I was never big on lemon-flavored desserts.
(Hmmm, might it have something to do with the fact that lemon doesn’t exactly pair well with chocolate?)
But, after reading the Single Lady Cupcake post, a few commenters asked about a lemon version of the single-serving cake. Enter Meg L. to save the day! On Sunday, she left me a comment about a lemon-olive-oil cake that, I had to admit, sounded good even to this lemon-shunning chica. I wanted to try it!
The results were fantastic: lemony, cakey, and so moist. One of the best aspects of the blogging community is that someone (in this case, me) might come up with a basic idea, but then others expand upon the idea, taking it to much yummier levels than the first person could have dreamed up. So thank you, Meg, for taking the time to share your recipe variation.
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Single Lady Lemon Cake
(Or muffin, loaf, cupcake, whatever)
Based off of Meg‘s idea
- 3 tbsp flour (30g) (spelt, ww pastry, Bob’s gluten-free, or all-purpose flour)
- heaping 1/16th tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil or sub 1/2 with applesauce (or use all applesauce for an added-fat-free version, but it won’t be as buttery!)
- 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp liquid (milk of choice or water)
- 1/4 tsp lemon extract or lemon juice
- pinch lemon zest
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- Sweetener (I hate giving specific amounts, since tastebuds are so different. For normal tastebuds, 1 to 1 and 1/2 tbsp of sugar, or 1 to 1 1/2 packets of stevia should be about right. If you use liquid sweetener, cut back a tiny bit on the other liquid.)
Directions: Preheat the oven to 330 degrees. Mix the ingredients and pour into an oiled (or sprayed) muffin pan. Smooth top of batter. Cook for 12-15ish minutes. Alternatively, you can cook in the microwave, in a greased mug or ramekin. (Microwave times will vary, depending on the flour you use and the strength of your microwave.)
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This cupcake (muffin, loaf, cake, whatever) would be lovely with some lemon glaze.
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Easiest-Ever Lemon Glaze
- 1 part lemon juice
- 1 part sugar or coconut sugar
- optional: a few drops lemon extract
Microwave for 30 seconds, or warm in a saucepan on low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
It’s so funny your writing about this. Growing up I couldn’t stand any lemon flavoured dessert! Every dessert or sweet had to include chocolate. My mom and grandma would love lemon squares and vanilla this or that, and I could not understand it! Until, that is, I, AGED! Now I’m in my late thirties and think lemon and vanilla dessert are great! Was there a sense of panic when I made this discovery? YES, sheer panic to think I am joining the aged group of people who enjoy lemon and vanilla! Then, calm, cause they taste good, and aging ain’t so bad…
So be sure to track back to this idea in another 10-15 years. I’d love to know if it’s an acquired taste that comes with age ! Thanks for writing about it! 🙂
I love seeing how my tastes have changed over the years! And it helps me with my kids too. Like, I know not to worry that my little one doesn’t like ANYthing red, be it peppers or tomatoes. Because who knows? Maybe twenty years from now, she will! And if not, that’s ok too.
Aghhhhh! I have to say Katie, that although I BELIEVE you that the lemon cake turned out to be good.. I have to agree with you – I’m not a lemon-y dessert person either … Enough that I can’t even try this lol. I’ll just take your word for it – I’ll stick with my chocolate or coconut!m Though… I don’t really like lemon anything, so oh delish cupcake, please don’t take the spurning personally! 🙂
Sounds yummy!
I’m not big on lemon either, but I think it’s mainly because I don’t like meringue. But maybe I’d like this!
Ick, meringue. Me either! Who invented that stuff? 😉
Lemon is one of those flavors I don’t usually go for but I do get the occasional lemon poppyseed craving!
LOL whenever I think of lemon desserts I think of kitchen cleaners :(. So obvi, I don’t like lemony desserts lol!
Love, Love, LOVE lemony things. I’ll add lemon to just about anything and my most favourite dessert in the world has to be the lemon square…provided it has way more lemon flavouring than was called for;)
As for lemon and chocolate, I went through a phase in my teens where my favourite treat was a dish of chocolate ice cream with a few drops of fresh-squeezed lemon on top! The juice would freeze and I’d get these little crunchy bites of lemon crystals along with my chocolate.
You caught my interest! I’m going to have to try it! 🙂
Mmm this is perfect! I love lemony things! They’re the perfect balance of tart and sweet 😀
You and me both– coconut, chocolate, pumpkin, and nut butters dominate lemon any day! 🙂 Sounds interesting and probably delicious, despite– i do like olive and lemon and a simple dressing for salads, so this might be good. I won’t be quick to judge 🙂
Maybe lemon and coconut butter? Mmmm…
Hmmm, that does sound good! 🙂
I once made blueberry scones and topped them with a lemon glaze. They were really good. Blue berries and lemon are the perfect pair. It depends on my mood whether I want something chocolate or lemon.
I absolutely LOVE lemon desserts! I’m usually torn right down the middle when it comes to picking a chocolate or lemon dessert…
But when I make a lemon dessert at home, I know I get it all to myself because my husband prefers chocolate! LOL 😉
Oh that would be a good enough reason for me to even give up chocolate completely! (Sorry Katie ;).) But sadly, my hubby likes both ;).
Thanks for the recipe!!! I used to not like lemony desserts, but once I became vegan I started liking them more. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still chocolate at the top of the list, I just added to the list. lol
I actually prefer lemon to chocolate! 🙂 Good thing we all have different tastes, huh, to balance out supply and demand. More chocolate vegan desserts for you, more lemon cheesecake for me!
I am not big on lemony desserts, but I am still loving your ideas for single lady cakes. I wish there was more recipes around for single-serving desserts. Sometimes I just want something sweet but don’t feel like making 1-2 dozen of something, ya know?
I agree. The world needs more single-serving desserts. Because, how many of us have twelve friends over every time we bake? It’s either: eat all of it yourself, which isn’t always the healthiest thing (and you get sick of them) or throw some out (which I hate doing). 😕
mmm that looks great! i’d love to see a raw vegan lemon bar (i’m thinking cashews would be a great crust
Sounds lemonlicious and easy enough to make. Thanks for sharing.
Lemonlicious? LOL I love your new word!!