Best Ever Lemon Drizzle Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter , slightly softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1.75 cups self-rising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder , Optional
• 1 medium lemon , zested

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Beat sugar and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift in flour and baking powder gradually; fold with a wooden spoon to be sure flour is combined. Stir in lemon zest.

3. 3

   Pour batter into the prepared pan, being careful not to press it down.

4. 4

   Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Try not to open the oven door early to avoid collapsing the fluffy cake.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, make the lemon glaze: Juice the zested lemon from the cake batter into a small bowl. Add zest and juice of second lemon. Stir in sugar until dissolved; taste and add more sugar or lemon juice to suit your taste.

6. 6

   Drizzle glaze over the warm cake and leave to cool in the pan; glaze will harden as the cake cools.