Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly grease a 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan. (I like to use non-stick baking spray with flour.)

Step 2

In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3

In a second mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy and lightened in color. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl once all the eggs have been added, and beat briefly to re-combine any residue.

Step 4

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the batter and mix on low speed to combine. Add 1/2 of the milk and mix to combine. Mix in another 1/3 of the flour. Mix in the remaining milk. Mix in the remaining 1/3 flour. Stir in the grated lemon rind or lemon oil.

Step 5

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, leveling it and smoothing the top with a spatula.

Step 6

Bake the cake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. A pan with a dark interior will bake cake more quickly; start checking at 40 minutes.

Step 7

While the cake is baking, make the glaze by stirring together the lemon juice and sugar. Microwave or heat over a burner briefly, stirring to dissolve the sugar. You don’t want to cook the lemon juice, so microwave just until very warm, but not uncomfortably hot — less than 1 minute should do it. Set the glaze aside.

Step 8

Remove the cake from the oven, and carefully run a knife between cake and pan all around the edge. Place the pan upside down on a cooling rack. If the cake drops out of the pan onto the rack, remove the pan. If the cake doesn’t drop onto the rack, let it rest for 5 minutes, then carefully lift the pan off the cake. If the cake still feels like it's sticking, give it another 5 minutes upside down, then very gently shake the pan back and forth to loosen and remove it.

Step 9

Brush the glaze all over the hot cake, both top and sides. Let it sink in, then brush on more glaze, continuing until all the glaze is used up.

Step 10

Allow the cake to cool completely before icing and serving.

Step 11

To ice the cake: Mix the sugar and salt, then mix in 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, adding just enough additional juice to create a thick glaze, one that's just barely pourable. Drizzle it artfully over the completely cool cake.

Step 12

Store the cake, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days. Freeze for longer storage