Cardamom-Lemon Loaf Cake

1. Preheat oven and prepare loaf pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan lightly with butter and dust it with flour.

2. Combine dry ingredients

In a large bowl, combine 1.5 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 0.5 teaspoons of ground cardamom, and a pinch of salt. Whisk together.

3. Cream butter and sugar

In a separate bowl, cream together 1 cup of granulated sugar and 0.5 cup of unsalted butter at room temperature until light and fluffy.

4. Add eggs and lemon zest

Add 2 large eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Grate the zest of one lemon (about 2 teaspoons) directly into the mixture.

5. Incorporate lemon juice and milk

Juice the lemon and set aside 2 tablespoons of the juice. Add this juice along with 0.5 cup of whole milk to the wet ingredients, stirring gently.

6. Combine wet and dry ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding them together with a spatula until you no longer see streaks of flour.

7. Pour batter and bake

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with your spatula. Bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Prepare lemon syrup

While the cake bakes, prepare a simple syrup by combining 0.25 cup of granulated sugar with the remaining lemon juice (2 tablespoons) in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

9. Cool and brush with syrup

Once the cake is done, let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. While still warm, brush the top with the lemon syrup.

10. Cool completely before slicing

Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy your Cardamom-Lemon Loaf Cake.