Nieman Marcus Cake

I'm kind of a chocolate fan.  I don't really love dessert unless it has chocolate in it, on it, whatever.  But this cake is different.  It has no chocolate, but is so good, it's really quite life changing.  I can't rave about this cake enough.

Ingredients:

• for the cake layer:
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• for the topping:
• 1 8 oz softened cream cheese
• 3 + 3/4 cup powder sugar (1 box)
• 2 eggs well beaten

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking pan.
2. To make the cake layer from scratch, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, then the sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix well. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir just until smooth. Finish mixing by hand to be sure the batter is well mixed. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
3. Mix the ingredients for the topping and spread evenly on top of the batter.
4. Bake for about 30 -35 mins and let the cake cool before removing it from the pan.

Source:  My Kitchen in the Rockies