We're lucky to work with some very talented and passionate cheesemakers inside (and outside) the creamery. Robin, our head cheesemaker, loves to cook with his wife and find new, creative ways to showcase Stepladder cheese and other products.
His recipe for lemon poppy seed cake includes our Fresh Fromage Blanc and Stepladder lemons, which we typically able to pick ourselves most of the year.
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp butter, plus a little extra
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cup Fresh Fromage Blanc, 2 containers
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest and Juice of one lemon
- 1 ½ cup almond flour
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
About Fresh Fromage Blanc
Used like cream cheese, Fromage Blanc is a staple of the French diet (and ours!). Fromage Blanc is a cheese made from fresh, soft cow's milk curds that have been slightly drained of whey. This cheese has a tangy lactic flavor from the cow's milk and is great for cooking as well as cheeseboard snacking. We suggest Fresh Fromage Blanc for this recipe, but we also offer flavors including Everything Bagel Seasoning, Marinated and Spicy.
Fresh Fromage Blanc is available year-round online and at farmer's markets in California. Visit the webstore to buy online.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and then line the bottom of an 8 inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Then beat in the eggs and Fresh Fromage Blanc, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest until smooth.
Fold in almond flour, poppy seeds, and baking powder well mixed. Transfer to the prepared cake pan and smooth out the top.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until the top browns nicely and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out cleanly. Once out of the oven remove the cake from the pan and cool completely before slicing.
We suggest serving the cake with fresh berries, or a simple icing.
Note: the cake has a texture somewhere between a yellow cake and cheesecake - yum!
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below. You can also email us your recipe and photos showcasing a Stepladder cheese or product for a chance to be featured on our blog. Happy eating!