Lemon Torte di Lefkothea
I have a friend. Her name is Lefkothea. Lefkothea was a sea divinity who saved Odysseus when he capsized close to the island of Phaeacians, his last destination before home.
I know Lefkothea, my friend, since 1979. I was 10 years old when we moved to a new home and I went to a new school. And there I met her. We were at the sixth grade of elementary school and we continued to be friends and colleagues up to the end of high school. I know her for 33 years and I consider her to be one of the most honest, straight forward and kind persons I have ever met. We are different in many aspects of our lives, but alike in so many others.
Anyway, now she is married just like me, she has a son just like me and she likes to cook just like me. Couple of months ago we went at her place and she served us a beautiful dinner, but what has won our hearts and especially my husband’s was the dessert.
Of course I asked the recipe and of course she gave it to me. This torte comes from a family recipe. Her mother makes it and has given it to my friend and she in turn gave it to me. She has given me another one for another great dessert, but I will post that one a little later. Anyway, as I said, I wanted to make something non-chocolate to please my husband plus I wanted to tell you about my friend. The torte is delicious and I encourage you to try it, if you like the lemon taste in your sweets. Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients and instructions, I wanted to be as thorough as possible. It certainly needs time to prepare, but it is not difficult at all. I did it in two days. The first day I did the cake and the cream and the second day I did the syrup and the assembly! Let’s go and make it then.
Lemon Torte di Lefkothea
Ingredients
For the cake
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
4 eggs
Zest of one lemon
1 hipping tsp baking powder
For the cream
1 can evaporated milk
1 can water
4 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest from one lemon
1 tbsp butter (I used margarine)
3 tbsp flour
4 tbsp corn flour
1 cup sugar
For the syrup
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
1 tbsp white rum (but you can add whatever you like)
For the decoration
2 X 200gr./7 oz. heavy cream
4 tbsp sugar
M&M’s or whatever you want to give color
Instructions
For the cake
Beat the egg whites until they become meringue.
Add to it the sugar, the egg yolks, the flour with the baking powder and the lemon zest.
Pour the batter to a round pan about 29 cm/11 to 12 inches.
Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C/345° F for about 30 minutes at the lowest rack of the oven.
When it cools, take dental floss (yes, yes, you saw it right, dental floss with no flavor) and cut the cake in two equally heighted pieces.
For the cream
Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale.
Throw the flour and the corn flour dissolved in 3 tbsp of the cold milk.
Place the rest of the milk along with the water in a pot. When it gets hot, but not bubbly, throw the egg batter and whisk until it starts to thicken.
Just before removing it from the fire, throw the lemon zest and immediately after removing from fire, pour the vanilla extract and the butter.
For the syrup
In a pot throw the sugar and the water.
Boil for about 5 minutes and remove it from fire.
Pour the liquor
Assembly
Take a platter big enough to put your torte.
Take one of the cake pieces and place it on the platter.
Brush it with half of the syrup quantity.
Pour half of the cream and spread it evenly.
Place the second piece of cake.
Brush it with the rest of the syrup.
Pour the rest of the cream.
Refrigerate until it stabilizes.
I decorated it on top and on the sides with 2 X 200 gr. /7 oz. of heavy cream whipped with 4 tbsp of sugar as Chantilly. But you can decorate it as you like!
Note: If you want the cream to be more than the cake layers then just double the quantity!
I am sending this to Full Plate Thursday hosted by Miz Helen and to Around My Kitchen Table and Sugar Me Up hosted by Wendy!
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 hipping tsp baking powder
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 can water
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest from one lemon
- 1 tbsp butter (I used margarine)
- 3 tbsp flour
- 4 tbsp corn flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp white rum (but you can add whatever you like)
- 2 X 200gr. /7 oz. heavy cream
- 4 tbsp sugar
- M&M’s or whatever you want to give color
- Beat the egg whites until they become meringue.
- Add to it the sugar, the egg yolks, the flour with the baking powder and the lemon zest.
- Pour the batter to a round pan about 29 cm/11 to 12 inches.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C/345° F for about 30 minutes at the lowest rack of the oven.
- When it cools, take dental floss (yes, yes, you saw it right, dental floss with no flavor) and cut the cake in two equally heighted pieces.
- Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale.
- Throw the flour and the corn flour dissolved in 3 tbsp of the cold milk.
- Place the rest of the milk along with the water in a pot. When it gets hot, but not bubbly, throw the egg batter and whisk until it starts to thicken.
- Just before removing it from the fire, throw the lemon zest and immediately after removing from fire, pour the vanilla extract and the butter.
- In a pot throw the sugar and the water.
- Boil for about 5 minutes and remove it from fire.
- Pour the liquor
- Take a platter big enough to put your torte.
- Take one of the cake pieces and place it on the platter.
- Brush it with half of the syrup quantity.
- Pour half of the cream and spread it evenly.
- Place the second piece of cake.
- Brush it with the rest of the syrup.
- Pour the rest of the cream.
- Refrigerate until it stabilizes.
- I decorated it on top and on the sides with 2 X 200 gr. /7 oz. of heavy cream whipped with 4 tbsp of sugar as Chantilly. But you can decorate it as you like!
- 1 φλ. αλεύρι για όλες τις χρήσεις
- ¾ φλ. ζάχαρη
- 4 αυγά
- Ξύσμα από ένα λεμόνι
- 1 γεμάτο κ.γ. μπέικινγκ πάουντερ
- 1 κουτί συμπυκνωμένο γάλα
- 1 κουτί νερό
- 4 κρόκοι αυγών
- 1 κ.γ. εκχύλισμα βανίλιας
- Ξύσμα από ένα λεμόνι
- βούτυρο 1 κ.γ. (χρησιμοποίησα μαργαρίνη)
- 3 κ.σ. αλεύρι
- 4 κ.σ. κορν φλάουρ
- 1 φλ. ζάχαρη
- ½ φλ. ζάχαρη
- ½ φλ. νερό
- 1 κ.σ. λευκό ρούμι (αλλά μπορείτε να προσθέσετε ό, τι σας αρέσει)
- 400 γρ.. κρέμα γάλακτος
- 4 κ.σ. ζάχαρη
- M & M του ή οτιδήποτε άλλο θέλετε για να δώσετε χρώμα
- Χτυπήστε τα ασπράδια των αυγών μέχρι να γίνουν μαρέγκα.
- Προσθέστε τη ζάχαρη, τους κρόκους αυγού, το αλεύρι με το baking powder και το ξύσμα λεμονιού.
- Βάλτε το μείγμα σε ένα ταψί περίπου 29 cm.
- Ψήστε σε προθερμασμένο φούρνο στους 175 ° C για 30 λεπτά περίπου στο χαμηλό επίπεδο του φούρνου.
- Βγάλτε το και αφήστε το να κρυώσει.
- Όταν κρυώσει με ένα οδοντικό νήμα (ναι, ναι, είδατε σωστά, οδοντικό νήμα χωρίς καμία γεύση) κόψτε την τούρτα σε δύο ίσους δίσκους.
- Χτυπήστε τους κρόκους με τη ζάχαρη μέχρι να αφρατέψουν.
- Ρίξτε το αλεύρι και το κορν φλάουρ διαλυμένο σε 3 κ.σ. κρύο γάλα.
- Βαλτε το υπόλοιπο το γάλα μαζί με το νερό σε μία κατσαρόλα.
- Όταν ζεσταθεί, αλλά δεν βράζει ακόμα, ρίξτε το μείγμα αυγού και ανακατέψτε γρήγορα μέχρι να αρχίσει να πήζει.
- Λίγο πριν το βγάλετε από τη φωτιά, ρίξτε το ξύσμα λεμονιού και μόλις το βγάλετε από την φωτιά, ρίξτε το εκχύλισμα βανίλιας και το βούτυρο.
- Σε ένα κατσαρολάκι ρίξτε τη ζάχαρη και το νερό.
- Βράστε επί 5 λεπτά περίπου και αποσύρετε από φωτιά.
- Ρίξτε το λικέρ.
- Πάρτε μια πιατέλα μεγάλη ώστε να χωράει την τούρτα.
- Πάρτε τον ένα δίσκο από το παντεσπάνι και βάλτε το στην πιατέλα.
- Με ένα πινέλο αλείψτε το με το μισό της ποσότητας του σιροπιού.
- Απλώστε τη μισή από την κρέμα και στρώστε τη ομοιόμορφα.
- Τοποθετήστε το δεύτερο κομμάτι από το παντεσπάνι.
- Με το πινέλο αλείψτε το με το υπόλοιπο της ποσότητας του σιροπιού.
- Απλώστε από πάνω την υπόλοιπη ποσότητα κρέμας.
- Βάλτε στο ψυγείο μέχρι να σταθεροποιηθεί.
Pumpkin Gnocchi
Love the citrusy flavors in the cake which goes well with the cream.
Blogging has opened a whole new world for me. I have seen cakes with cream icing, lemon curd and jams as filling. This is so unique.
Its nice to have great friends like, Lefkotia
Beautiful! And all that goodness in the filling when you cut into it? I can almost taste it. Yum!
This looks amazing! It is great that you provide all of those pictures of the steps for making the cake. I’ll have to give it a try.
now that is one seriously gorgeous cake! I love lemony desserts but that is really…just…WOW.
it looks seriously incredible, i really want some.
wow, that looks stunning… love the flavours going in there!
Beautiful! My grandmother was Swedish. I remember as a small girl her making a torte similar to this one. She passed away when I was 10. I wish now I had her recipe. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Love this tarta Katerina look absolutely delicious and georgeous!!
It’s always so wonderful to meet up with good friends! Best of all is when you share the same interest. Love your dessert. It just looks so mouth-watering. I would enjoy licking the lemon cream
Thanks very much for sharing. Wish I can have a piece now before gong to bed 
Bravo Katerina, ton gâteau est magnifique. Bravo!!!
A bientôt
What a beautiful cake! I’m going to make this for my little sister’s 11th birthday!
Such lovely pictures, I like the dental floss idea
Oh Katerina, your Lemon Torte is so beautiful and really tempting! Wish I could have a thick slice right now!
OMG, that cake is oozing with custard and lemony goodness, not to mention that frosting! It looks absolutely delightful.
This looks so beautiful and delicious, thank you for sharing!
Love the layering in this-yum! The cake with the lemon pastry cream does make for an elegant as well as delicious dessert. I am so glad that your friend was kind enough to give you this recipe, it is truly a winner. Thanks so much for passing it along.
Wow! This looks incredibly delicious…and no, I am not intimidated by the long list of ingredients especially when the final result is lip-smacking good
You are indeed lucky to have such a wonderful friend. Thanks so much to your friend and of course to you for sharing this beautiful dessert.
This looks spectacular! I would love a serving of this now. I bet it was the hit of the dinner party!
What a delightful lemon cake! Love those colourful sprinkles atop.
Just gorgeous! I adore creamy lemon desserts!
Hi Katerina,
That is one gorgeous cake! I am so craving this right now.
This looks beautiful!
This looks amazing! I love lemony desserts. You decorated it so beautifully too. Thanks for the excellent instruction:)
Katerina,the torte looks stunning!!!I really wish I had a slice..True friends are precious,like jewels,I’m glad you’re blessed to have Lefkothea..:)Wishing you a great week,XO
How delicious! I love the oozing lemon filling. Looks great!
This cake looks so “happy”, I love the lemon flavor and the creamy filling…if I only could dig my fork in this cake…
It is so nice that you both grew alike…and get to share similar likes
Thanks for sharing such a precious recipe and hope you have a wonderful week ahead Katerina!
wow! it looks really fluffy, fresh and delicious even though it has layers it still looks light
Katerina, This torte looks absolutely gorgeous! How nice of your friend to share the recipe for this luscious looking torte with you!
I really enjoyed reading about your friend and this torte is AMAZING! I pinned it, I printed it. It is my kind of dessert; I am hoping this is one that i can make the day before and ice it with the whipped cream the same day you serve it. A WOW dessert. Good one Katerina. I do prefer white to chocolate anytime.
Rita
What a beautiful cake! It looks like it has the perfect texture and I love that creamy filling. A huge thank-you to you and your sweet friend for sharing!
What a gorgeous cake!!! And how special to have a friend like that.
Wow, this cake looks so yummy. Lemon is one of my favorites for desserts!
I think that dessert would have won ANYONE’S heart
. So beautiful and delicious! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
This looks like a beatiful cake!
I love the sprinkles, it totally reminds me of Funfetti Cake!
I would have begged for the recipe! And you recreated it SO beautifully!!! So lovely!!!
Un pastel de maravilla cremoso y tentador,envíame un trozo por favor estoy desesperada amiga,una torta perfecta,abrazos hugs,hugs.
Πολύ ωραία η τούρτα της φίλης σου Κατερίνα.
Φαίνεται φανταστική όχι μόνο σε εμφάνιση, αλλά και σε γεύση.
Την βάζω στα υπόψη γιατί είναι πολύ ωραία κι ελαφριά μετά από ένα γεύμα.
Μ αράσει και το λεμόνι..:)
Φιλιά
Be still my heart, this sounds heavenly!!
That is one very lovely cake and bet it’s delicious like you said, worth every single effort like you said….certainly look it!
Hhaha…Love your ‘note’ at the end about adding more cream!
Wow, looks so tempting. Beautifully written & gorgeous pictures! Thanks to your talented friend for sharing this wonderful recipe with us!
Λαχταριστή τούρτα!! θα μου άρεσε να έχει και χυμό λεμονιού Κατερίνα.
Μπράβο σε σένα και την φίλη σου, θέλει όντως 2 μέρες να φτιαχτεί μια τούρτα.
Φιλιά πολλά.
I don’t know any of my friends for that long – but I hope someday to!
Lovely post and adore lemon desserts.
I forgot to add how wonderful it is that you have such a long-lasting friendship!
I love lemony desserts, Katerina! I’m saving a copy of this one to try one day. It is so pretty and sounds delicious.
Υπέροχη η τούρτα της Λευκοθέας! Έχει λίγη δουλίτσα, αλλά πραγματικά αξίζει τον κόπο! Η κρέμα φαίνεται πολύ πλούσια και λαχταριστή!
Φιλιά Κατερίνα μου, καλό σαββατοκύριακο!
Looks so yummy, your lemon cakes are always a hit. I will have to try this one with that delicious filling. I have a friend I have known since I was very young and even if we don’t see each other for a while, when we get back together it’s like we pick up right where we left off! True friends like that are treasures.
First of all-a nice name Lefkothea!
This torte looks delicious, I like everything with lamon flavour!
Life and travelling
Cooking
What a beautiful cake and a beautiful story! Your friends sounds like one in a million. Those are always the best kind.
I love lemon desserts so I know I’d enjoy this torte.
This looks absolutely stunning – the flavours, presentations everything!
Thank you for the pictorial also
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Καλημέρα Κατερίνα!!Εγώ με αυτά τα γλυκά δεν τα πάω και πολύ καλά, αλλά βλέποντας την φωτογραφία σου ενθουσιάστηκα, κι από όσα διαβάζω ευχαρίστως θα την έτρωγα!!
Κατερίνα μου είναι πανέμορφη η τούρτα σου, μπράβο!Σίγουρα νοστιμότατη χωρίς καμία αμφιβολία.Οι φωτογραφίες σου φοβερές!!!
Φιλιά πολλά!!!
Not only a fabulous cake, it has sweet sentiments attached to it, from a wonderful friend. That slice looks amazing!
OMG…LOOKS ABSOLUTELY DIVINE
LOVE YOUR EXCELLENT CLIKS..
PICTURE PERFECT PRESENTATION..
KEEP ROCKING DEAR..!
Tasty Appetite
That is a beautiful lemon torte made even more special by friendship. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Velva
oh wow, look at that creamy filling! definitely a cake my mom would love, maybe I can make it for her next time i’m home
Μμμμμμμμμ!! Μιαμμμμμμμ!!! Νοστιμότατο!!!!!!
My family would love that cake. It is so beautiful and the creamy filling looks so wonderful. How fun to have a friend for so long!!
Katerina, what a beautiful cake! Looking at all the richness in the ingredients, I already know how heavenly this must taste. Should I wait for an occasion to make this? Maybe not! Your friend seems really sweet, don’t you just love it when you find a soulmate girlfriend?
Katerina, this cake is super! It has a special meaning to you which makes it just perfect. Well done!
Katerina, I am in awe! What a gorgeous cake! I am impressed by both your culinary and photographic skills. The step-by-step photos are perfect. This looks like a professional pastry chef’s work!
What a beautiful cake. It sounds similar to a cake that I used to buy for special occasions from an Italian bakery in Florida. Thank you for this recipe…I’m definitely going to try it.