When my step-mom said she was giving me a subscription to Southern Living magazine I thought she may have come unhinged. There is nothing Southern about me. I am a city mouse through and through. I have lived in the South a couple times but my heart is here in the upper Midwest forever. Once I delved deeper into every issue though, I found some wonderfully inspirational decor ideas and lovely baking recipes. This one was featured in the August issue and I immediately tore it out and got my bake on. Sweet lemon flavored iced tea is one of those universally recognized summer beverages no matter what part of the lower 48 you live in. Make that into a dessert that everyone can get behind, and I think Ulysses S. Grant would even can call that a sweet surrender.
Boil 1 1/2 cups water and use three large sweet tea bags. Set aside to cool.
In your mixing bowl add together 1 cup softened butter, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 5 large eggs, 3 1/2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp baking soda.
Mix until well blended. I alternated speeds and stopped every so often to scrape the sides.
The frosting was an idea I had that encompassed 2 cups heavy cream, 5 tbsp powdered sugar, and 4 tbsp granulated sugar.
I wipped it using a hand mixer (I have no idea how our Grandmothers did without them) until it stood on its own and held shape. Put back into the fridge until your ready to frost. Very light and you can add vanilla or lemon juice or even bourbon to it but I liked it this way much better.
I sliced some lemons for decorating.
Add a jigger of bourbon (or two) to the mix and 1 cup of the iced tea. Bake in two 8" cake pans coated in cooking spray for roughly 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until a tooth pick comes out of the center clean.
I stacked the two and loaded the frosting. I decided in the end I liked it better without the sides frosted. The person I baked this for isn't into super sweet treats so I felt this was a better option.
It came out very soft and flavorful and with the bourbon added it had a little kick. Kinda like a Long Island iced tea without the hangover.
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