Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

4 eggs

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsps baking powder (reduce to 1/2 tsp at 8500 ft)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups sugar

2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1 cup lemon curd

lemon cream cheese frosting

lemon peel curls (optional

Lemon Curd

6 oz fresh lemon juice strained

9 oz sugar

3 oz butter

3 oz heavy cream

6 eggs

1 tbsp fine lemon zest

pinch of salt

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

1 tsp lemon zest grated

6 oz cream cheese softened

1/2 cup butter softened

1 tsp lemon juice

4-5 cups confectioners sugar

Preparation

Lemon Curd: Boil lemon juice, sugar, butter, salt & heavy cream in saucepan. Place eggs in bowl & whisk. Temper hot lemon mix into eggs. Add mix back in saucepan & bring to boil over med heat, stirring constantly until thickened & nappe consistency. It should be quite thick or it will be too runny in final product. Strain, add zest & stir. Place plastic wrap directly on curd & cool over ice bath. Refrigerate when chilled. Can be frozen for 4-6 mos

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting In med bowl combine cream cheese, butter, & lemon juice; beat w/ electric mixer on low-med speed until light & fluffy. Gradually add 2 c sifted powdered sugar, beating well. Gradually beat in 2.5-2 3/4 c additional powdered sugar until spreading consistency. Stir in lemon peel

Cake: Allow butter & eggs to stand at room temp for 30 min. Meanwhile grease & lightly flour three 9x1.5 inch round cake pans & line w/ parchment. Combine flour, baking powder, soda, & salt. Set aside. In lg bowl beat butter w/ electric mixer on med-high speed for 30 sec. Add sugar, lemon peel & lemon juice; beat until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Add flour mixture & butter/sour milk alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low after each addition just until combined. Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350 for 25-30 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks for 10 min. Remove from pans. Cool thoroughly on racks

Assembly: Level layers of cake. Place a cake layer on cake plate. Spread w/ half of lemon curd. Top w/ 2nd layer; spread w/ remaining lemon curd. Top w/ 3rd layer. Frost top & sides w/ cream cheese frosting. Cover & store in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let stand at room temp for 30 min before serving. Garnish w/ lemon peel curls. -Can cut out small circular rounds of leveled cake & stack for small desserts (see website)