Celebrating Our 2nd Anniversary with Lemon, Cornmeal & Almond Cake
It’s hard to believe that two years ago this little corner of the blogosphere was still in beta. It’s grown to be such a big part of me, a warm community of like-minded yet completly unique people, that I can’t remember what I did before I was editor.
Simple Bites celebrates its 2nd anniversary this week and I had to make a cake to commemorate the event. It’s been a fun and fantastic two years, plus, it was high time I shared a favorite cake recipe.
Fresh lemon zest, finely ground almonds and a sprinkling of cornmeal give this rustic cake a marvelous flavor and memorable texture. It is perfect with a cup of tea, requiring absolutely no garnish. Oh, and bonus, it’s gluten-free!
The original recipe hails from the marvelous River Cafe Cookbook, my copy of which is in tatters. Over the years I’ve adapted this cake to a version that I find to be more moist and gets even better with age. How many cakes can you say that about?
This Gluten-Free Meyer Lemon, Cornmeal & Almond Cake is of the rustic variety. It’s not stacked several layers high, or frosted prettily, or even decorated, but instead it is remarkable for its bold lemon flavor and moist, melt-in-your mouth texture.
I think this cake is perfect in its simplicity, but you could dress it up with a drizzle of lemon glaze, serve it with a tangy citrus curd, or cover the top with fresh raspberries.
Just be sure to share it with someone you love!
Gluten-Free Meyer Lemon, Cornmeal & Almond Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar (8 oz)
- 2 1/2 cups ground almonds (8 oz)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 Zest of 3 Meyer lemons
- 1 Juice of 1 lemon (2 Tablespoons)
- 2/3 cup cornmeal Bob's Red Mill, Gluten Free
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter a 9-inch round cake tin and line the bottom with parchment paper. Butter the paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, zest the lemons.
- Add ground almonds and vanilla to the butter mixture and stir well. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is properly incorporated.
- With the mixer on low, add the lemon zest, juice, cornmeal, baking powder and salt and mix until just combined.
- Using a spatula, transfer the cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a wire rack.
Nutrition
Thanks for reading Simple Bites! I’m excited for what the next year holds for this blog…
Hi Aimée!
Congrats on the second blog-anniversary!
I’ve finally found some Meyer lemons and was looking for a recipe in which to try them and shortly after I find your recipe! Hooray! I’ll be giving this a try in the next few days. Thanks for sharing!
stef
Thanks, Stephanie. It would be great with regular lemons, also. Enjoy!
Probably I will cook it! Thanks a lot.
Happy anniversary!! This cake is absolutely lovely!
Happy Blogiversary! 😀 That lemon cake looks so delicious!
Happy Blogaversary, my friend! 🙂
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Simple Bites!
Two years already? It feels like Simple Bites has been among my favorite blogs for much longer even though the past two years have flown by. I love all the work you’ve done Aimee! Happy blog anniversary. 🙂
How lovely of you to make a cake with all my favorite flavors for your blogiversary! I don’t think the lemon curd is optional. 🙂
You’re so right. When I bake this up for an upcoming brunch, it will have the lemon curd accompaniment!
Happy anniversary! This cake sounds so delicious and I love that it is simple and fuss free. Can’t wait to make it!
Happy second anniversary! Always a pleasure and a delight to read your blog . This beautiful cake looks delicious and so refreshing!
Thank you for sharing.
Cheria
Happy second anniversary!
Always a pleasure and a delight to read your blog . This beautiful cake looks delicious and so refreshing!
Thank you for sharing.
Cheria
I can’t believe you have only been around for 2 years. Your blog is so polished. I’ve been reading regularly for about 6 months and I’ve made so many of your recipes. In fact, I’m having apple pie oats from my slow cooker this morning and I’m planning on having butternut squash mac n cheese on Wednesday/Pasta night this week. Thank you for all you do.
Thanks, Kat, I love that you are putting my recipes to use! Thanks for reading.
Happy blogiversary Aimee! What a fantastic and tasty way to celebrate.
Happy Anniversary! I love simply, rustic cakes like this one. I have some Meyer lemon curd in the fridge and this would be the perfect vehicle for it.
You had me at lemon!! oh that looks delicious!!
Congrats Aimee on 2 years!! Can you believe it’s been a year already since we all met up at Blissdom? miss you!!
Blissdom seems like aaaggggges ago. Miss you too..
This cake sounds absolutely delicious and I would definitely add curd!
Congrats on two years!!
Such a lovely cake, Aimée! Happy blogoversary to you!!
I’ve been looking for a gluten free recipe for a bridal shower coming up that I’m baking for. This looks delish and quaint all at once. I can’t wait to try it out.
This would be lovely for a shower! Dress it up with a few fresh berries and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
I have been craving lemon this month! and I have all these ingredients in my pantry. thanks.
Congratulations! I know several people who are always on the lookout for good gluten free ideas… I will be passing this along to all of them!
Thanks!
Happy Birthday Simple Bites!
When I saw this cake I was disappointed because it looks so good and I didn’t think I’d be able to have it. But then I saw it’s gluten free! Happy anniversary and thanks for this recipe. I’m pinning it right now.
In those two years you have inspired so many baking moments in my kitchen! Thanks for all that you have shared with us.
I wonder what you will make to celebrate 5 years? 🙂
Oh Well Done!!! Two Whole Years… how on earth does time whizz by so incredibly fast!!! Love your site and all the brilliant info – fabulous!!!
Happy anniversary! You have some amazing, high quality content to show for your efforts. Congratulations! Now I can’t wait to try that cake.
Happy Anniversary! I can’t believe it’s only been 2 years…seems like I’ve been reading longer. 🙂
Happy 2 years! I actually remember when you started Simple Bites – and you’ve been in my reader ever since! And this cake is the perfect cake to celebrate.
Happy Blogiversary, Aimee! I can just taste a bite of this, and I can’t wait to make it. I’m so glad that blogging brought us together – and I am so glad that Simple Bites is doing so well! Lots of love today and always, my friend.
Happy blogersary!!!!
I also made an almond cake yesterday which actually did not turn out as expected… at all! I wish I would have seen this prior! 🙂
Congrats on two beautiful and tasty years of Simple Bites! That lemon cake sounds like the prefect way to celebrate, simple and good food made with love just like everything here on Simple Bites.
I like the recipe you have here…Looks really awesome!
This looks fabulous! Can you tell me approximately how many cups of almonds this would be before grinding them? Thanks!
Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary !! That’s so exciting 🙂 – and what a lovely cake to commemorator this event ~ simple yet sophisticated.
Congrats on 2 years of blogging here at Simple Bites! And, I love the look of that cake… Yum!
Happy Belated Blogaversay darlin’!! I can’t wait to celebrate the next 20 😀 Love the cake, healthy and oh so delish.
Happy Blogiversary, Aimee! I have a huge bag of Meyer Lemons on the counter right now, so this is perfect timing!
Sounds great! Happy 2 Year Anniversary…love this site!
I made this tonight, and the hub said it was the best thing that I ever baked. Lemon-y, buttery goodness. I will be baking this again and again. Thank you!
Okay, this cake is dangerous. The two of us polished off half the cake in one sitting!! Delicious! A light dusting of gf powdered sugar made a perfectly easy topping. I’m a bit late to the party, here but the recipe has held up over the years. Can’t wait to make it again. Thank you!!
I have made this cake twice and while the flavor is fabulous, both times I have an abundance of butter swimming in the bottom of the pan and the cake is a little too moist. I grind fresh almonds (which I weigh on a food scale) and use Bob’s Red Mill cornmeal. I wonder if maybe 1/2 or 3/4 cup of butter would suffice?
Ground almonds … is that almond flour or almond meal (skin on) ? If it’s skin on, how finally do you grind it?
I buy ground almonds…it’s not almond flour, though that would work too.