Lemon Hot Milk Cake is beautifully sweet, slightly tart, fluffy and rich. Imagine all of that with a delicate, lemon-y glaze drizzled on top. This is lovely for dessert or for a sweet afternoon snack with coffee or tea. 
This post is sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board, written by me and as always, all opinions are 100% my own.
Inspiration
A few weeks ago I told you about the fantastic trip I took with the California Milk Advisory Board to the Bootsma Dairy Farm. I was hanging out with some very happy cows and getting inspired to make whole milk recipes.
When I wasn’t riding around on a hay stack, checking out what the cows were eating, or talking with Essie Bootsma about how shocked I was that a dairy farm with about 1,800 cows was practically silent — my milk cake recipe was brewing in my mind.
With the happy Californian cows and their superior milk in mind, the baking began.
I’d been wanting to make a hot milk cake for a while — it always looked so divine to me, and I’d never even tasted one.
What is Hot Milk Cake?
- This is old fashioned, simple cake. (Although it’s a bit more complex when it becomes Lemon Hot Milk Cake.)
- This is a Depression Era cake. And as with many Depression Era recipes, Hot Milk Cake was a result of having very limited ingredients.
- The name comes from the scalded milk in the batter.
- This was traditionally a two layer cake with mocha frosting.
The flavor and texture of my version, Lemon Hot Milk Cake, turned out exactly as I’d hoped.
And oh my goodness, those butter-crisped sides and bottom — it was all I could do not to slice it all off and eat it! Beyond delicious!
The batter was just so beautiful along the way, that I couldn’t help but stop to capture it.
Have you ever thought a cake batter was beautiful?
This milk cake recipe would not only be lovely after dinner, but I’m also picturing it beside my perfect cup of coffee in the morning.
Oh, and remember . . . . .
Look for the Seals!
And of course, I hope you enjoy this dreamy Lemon Hot Milk Cake!
Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Hot Milk Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 (approximately 6-inch) vanilla bean
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened, plus 1 teaspoon for the pan
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- zest of 2 Meyer lemons
- 2 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice
For the glaze
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat the oven to 325°F, and adjust a rack to the center.
- Add the milk to a small saucepan, and use 1 teaspoon of butter to grease the sides of an (approximately 9 X 9 X 3-inch) cake pan -- square or round. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper, and set aside.
- Use a paring knife to slice open the vanilla bean, lengthwise. With the back of the knife, scrape the vanilla into the saucepan with the milk and add the emptied pod as well.
- Place the saucepan over low-medium heat, and bring it to a simmer. Almost as soon as it begins to simmer, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then remove the pods and add the vanilla extract. Stir to blend. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, mix the flour with the baking powder and salt. set aside.
- In another (larger) mixing bowl, and using an electric mixer (or strong arm and a spoon), mix butter and the sugar until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice and mix just to blend.
- While continuing to mix, slowly add dry ingredients until combined.
- Then, still mixing, drizzle in vanilla-milk and mix until a smooth batter forms.
- Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean about 1 hour.
- Let the cake cool slightly, then invert onto a wire rack and let cool completely. Then invert it again onto a cake plate.
For the glaze
- Melt the butter in a small sauté or saucepan. With the heat on low, gently whisk in the lemon juice, milk and vanilla. Turn the heat off and carefully add the sifted powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth. If there are any lumps, pour it through a fine mesh strainer.
- Poke holes with a toothpick or skewer in the cake and then pour the warm glaze over it. (You can also pour a bit over each serving individually.)
Ken Downing says
I hope you meant a 9 x 13 cake pan maybe??
valentina says
Thanks so much, Ken, for pointing that out! I actually meant a 9 X 9 X 3-inch. I’ll edit that in the recipe ASAP! 🙂
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
I’m intrigued! Hot Milk Cake is new to me and sounds fabulous. Especially with Meyer lemon and lots of eggs, dreamy!
valentina says
Thanks so much, Deb. Aren’t eggs and lemon always so lovely? 🙂
Sippitysup says
I’m curious if you tasted raw milk while you were there. I did a similar trip in WI and we had to sip serendipitously! GREG
valentina says
Greg, no, but I wish I had! 🙂
David says
Looks womderful and – I think you are right – it would be perfect this morning with a cup of cocoa (or coffee, for you!).
valentina says
Thanks, David. Now you’ve got me wanting cocoa. Maybe a mocha would do it. 😉
erin says
Thank you Valentina for the perfect dessert for every occasion! Everyone in my family LOVED it. It’s not easy to make a cake that is delectable to all tastes – – and this is it! If freezing, how would you recommend doing the glaze, before and/or after defrosting?
valentina says
Thank YOU Erin! So happy you all enjoyed this cake! 😀 I’d do the glaze after it’s defrosted. You can make ti ahead and refrigerate it. Just melt it before drizzling. xo
Christina says
I don’t want to make this cake, I NEED to make this cake! And then eat it with a big glass of milk! Delicious!!
valentina says
A compliment from you about a cake is music to my ears. Thank you, Christina! XO