Lemon Cakes With Lemon Basil Syrup

from gourmet, this is a nice light passover dessert.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

•  for  cake
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3⁄4 cup  matzos, cake flour plus additional for dusting
• 2⁄3 cup  plus 1/4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3  large eggs, separated, at room temperature for 30 minutes
• 2  tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1  tablespoon  finely grated lemon, zest of
•  for  syrup
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1  strip fresh lemon zest
• 1⁄2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 8  large  fresh basil sprigs
•  for  whipped cream
• 1  cup  chilled heavy cream
• 1  small fresh basil leaf (to garnish) (optional)

Directions

1. Make cakes:.
2. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F Lightly brush 8 muffin cups with some of melted butter and chill 2 minutes, then butter again and chill 1 minute more. Dust cups with matzo cake flour, knocking out excess.
3. Beat together softened butter, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, then add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until well blended. Beat in lemon juice and 2 teaspoons zest until combined. Add flour and mix at low speed until just combined.
4. Beat whites with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt in another bowl with cleaned beaters until they hold soft peaks. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, a little at a time, beating, then beat until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir one fourth of whites into yolk mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Spoon batter into 8 prepared muffin cups.
5. Blend remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon zest with your fingertips and sprinkle over batter, then bake until cakes are puffed, edges are golden, and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pan on a rack 15 minutes, then lift out cakes carefully (tops will break easily) and cool completely on rack.
6. Make syrup:.
7. Bring all syrup ingredients to a boil, covered, in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, then remove lid and boil 10 minutes. Pour syrup through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids. Cool to room temperature.
8. Assemble dessert:.
9. Beat cream in a bowl with cleaned beaters until it just holds stiff peaks.
10. Spoon 1/4 cup syrup into each of 8 shallow bowls and top with cakes. Spoon whipped cream on top of cakes.