Our Family Favourite Lemon Spring / Easter Cake

Ingredients

Cake

• 8 ounces margarine
• 6 ounces sugar
• 8 ounces self raising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 lemons, zest of, grated
• 3 tablespoons water
• 4 eggs, beaten
• yellow food coloring (optional)

Filling

• 2 cups icing sugar (approx)
• 3/4 cup margarine (or butter)
• 1 tablespoon orange flower water
• yellow food coloring (optional)

Icing

• 2 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 2 lemons, juice of
• 1 tablespoon water (approx)
• yellow food coloring (optional)
• 16 miniature chocolate eggs (approx)

Directions

1. 1

   Cream the margarine & sugar until it's light & creamy. Beat in the eggs & lemon zest. Slowly add the sifted flour & baking powder & mix well but gently. Add the water & mix.

2. 2

   Pour into a lined & greased baking tin. I use either a tall 5" round tin or a shallow 12" round tin (if having a plain- unfilled but iced cake) - both work very well & I've also seen others using square pans & bundt tins -- Bake in a preheated oven at 180C for 40-45 minutes; test to see if it is done - it may need a few extra minutes. If cooked, turn off oven & allow cake to rest in it for around 3 minutes.

3. 3

   Filling:.

4. 4

   Beat the margarine / butter until creamy. Slowly add enough icing sugar to reach a consistency you like. Tint yellow if desired. When the cake has cooled completely, use a bread knife to cut the cake into 3 layers. Divide the filling in half & spread onto bottom & middle layers using a pallet knife or similar.

5. 5

   Icing.

6. 6

   After filling the cake, put the top layer back in place. Trim off any edges or bumps etc. Mix the sifted icing sugar with the lemon juice & enough water to get a very thick but spoonable consistency. Tint with colouring if desired & carefully spoon over the top of the cake. The icing will slowly begin to drip down the sides of the cake - take a pallet knife & carefully run it around the sides of the cake to ensure & even covering.

7. 7

   When the icing is almost set, run a clean damp finger or knife handle around the rim of the plate (if serving on it) & top with chocolate mini eggs or other decorations of your choice.