Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) Unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) Granulated sugar
- 3 large Eggs, room temperature
- 1.5 cups (187g) All-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons Baking powder
- 1.5 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 0.5 cup (120ml) Whole milk
- 0.25 teaspoon Fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon Lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 Celsius) and position the rack to the center position for even baking.
- Grease a 9-inch round cake pan thoroughly with butter or cooking spray and line the pan bottom with parchment paper.
- Measure all ingredients properly, spooning flour into measuring cups and leveling with a knife.
- Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest (if using) in a medium bowl and whisk together thoroughly.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream room-temperature butter and granulated sugar together for 3 to 4 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Add the three room-temperature eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition, then add vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture in three portions, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just combined.
- Pour approximately two-thirds of the batter into the prepared pan, reserving the remaining batter for creating dots.
- Spoon the reserved batter carefully across the top of your cake in evenly spaced dollops roughly the size of walnuts.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chef Tips: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before beginning to promote proper emulsification. Cream butter and sugar for the full 3 to 4 minutes to incorporate air. Use a light hand when folding in flour to maintain a tender crumb. Drop the reserved batter with a small spoon to form the dots evenly. Check for doneness starting at 40 minutes. Cool in the pan for exactly 15 minutes before turning out.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Portuguese
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
