Lemon Velvet Squares

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated navel orange rind
• 1 1/3 cups superfine sugar or 1 1/3 cups strained sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for garnish

Recipe

• 1 position oven rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 350°; butter a 13x9 inch baking pan.
• 2 using a triple sifter, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• 3 cut the butter into 1-inch pieces and place in the large bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment.
• 4 add in the lemon and orange rinds and soften on low speed.
• 5 increase to med-high and cream until smooth and light in color, about 1 ½-2 minutes.
• 6 add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, taking about 6-8 minutes to blend it in well.
• 7 scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally.
• 8 add in eggs, 1 at a time at 1-minute intervals, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• 9 decrease speed to low; in a small bowl, combine the water, lemon juice, and orange juice.
• 10 add the dry ingredients alternating with the liquids, dividing the flour mixture into 3 parts and the liquid into two parts, starting and ending with the flour.
• 11 mix just until incorporated after each addition; do not worry if the batter appears to curdle, it should smooth out after the flour is blended inches.
• 12 scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 10 seconds longer.
• 13 spoon batter into prepared pan, smoothing with the back of a spoon.
• 14 center the pan on the oven rack and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown on top, springy to touch, and begins to come away from the sides of the pan.
• 15 remove pan from oven and set on a cake rack to cool.
• 16 just before serving, place powdered sugar in a fine mesh strainer and dust the top of the cake; cut into squares and serve.