Very Lemony Lemon Bread from Gingerbread Mansion
In the heart of Northern California’s dairy country lies a Victorian village so authentic its main street is a California Historic Landmark. In fact, the entire town of Ferndale is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is known for its well-preserved Victorian storefronts, artisanal food shops, local dairy products, and a strategic location near the Redwoods National Forest and California’s Lost Coast. It’s also known for its ornate “butterfat palaces,” elaborate Victorian homes built by wealthy dairy farmers in the 1800s.
While Gingerbread Mansion Inn was originally built by one of Ferndale’s early physicians and not a dairy farmer, it is perhaps most emblematic of the town’s Victorian heritage. Constructed in 1895, the mansion combines Second Empire with Queen Anne and Eastlake styles. The pinnacle of 19th-century elegance, the AAA Four Diamond inn is often cited as one of Northern California’s most photographed inns. The inn’s ornate architecture is framed by a lush, perfectly manicured English garden, complete with a stately fountain, old-world statues, and towering camellias. Inside, elaborately festooned rooms greet guests, including the third-floor Empire Suite with its opulent California King bed, towering Corinthian columns, antique clawfoot tub, and two fireplaces.
During the late 1800s, when Ferndale boomed from the dairy industry, Victorian culture was at its peak. A prominent feature of the era was the afternoon tea service. Traditional Victorian tea rooms featured small, intimate tables set with fine china, crisp linens, and tiered serving platters. On offer were both savory and sweet items, including small cakes and quick breads.
To honor this tradition, the Gingerbread Mansion serves high tea (and wine) to guests each afternoon in the most authentic of Victorian settings. Its Tea Room is also available to the public by appointment for special occasions. The afternoon tea service sometimes features the Gingerbread Mansion’s Very Lemony Lemon Bread. Perfect for a Victorian high tea, the quick bread features a bright lemon flavor that cleanses the palate, a substantial texture that doesn’t crumble on fine china, and a firm crumb that can be sliced thinly for elegant presentation. It also happens to pair well with both black and herbal teas. This bread is slightly less rich than a traditional pound cake, with a moist texture and intensely lemony flavor thanks to the lemon syrup that is poured over the bread after baking. The addition of nuts to the batter adds sophistication and textural interest. Whether enjoyed during high tea, for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee, or as a bedtime snack with a cold glass of milk, this recipe is sure to become a favorite.
Very Lemony Lemon Bread
Courtesy of Gingerbread Mansion Inn
Makes 8 to 16 servings (one 9-inch by 5-inch loaf)
Ingredients
For the bread:
- 1/2 cup (one stick) butter
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts of your choice
- Grated zest of one lemon
- 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the topping:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Juice of one lemon
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt; set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth and airy. Mix in the eggs.
Alternately add the flour mixture and milk, stirring constantly. Mix in the nuts and lemon zest.
Bake in a greased 5×9″ loaf pan for about 50 minutes, or until done when tested.
As soon as the bread comes out of the oven, poke holes all over the top with a fork or skewer, then spoon over the sugar-lemon juice topping.
Note: Mix the topping just prior to use or it will not be smooth.
