Lemon Easter Sponge Cake Recipe

This lemon sponge cake has a sharp yellow color and fresh lemony coconut flavor.
Dresses up real nice for easter, with flaked coconut tinted in spring colors.

Preheat oven, grease cake pans, line with parchment paper; grease paper. Dust with flour; tap out excess.

To prepare cake recipe, beat together egg yolks, sugar and lemon peel until light and fluffy. Sift flour over egg mixture. Gently fold in until almost combined. Stir in melted butter.
Beat egg whites at high speed until firm, but not stiff, peaks form. Stir one-quarter of beaten egg whites into batter. Fold in remaining whites. Spoon batter into prepared pans; smooth tops.

Bake cakes until golden and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer pans to wire racks to cool slightly. Loosen cakes by running a metal spatula around sides of pans. Turn cakes out onto wire racks to cool completely. Remove paper.

To prepare topping, in the top of a double boiler set over simmering (not boiling) water, mix together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, butter and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thickened, 15 minutes.

Transfer topping to a bowl; cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap; chill for 1 hour.

Place 1 layer on a serving plate. Spread one-quarter of topping over cake. Top with second layer. Spread remaining topping over top and sides of cake. Press coconut onto sides. Garnish Easter sponge cake with jelly beans and or marshmallow chicks.