard to blend, do not try to soften it in the microwave. A few seconds too long and you’ve got a melted mess. An easy way to soften butter quickly is to grate it through the large holes of a box grater. It will soften in a matter of minutes at room temperature.