Romanian Crème Fraîche Cake (Lichiu)

Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a stand mixer.
  2. 2In a separate container, combine milk, egg yolks, yeast, and lemon zest; add this mixture to the dry ingredients in the mixer.
  3. 3Add butter, one tablespoon at a time, to the mixer.
  4. 4Set the dough aside to rest for 90 minutes.
  5. 5Whisk crème fraîche, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
  6. 6In a saucepan, heat milk with salt and sugar, then slowly whisk in the semolina and cook until thick.
  7. 7Stir vanilla and lemon zest into the semolina mixture and let cool.
  8. 8Whisk egg whites into the semolina mixture.
  9. 9Press the dough into the bottom of a pan and let sit for 30 minutes.
  10. 10Spread the semolina filling over the dough and top with the crème fraîche mixture.
  11. 11Bake in a 400-degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes.
  12. 12Cool in the pan for 30 minutes before serving.

Ingredients

  • flour
  • sugar
  • salt
  • milk
  • egg yolk
  • yeast
  • lemon zest
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • crème fraîche
  • semolina
  • vanilla
  • egg white

Equipment

stand mixerwhisksaucepanspatulabaking pan