Meyer Lemon Curd (Extra Thick!)

This tart and tangy Meyer lemon curd is extra thick (thanks to the extra thickening power of cornstarch), with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel and a perfect balance of tart and sweet.

There are few things more satisfying than a classic lemon curd. Whether you use it as cake filling, ice cream flavoring, or morning yogurt enhancer, this bright lemon curd is as easy to prepare as it is delicious, no double boiler needed! The addition of cornstarch ensures it’ll set up perfectly thick every time.

Glass bowl filled with Meyer Lemon Curd on a marble surface, with a spoonful of lemon curd in the foreground and a few fresh Meyer lemons out of focus in the background.

Lemon curd is absolutely lovely on its own eaten by the spoonful (no judgement here!) but also makes for a divine component of myriad other desserts, from cake to cupcakes to ice cream and more (scroll to the bottom of this post for more ideas!)

My favorite lemon curd is made with Meyer lemons for a bright and tangy flavor that’s sweeter and more complex than typical lemon curd, with notes of vanilla, mandarin and orange blossom. I may be biased, but I think Meyer lemons are far superior to regular lemons in almost all cases.

Extracting as much flavor as possible from the whole lemons means using both the zest and the juice, the zest is massaged into the granulated sugar which draws out the flavorful oils from the peels. This, even more than the juice, is what gives this lemon curd its ultra bright flavor.

(more…)

from Love and Olive Oil https://ift.tt/yLgQzlF

Triple Lemon Layer Cake

Lemon lovers: this one’s for you! Layers of light and buttery lemon cake (the reverse-cream method produces a particularly cotton-soft texture that’s perfect for layering), a bright lemon curd filling (extra thick so it says put), and a silky smooth lemon buttercream for a flavor-packed lemon cake even non-lemon-lovers will adore.

Layer upon layer of lovely lemon flavor, this lemon cake has three times the lemon flavor for three times the deliciousness! With a filling of tart and tangy Meyer lemon curd sandwiched between layers of tender lemon cake, all covered with a cloud-like lemon Swiss meringue buttercream that’s straight out of a dream, this cake is proof that there is no such thing as too much lemon.

Triple Lemon Layer Cake decorated with tiny royal icing lemons, on a white cake plate with marble surface and lemons in the background.

When life gives you lemons (and by life I mean mom, who sent me an enormous box filled with Meyer lemons from her tree without any heads up or warning) make an epic lemon layer cake that’s loaded with luscious lemon flavor.

I’ll admit, I’m not usually a lemon dessert person (I’ll choose the chocolate dessert over the lemon one almost every time), but this cake really is something special, three layers of soft lemon-scented cake with a bright lemon curd and finished with the silkiest lemon buttercream you’ve ever tasted. It’s the perfect balance of tart lemon and sweetness.

Looks like I might just be a lemon lover after all!

I particularly love Meyer lemons, which have a sweeter flavor and less harsh acidity that makes them perfect for baking (and I’ve got plenty of other Meyer lemon dessert recipes to prove it!) but you can use regular lemons in this recipe as well.

(more…)

from Love and Olive Oil https://ift.tt/clD1dRC

15 Unique Strawberry Jam Recipes

Looking for something more exciting than plain ol’ strawberry jam? I’ve got you covered! These 15 unique recipes include multi-fruit mashups and fabulous flavor combinations that will take your homemade strawberry jam from ordinary to extraordinary!

Strawberries are one of the most versatile fruits when it comes to jam. They are definitely one of my favorite fruits to jam-ify, as should be obvious by the sheer number of different strawberry jam recipes I’ve shared over the years.

But what makes strawberries so perfect for jam? Their bold and recognizable flavor and gorgeous ruby-red color makes them the perfect starting point for myriad flavor combinations and variations, from sweet to spicy to boozy and beyond.

Repeating strawberry pattern with text overlay reading "15 Unique Strawberry Jam Recipes".

Some of these recipes can be only found in my cookbook, That’s My Jam, which, if you’re looking for more beyond-the-ordinary jam recipes, is a perfect place to start! For others, like my favorite strawberry hibiscus jam, the book has an updated version of the recipe (a lower sugar version with Pomona’s pectin, compared to the ‘old-fashioned’ style recipe originally published on the blog).

Better yet, ALL of these recipes (and all the recipes in the book!) include free printable labels, some also have editable templates available for you to customize (and don’t hesitate to reach out if you want an edible version of any of my past designs, I’ve been slowly creating editable versions of everything and would be happy to bump something to the top of the list upon request!)

(more…)

from Love and Olive Oil https://ift.tt/SAYbpCr

Flourless Almond Cake

This naturally gluten-free almond cake is made with little more than almond flour, eggs, sugar and butter, with a splash of Grand Marnier to...