Serves 24.
Note: As seen on "The Great British Bake Off." Adapted by New York Times.
• 1 c. (2 sticks) butter (225 g), softened, more for greasing pan
• 2 c. plus 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour (275 g)
• 5 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• Finely grated zest and juice of 2 1/2 lemons
• 2 1/4 c. sugar (450 g)
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 c. whole milk (60 ml)
Directions
Heat oven to 325 degrees and place a rack in the center. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking pan with butter and line with parchment paper, allowing a 2-inch overhang on the long sides.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and lemon zest.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together 2 sticks butter and 1 1/8 cup sugar (225 g) until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Then beat in milk, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary (mixture will look curdled, and that's OK). Mix in flour mixture until combined, then scrape into prepared baking pan, smoothing the top.
Bake until golden brown and springy, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then use the paper overhang to lift the cake out of the pan; transfer to wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and carefully remove paper.
Meanwhile, while cake bakes, in a small bowl mix together remaining 1 1/8 cup sugar (225 g) and enough lemon juice to make a runny mixture. While cake is still warm, spoon the sugar mixture evenly over the top. (The cake has to be cooled slightly to prevent topping from melting, but warm enough that it soaks into the cake, leaving a crunchy sugar coat on top.) Let cool, then cut into squares.
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