CORNMEAL LOAF CAKE WITH NECTARINES

Cornmeal Loaf Cake With Nectarines image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 1h30m

Yield Makes 1 loaf

Number Of Ingredients 11

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, plus more for pan
1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 medium nectarines, halved, pitted, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick wedges

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Dust with sugar and flour, and tap out excess; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth. Add 1 cup sugar; beat until light and fluffy.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and lemon juice.
With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk mixture. Beat until just combined, scraping bowl as needed. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake until center is springy to the touch, about 55 minutes; drape with foil if cake browns too quickly. Let cool 10 minutes in pan; invert cake onto a wire rack. Reinvert and let cool completely.
In a skillet, stir together nectarines and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; add 2 tablespoons water. Cook, stirring, until fruit is soft and liquid syrupy, about 5 minutes. Let cool before serving with the cake.