Need lemon or caramel birthday (cake) ideas

[metaphora]

A friend's birthday is coming up and I'm in charge of making the cake. His two favorite flavors are lemon and caramel. He also likes pound cake. Anyone got tried and true recipes that would be good for a birthday?

thanks

[debadair]

It isn't much to look at, but I modified my grandmother's burnt-sugar (caramel) cake recipe last year for my dad's birthday. (Wasn't confident I could accurately reproduce the original, so gave it my own spin so it was intentionally different.) The cake is very dense, the frosting very sweet--a little goes a long way. My dad claimed it was even better than his mom's--which I doubt, but it was pretty yummy. Don't have time to copy the recipe over, but it's posted at http://winekitchen.jot.com. Just search for almond burnt sugar cake.

[AreBe]

The Duggar family ice cream sandwich cake!
http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

[IndyGirl]

ohmygod.

[cookie monster]

The brown sugar pound cake with caramel glaze from the book "southern cakes" that came out last year is fantastic.

[milklady]

If you have access to Meyer lemons, then look up Martha Stewart's "birthday cake" a meyer lemon cake, filling and frosting. I t's delicious.

[Pia]

What about an ice cream cake? I just tried Haagen Dazs fleur de sel caramel ice cream -- I think it would be fantastic layered with a dark chocolate cake, if he likes chocolate too. I think it would be too sweet with a white cake, though.

If not, I second the lemon layer cake with lemon curd and mascarpone.

[ideabaker]

If he likes lemon does that also mean he likes lime? I just baked a lime and yoghurt pound cake that was easy to make and absolutely delicious!

[MMRuth]

Here's a link to a key lime bundt cake that I've made many times, including for several birthdays - looks lovely with a small vase w/ flowers in the middle:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/278646

[ideabaker]

MMRuth, wow that will look so pretty! Plus, being a gardener as well as a cook it is right up my alley! And having had the lime yoghurt pound cake I truly appreciate how special that "zing" in a baked good is (I don't even like cake, but I loved that one!). Will be adding this recipe to my book, thanks so much!

[MMRuth]

I think I mentioned this in the link, but it really is better if you can make it a day ahead of time, or at least in the morning, by the way.

[ideabaker]

Yes you did, MMRuth, thanks, I might have to make two because the scent is so heavenly we might not be able to keep our hands off the first one long enough for it to sit for a day :-)!

[MMRuth]

One more thing - grease the pan really really well to get the bread crumbs to attach, but if you have a little bare spot or too, it's not then end of the world. I always fuss far too much over it - dabbing bits of butter on bare spots, then sprinkling on more bread crumbs, etc. Laughing at myself as I type that.

[ideabaker]

I can imagine that the better you butter and bread the pan the lighter and crisper crust you'd get! I can't wait to try this recipe!!

[chrisg0619]

This Caramel Cake recipe from Smitten Kitchen is wonderful:

http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/12/car...

You could probably add some lemon zest to the cake batter if you need both caramel *and* lemon, but making the recipe as written would probably be the best way to go otherwise.

[sarah galvin]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/376493

I think it is the last recipe on this link - the one with lemon curd filling - is the best! I have made it twice and really went over well.

[chowser]

Dorie Greenspan's perfect party cake:

http://www.worldonaplate.org/world_on...

[foodwich]

cheat recipe from a mix. yellow cake mix with lemon curd. baked and then iced with whipped cream mixed with some more lemon curd. its absolutely scrumptious.

[itryalot]

Google:
Lemon layer cake with lemon curd and mascarpone (Bon Appetit). Had it at a friends and enjoyed it.

[IndyGirl]

I was just going to suggest this. It is superb and gorgeous.

[itryalot]

I forgot to mention that when I make it for adults, I add limoncello liqueur to the simple syrup to give the moisture a kick.
Here is the link
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...