Game of Throne's Inspired: Sansa's Lemon Cakes

The countdown has begun! Only 12 more days until the premiere of season five of Game of Thrones on HBO! I've been a die hard fan for such a long time and I'm not ashamed to say I've lined up for 18-20 hours outside for their panel at least year's San Diego Comic Con.  It may seem crazy but it was so worth it.  It also helped that I was surrounded by other die hard fans so I was in good company.  From where we left off on season four, I can't wait to see how this season will start.  I'm especially eager to see where Arya sails to.  I can't wait!!!

To ease my excitement I've decided to make some of Sansa's favorite, lemon cakes! She has been to described these as her favorite and that  I'm aware that there is supposedly a traditional lemon cake recipe but I wanted something as bit more moist. Enjoy and let me know if there are other recipes you want me to try.

Game of Thrones Inspired: Sansa's Lemon Cakes

yield: 8 cakes

130g of unsalted butter

120g sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon flavoring (optional)

2 eggs

zest of one lemon

juice of one lemon

140g sifted ap flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350F.  Lightly grease a muffin tin and set aside.  In a mixing bowl, with the paddle attachment cream the room temperature butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add your extracts and one egg.  Mix the egg in just until it becomes homogenous.  Add another egg and your zest.  Mix to combine.  Add your flour in two additions and then add your lemon juice.  Try not to over mix! Scoop the batter into a lightly greased muffin tin until it is about 3/4 full. This will bake for approximately 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.  Set aside and let cool.

Candied Lemon Slice

yield: approximately for  8-10 cakes

1 large lemon

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

ice

In a pot, bring water to a boil.  While you're waiting for the waling to come to a boil, thinly slice your lemons with a serrated knife.  I've found a serrated knife allows for thinner and nicer slices since it can get through the rind better.  

Set up an ice bath and then gently lay your lemon slices into the boiling water.  Let it boil for a few seconds, not too long or it will get mushy, and then strain the slices into the ice bath.  In a shallow pan,  combine your equal parts of sugar and water.  

Bring the syrup to a simmer and gently lay your lemon slices in a single layer.  Let the syrup simmer for one hour or until the rind of the slices become translucent.  Make sure it does not boil!

Once the whites of the lemons become translucent, gently take it out of the syrup and lay it on a cooling rack.  It will take a few hours for the lemons to crystalize and dry.

Montage:

If there is a slight bump on your cakes, level it off by slicing off the hump.  This will now be the bottom of your lemon cakes.  With a star tip, I piped a few simple buttercream snails and roses on one side of the cake.  This will help prop up your candied lemon slices. If this is for a party, a little Sansa Stark Funko figurine will help set the theme.

Enjoy!