Dessert is all about texture, and these lemon pudding cakes certainly deliver. They start with a fluffy, moist cake layer and finish with a smooth, creamy curd — and they definitely don’t skimp on lemony flavor. Whip ’em up for brunch — perhaps on Mother’s Day or Easter — to give your guests the perfect final bite.
Mini Lemon Pudding Cakes
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Butter and sugar eight 4-oz ramekins. Spread a kitchen towel along the bottom of a straight-sided roasting pan or baking dish that’s large enough to hold all of the ramekins.
2. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup of the sugar, flour, salt and lemon zest. Use your fingers to rub lemon zest into the mixture to distribute it evenly.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, milk and lemon juice.
4. Using hand beaters or a stand mixer, beat the egg whites and remaining teaspoon of sugar until they hold medium peaks. Take care not to overbeat, or the whites could turn grainy and be difficult to incorporate into the batter.
5. Whisk the flour mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Fold in one-third of the egg whites. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites in batches until evenly incorporated.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared ramekins, then arrange them in the prepared pan. Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the sides of the ramekins (a tea kettle works great for this). Carefully slide the pan into the oven. Bake until the cakes are golden in spots on the top and spring back when gently pressed, about 40 minutes.
7. Transfer the ramekins to a rack and let cool for at least 40 minutes. The cakes can be served slightly warm, at room temperature or chilled.
To serve, slide a thin knife or offset spatula around the cakes and invert them onto serving plates. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or crème fraiche. The pudding cakes can be refrigerated in the ramekins for up to three days.
These look so yummy. Must try.
they look good !
Where does the lemon curd some in? The description says, "They start with a fluffy, moist cake layer and finish with a smooth, creamy curd —" If the curd develops on the top, how do you gently press to see if they're cooked sufficiently?
The recipe calls for ‘baking flour’. Is that the same as all purpose flour or is it cake flour ?
Could you use a springtime pan instead of ramekins?
No ramekins, what's another option?
Not yet
Is whole milk necessary or is 2% acceptable?
Yes, thank you for including a gluten free version for this. Please give us more GF recipes. Some won't work by only substituting gluten free flour. Other ingredients have to be adjusted sometimes for the GF flour to work.
Interest in answer to Nechama...otherwise, the recipe sounds good...want to try it.