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Old-Time Lemon “Cheesecake”

While the recipe contains no actual cheese, Southerners have referred to this dessert as lemon cheesecake for generations. Go figure!

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 16 to 20

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 egg whites, beaten to stiff peaks

Icing

9 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 pound (3 sticks) butter
Juice and zest of 4 lemons

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter; add sugar. Sift flour and baking powder together three times and add to butter alternately with milk and vanilla. Fold in egg whites. Bake in three greased 8-inch round pans for 35 minutes.

  2. Icing

    Step 2

    Mix all ingredients together and cook in double boiler until thick, approximately 20 minutes. Allow cake to cool. Spread icing in between layers and on entire outside of cake.

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