Lemon Shortcake

Recipe from 100 Favourite Muffins and Slices by Simon and Alison Holst
Image by Yasmin

This is my one time favourite slice in the whole world. It is lemon flavoured, very simple and inexpensive. Three pluses in my books! I have tried many other lemon slices and shortcakes but none measure up to this one. It is perfect for afternoon tea with friends and family as well as sweet treats in a busy work day.

Ingredients:

Base and Topping:

• 1 cup SR flour, sifted
• 1 cup plain flour, sifted
• 1 cup sugar
• 100g cold butter
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tblsp milk

Filling:

• 100g butter
• 2 lemons, grated rind and jucied
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Method:
For base, mix the sifted flours and sugar in bowl. Grate in cold butter, then rub it in until it resembles rolled oats. Make a well in the centre and add the lightly beaten egg. Add just enough milk so that the particles will stick when pressed, making a dough. Press 3/4 of this over the bottom of the pan, keeping the rest in the fridge to crumble on top.

For filling, melt butter on stove on a medium-sized pot. Take off heat. Mix in the grated lemon rind and juice, sugar and eggs, then heat again, stirring constantly, until first bubbles form. Pour it evenly over the base and crumble remaining dough mixture on top.

Heat oven to 180'C and bake slice for 35- 45 minutes, until golden brown, with centre almost as firm as the edges. Remove from loose bottomed pan. When cool, dust with icing sugar (optional).