Robert E Lee Cake

For the Filling

Step 1

In medium bowl, combine melted butter (slightly cooled), sugar, egg yolks, and lemon zest.

Step 2

Whisk until smooth.

Step 3

Pour into a double-boiler and set over pan of simmering water.

Step 4

Stirring every few minutes, cook 30-45 minutes, until mixture thickens and is smooth.

Step 5

Remove from heat, let cool slightly, and pour into heat-resistant bowl.

Step 6

Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in fridge 2 hours minimum. Overnight is better

Step 7

The next day,

For the Cake

Step 8

Butter and flour 2 - 9 inch cake pans and set aside.

Step 9

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Step 10

In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Step 11

In large bowl, beat egg yolk using an electric hand-mixer until frothy, about 2 minutes.

Step 12

Add in sugar in three parts, beating until eggs become pale and smooth.

Step 13

Stir in lemon juice and zest.

Step 14

In a separate large bowl, using clean beaters, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar on high until egg whites are stiff.

Step 15

Pour half of the flour mixture into the egg yolk mixture and fold in.

Step 16

Then pour in half the egg white mixture and fold again very gently; you don’t want to deflate the egg whites.

Step 17

Repeat with remaining flour-egg white mixtures until all ingredients are combined.

Step 18

Pour batter evenly into prepared cake pans and bake 22-30 minutes, until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean.

Step 19

Remove cakes from oven and let sit five minutes to cool.

Step 20

Then release cakes from pans and set on wire rack to cool completely.

Icing

Step 21

In large bowl beat the butter for 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.

Step 22

Pour in juice, zest, and 2 cups sifted powdered sugar and beat on medium-high until combined. Continue adding sugar until the icing is thick and spreadable.

Decoration

Step 23

Slice the cakes in half horizontally, creating 4 layers. Spread the filling thickly over the middle two layers and cover cake with thin coat of frosting (this is called the crumb coat).

Step 24

Place the cake in freezer for an hour until crumb coat is set.

Step 25

Then remove and finish icing cake.

Step 26

You can cut some thin slices of lemons and oranges for decorating the top.