The cake from Boerekos with a Twist by Annelien Pienaar (Human & Rousseau) is made with fresh ingredients and real butter.

YOU’LL ALSO LOVE: ORANGE AND POPPY SEED POLENTA CAKE

(Makes 1 X 26cm ring cake, 1 long loaf or 24 cupcakes)

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CAKE

230g (1 cup) butter, at room temperature

210g (1 cup) castor sugar

3 extra-large eggs

30ml (2T) grated lemon rind

60ml (4T) poppy seeds

315g (2¼ cups) cake flour, sifted

pinch salt

10ml (2t) baking powder

190ml (¾ cup) milk

2,5ml (½t) bicarbonate of soda

125ml (½ cup) fresh lemon juice

FOR THE SYRUP

210g (1 cup) castor sugar

125ml (½ cup) fresh lemon juice

125ml (½ cup) water

5 ml (1t) caramel essence

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

115g (½ cup) grated butter, at room temperature

260g (2 cups) icing sugar, sifted

5ml (1t) vanilla essence

½ tub cream cheese

TO SERVE

white chocolate curls

ALSO TRY: VANILLA CHIFFON AND CUSTARD CAKE

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC and grease a ring cake pan.

2. Make the cake: Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Add the lemon rind and the poppy seeds and mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed through the batter.
4. Sift the cake flour, salt and baking powder together. Mix the milk, bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice together and then fold into the batter, alternating with the flour mixture.

5. Spoon into the greased pan and bake for 45–50 minutes. Meanwhile, make the syrup.

6. Make the syrup: Melt the castor sugar in the lemon juice and water over low heat and then boil the mixture for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the caramel essence.

7. Pour the hot syrup over the hot cake (don’t pierce holes in the cake).

8. Make the cream cheese frosting: Beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add icing sugar and whisk until smooth and combined. Add the vanilla essence and cream cheese and beat until smooth.

9. Allow the cake to cool completely before spreading with the cream cheese frosting. Serve decorated with white chocolate curls.