This lovely cake is an English teatime favourite.
With its lemony tang and ever-so-slightly sandy crumb, this lovely cake is an English teatime favourite. Traditional recipes for sand cake include equal amounts of flour and cornflour to create its texture, but I have used polenta and ground almonds instead to make a more nutrient-filled version, perfect for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Serves 8-10
Ingredients
190 g unsalted butter, at room temperature, chopped
¾ cup caster sugar
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs, at room temperature
1 cup fine polenta
1 cup ground almonds
1 cup organic self-raising fl our
180 ml buttermilk
pure icing sugar, for dusting
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170°C. Grease a 24 cm springform cake tin and line it with baking paper.
- Using hand-held electric beaters, cream the butter, sugar, lemon rind and vanilla for 8–10 minutes or until pale and creamy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Combine the polenta, ground almonds and flour in another bowl. Add half to the butter mixture, along with half the buttermilk, and mix until well combined. Add the remaining polenta mixture and buttermilk and mix again.
- Pour the batter into the cake tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the centre withdraws clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar and serve.
Source: Eating for two, Kathleen Gandy
Photos: Mark O'Meara
Pregnant? Confused about what to eat? What not to eat? What to cook when you're in the throes of morning sickness?
Eating for two is the new book by Kathleen Gandy. You'll find over 100 recipes that will make cooking and eating during pregnancy a pleasurable experience. Covering everything from light breakfasts and lunches to delicious dinners and late-night treats, These simple recipes are sure to become favourites during your pregnancy and beyond.
For more info, help and last minute ideas head to our Recipes & Cooking forum.
