While the recipe contains no actual cheese, Southerners have referred to this dessert as lemon cheesecake for generations. Go figure!

　　

Ingredients

serves 16 to 20

　　1 1/2 sticks butter

　　2 cups sugar

　　3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

　　3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

　　1 cup milk

　　1 teaspoon vanilla

　　6 egg whites, beaten to stiff peaks

　　

Icing

9 egg yolks

　　1 1/2 cups sugar

　　3/4 pound (3 sticks) butter

　　Juice and zest of 4 lemons

　　

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter; add sugar. Sift flour and baking powder together three times and add to butter alternately with milk and vanilla. Fold in egg whites. Bake in three greased 8-inch round pans for 35 minutes.

　　

Icing

Step 2

Mix all ingredients together and cook in double boiler until thick, approximately 20 minutes. Allow cake to cool. Spread icing in between layers and on entire outside of cake.

　　Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics