Lemon 'Cheese' Cake and Mojito Mocktail Recipes for Summer

Hi guys! Today I'll be sharing two Summer recipes with you that you can try out. These recipes are from my Auntie Beverly and are perfect for an afternoon tea party so I hope that have a go yourself!

Here is the recipe for the lemon 'cheese' cake. The reason it is called lemon 'cheese' cake is because it isn't actually a cheesecake however it has a lemon cheesecake flavour. You can see the cake in the photo above, it looks so pretty and delicious!

Ingredients

For the cake:

1600g golden caster sugar

160g butter or margerine, softened

3 large eggs

160g SR Flour

zest 1 lemon

For the syrup:

2 tblsp icing sugar

juice 1 lemon

For the frosting:

2 x 250g tubs mascarpone cheese

1 tblsp (heaped) icing sugar

2 tblsp (heaped) good quality lemon curd

A few strawberries for decoration

Method:

Heat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4

Line the base and sides (using baking parchment) of two 20cm round cake tin.

Beat the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy.

Gradually add the egg, one at a time, beating after each addition. If the mixture curdles add a spoonful of the flour each time.

Fold in the rest of the flour and the lemon zest.

Tip into the tins, level the top, then bake for 25-30 mins or until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Whilst baking, prepare the syrup.

In a small pan mix the icing sugar and the lemon juice together, heat gently until the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat. When cakes are baked, remove from oven and whilst still in the tin prick gently with a fork then spoon over the syrup as evenly as possible. Leave in the tin to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

Prepare frosting by beating together all ingredients

Let the cake cool completely. Sandwich together, using about 1/3 of the frosting. Cover the top and sides with frosting. Pipe decoration around the base. Place prepared half strawberries around the side of the cake above the piping and use any left over frosting to pipe above the strawberries.

Yum! Lemon ‘cheese’ cake.

Now that you have a great Summer cake, you can make yourself a refreshing drink. This is the recipe for a mojito mocktail (a mocktail is suitable for anyone because it doesn't contain alcohol). You can see the mocktail on the photo above. Here is the recipe:

MAKES ABOUT 4 to 6 Mocktails

To make the cordial:

2 tblsp sugar

Small bunch of mint

7 limes

To serve:

Ice cubes (lots)

Low calorie Indian tonic water with cucumber (Tesco)

Sprig of mint

Slice of lime

A straw, umbrella, cocktail swizzle stick etc.

Method:

Muddle the sugar with the leaves picked from a small bunch of mint using a pestle and mortar (or use a small bowl and the end of a rolling pin). The idea is to release the oils and flavour from the leaves using the sugar as an abrasive. Add the juice of the limes and pour into a plastic container (with lid), place in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight.

Remove from fridge and strain into a jug.

Place crushed ice into glasses. Divide the cordial and top up with tonic water. Add a sprig of fresh mint, a slice of lime and a straw. Decorate with umbrella if you wish and enjoy.

I hope you all have a great Summer and try out these amazing recipes! Let me know in the comments if you have any Summer recipes to share!