Granny's lemon sponge
Granny's Lemon Sponge
From Granny
Granny's Lemon Sponge
Recipe by Katie Rogers, 4th Year Pharmacy
The Pantry
- 200g self raising flour
- 200g sugar
Caster sugar is better, but granulated also works. - 200g butter or baking spread
- 4 medium eggs
- Lemon juice
- 200g icing sugar
For Baking
- Baking paper or muffin cases
- Baking tin or muffin tin
A Proper Bake
1. Get Ready: Preheat the oven to 160°C.
2. Cream It: Cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. An electric whisk makes this easier, but you can also do it by hand.
3. Add the Eggs: Mix in one egg at a time, adding one big spoonful of flour with each egg.
4. Add the Flour: Once all the eggs have been added, mix in the remaining flour one spoonful at a time.
5. Into the Tin: Add the mixture to a baking tin or muffin cases lined with baking paper.
6. Bake: For a full cake, bake for around 30 minutes. For muffin cases, bake for around 15 minutes. Do not open the oven door before 20 minutes for the cake or 10 minutes for the muffins.
7. Check: You will know they are baked when the cake feels light and springy when gently touched.
8. Make the Icing: Add the icing sugar to a bowl, then add a small amount of lemon juice and mix until the icing is slightly runny.
9. Decorate: Once the cake has cooled, top it with the icing. Add jelly lemon and orange slices as optional decorations.
A Recipe from the Heart
I was taught to bake by my Granny when my mum was working. I would go to Granny and Grandad's house, where I got to do all the fun things that parents never let you do, like eating all the cake I wanted and licking the icing out of the bowl.
As I got older, I baked more complicated things. Granny still helped me with the trickier ones, including the castle cake.
In my first year at Huddersfield, I lost my Granny to pancreatic cancer. Whilst it was one of the toughest things I have done in my life, I have so many happy memories of the time we spent together.
I found the Students' Union and gained so many friends and new experiences during my time at university. Baking this recipe is a little reminder of where I started and the special person who taught me to bake.
From a simple lemon sponge to volcano cakes and other creations, baking has always been about more than just the finished cake. For Katie, this recipe is a way to remember her Granny and the special memories they shared.
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