This is a dolce casalingo, the kind of homemade cake you would find sitting on someone’s kitchen counter. It’s a sturdy cake with a good crumb, not too sweet or showy, with a subtle hint of lemon. It’s the perfect vehicle for dunking, and plain enough to make an ideal Italian breakfast, together with a deep, oversized mug of caffe latte.
Also known as the torta del tre, or the ‘cake of three’, it’s a recipe I make a lot because it’s quick and so very simple to remember (once you learn the main ingredients, you never really need to look at it again). It’s also an extremely forgiving cake, so whether you make it round, rectangular or decide to add something new to it (a drizzle of lemon or rosemary icing, perhaps), it’s a nice one to have lying around at home, inviting children and adults alike to take thick slices of it with its simple, homely look.