Marbled Chocolate and Lemon Cake with Chocolate-Spattered Lemon Frosting | TASTE

Ingredients

• For the pans: a firm lump of unsalted butter
• 2 ¾ c sifted cake flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 10 tbsp (1¼ sticks) unsalted butter, softened to the consistency of mayonnaise
• 2 c granulated sugar
• 1 ¾ c buttermilks or soured milk, at room temperature
• Scant ½ teaspoon pure lemon extract
• 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted, plus 4 ounces, melted, for the decoration
• Pinch cinnamon
• Creamy Lemon Frosting (recipe follows)
• 1 or 2 bright lemons (Meyer, if available), for the Lemon Flowers decoration
• 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 c confectioner’s sugar, sifted if at all lumpy
• 6 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• ¼ c heavy cream, chilled