HOW TO GLAZE A CAKE
I received an email from Nan asking,
I am making a lemon cake. Most of them call for a glaze. What type of frosting would you suggest for a lemon cake? Thanks, Nan.
I immediately forwarded this email to my friend Chef Jenni Field, an Orlando Culinary Academy - Le Cordon Bleu graduate and a professional pastry chef with her own website, Pastry Chef Online. She has a wealth of culinary knowledge, especially in baking and pastry. Here is how she answered Nan's question:
Simple Glaze
Depending upon the texture of your lemon cake, a glaze or a frosting could be called for. I recommend a lemon glaze if you make a dense lemon cake, like a lemon pound cake. A simple way of making a lemon glaze is to mix fresh lemon juice with powdered sugar until it has a "drizzling" consistency. Then, drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.
If you'd like the glaze to soak into the cake, glaze it while it is still very warm. The glaze will thin and run, so you must "baste" the cake several times with the drippings. The end result will be a lovely, moist cake with a deep lemon flavor and a shiny, slightly sticky outside. Sift some powdered sugar over the cake right before cutting and serving for a pretty look.
Simple Lemon Glaze
Another lemon glaze option is making a simple lemon syrup. Bring the zest of two lemons, 1 ½ cups sugar, and 1 cup water to a boil. Cool to room temperature, and strain out the lemon zest. Taste the syrup. If you want it more lemony, add a touch of fresh lemon juice or a bit of lemon extract. Thoroughly brush the cake with this syrup while it is still very warm but after taking it out of the pan.
Lemon Frosting
You can use lemon frosting to make a lemon cake with a lighter crumb, like a standard yellow or white cake. Lemon cream cheese frosting might be nice--the slight tang of the cream cheese would marry nicely with the fresh lemon flavor of the cake. Cream 4 oz. each of softened unsalted butter and softened cream cheese until light and fluffy. Slowly add 1 pound of sifted confectioner's sugar and cream very well. Beat in a pinch of salt, the zest of 1 lemon, and a couple of tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (enough to give it a good spreading consistency).
Whatever option you choose, and whatever kind of lemon cake you make, I'm sure it will be very tasty.
greer wallace
My daughter wants to be a chef. Was it hard for you to get into culinary school? Her grades are just okay.
Pls let me know.
Thanks, mother of Ashley Wallace
The Reluctant Gourmet
Hi Greer,
Thanks for your email. I did not go to culinary school but from what I hear from some of my pastry chef friends, it is not that difficult to get into a culinary school but it is important to be motivated and prepared for a lot of hard work. If you look at some of the posts about culinary school you will read the pros and cons about attending them. Please tell your daughter good luck with her career.
Kim
I love lemon glaze and I do try to often use it for when I've made cakes. I'm going to try lemon frosting sometime too; I'm sure to like that as much as lemon glaze. Thank you for all of your helpful recipes and advice, I look forward to reading more.
The Reluctant Gourmet
You are very welcome Kim.