Mini Lemon Cakes With Thyme, Roasted Strawberries, And Whipped Crème Fraîche

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Zest of 2 lemons
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 5 fresh thyme sprigs
• 4 lemon slices
• 1 pound strawberries
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup creme fraiche
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves
• Freeze-Dried Strawberries (optional)
• Fresh thyme

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a 9x13 cake pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper.
3. Cream together the room temperature butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the lemon juice and zest.
4. Add the room temperature eggs to the butter mixture one at a time until thoroughly incorporated.
5. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
6. Add the flour mixture, alternating with the room temperature buttermilk, in 3 additions. Scrape the bowl between each addition and incorporate well but do not over-mix.
7. Spread the cake batter into the greased pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top springs back gently when touched, about 40 minutes.
8. Let the cake cool and when completely cool, use a biscuit cutter in your desired size to cut out rounds.
9. Combine the water, sugar, thyme sprigs, and lemon in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer 1-2 minutes and then remove from heat.
10. Let the syrup infuse and cool, about 30 minutes. Strain the syrup and refrigerate.
11. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and combine the strawberries, vanilla, maple syrup, sugar, and olive oil. Roast the berries until the juices run out and thicken slightly, about 30 minutes.
12. Chill the bowl you are using in the freezer for 10 minutes. Beat all of the ingredients until stiff. Refrigerate until ready to use.
13. Slice the cake rounds in half to form two layers.
14. Generously brush each layer with the thyme syrup.
15. Spread the bottom layer with a tablespoon of the strawberry preserves and top with the whipped creme fraiche.
16. Top the top layer with whipped creme fraiche, roasted strawberries, and a thyme sprig. Garnish with freeze-dried strawberries, if desired, to add crunch. Serve right away.

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Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mini-lemon-cakes-with-thyme-roasted-strawberries-and-whipped-creme-fraiche (may not work)