Description
This impressive peek-a-boo loaf features a bright, citrusy lemon pound cake with a hidden midnight-black vanilla Batman symbol in every slice. It is a whimsical dessert that combines nostalgia with a fun, heroic surprise perfect for birthdays and special occasions.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- Black food coloring gel
- Fresh lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 13×9 inch sheet pan.
- Whisk 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl, then cream 1 stick of softened butter in a separate large bowl until pale.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the butter, then add heavy cream, vegetable oil, vanilla, and eggs; beat for one minute before mixing in black food coloring gel until a deep obsidian hue is achieved.
- Bake the black batter in the sheet pan for 25-30 minutes, let it cool completely, then use a Batman-shaped cookie cutter to cut shapes and freeze them for 30 minutes.
- Prepare a second batch of batter (the lemon version) by following the same mixing steps but substituting the black gel with fresh lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Pour one-third of the lemon batter into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan, then stand the frozen Batman shapes upright in a tight, continuous row down the center of the pan.
- Carefully pour the remaining lemon batter over the shapes to cover them completely and bake for 40-50 minutes until the lemon cake is set and golden.
Notes
To ensure the cleanest Batman silhouette, ensure the black sheet cake is thoroughly chilled before cutting, and keep the shapes in the freezer until the exact moment you place them into the lemon batter. Packing the shapes tightly together prevents the outer batter from leaking between the cut-outs, preserving the sharp iconic lines of the symbol.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American