Meyer Lemon Polenta Cake Recipe

Step 1

Preheat an oven to 325°F, and set a rack in the middle position. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of 9-inch springform pan with butter, then sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of flour. Shake the flour around the pan to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Discard any excess flour. Line the bottom of pan with a round of parchment paper.

Step 2

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (about 4 minutes). Meanwhile, add almond meal, polenta, baking powder and sea salt to a medium bowl, whisking to combine. Beat one egg into the butter-sugar mixture until fully combined, then beat in 1/3 of the dry ingredients. Repeat alternating with remaining 2 eggs and 2/3's dry ingredients. Stir in vanilla extract, lemon zest and lemon juice.

Step 3

Scrape cake batter into the prepared springform pan and smooth out to the edges. Set the pan on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until the top is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean (45 - 55 minutes). Transfer pan to a cooling rack, and let sit for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen, then remove the sides of the pan. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan, and let cool on the rack.

Step 4

In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, crème fraîche and meyer lemon juice. The glaze should be thick, but pourable. Add more lemon juice drip by drip if needed to get to this consistency. Spoon glaze over the cake in an even layer, and spread out to the edges, so it drips over the sides. You may not use all the glaze. Finish with a dusting of finely grated meyer lemon zest.