1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper. It’s essential to prep your baking dish to ensure easy removal of the cake later on.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar with the lemon zest. This step is crucial; use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar, allowing the oils to infuse and release that delightful lemon aroma.
3. Add the brown sugar, melted butter, Greek yogurt, eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until everything is well combined and smooth. The mixture should be creamy and fragrant.
4. Now, add in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix gently until no dry ingredients are visible, being careful not to overmix. You want a smooth batter without any lumps.
5. For the Lemon Crunch, in a separate bowl, mix the granulated sugar with the lemon zest just like before. Rub the zest into the sugar, then add the butter and flour. This will create clumps that will be sprinkled on top of the cake.
6. Pour half of the cake batter into the lined baking dish. Spread it evenly. Then, clump the Lemon Crunch mixture over the batter, creating little pockets of flavor.
7. Pour the remaining batter over the top, smoothing it out gently. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes. You want the center to be just set and a toothpick inserted into the middle should come out clean.
8. While the cake is baking, let’s prepare the lavender glaze. Warm the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it’s steaming but not boiling. Remove it from the heat and stir in the dried lavender. Cover the pan to let it steep for about 5 minutes.
9. After steeping, strain the milk through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the lavender. This step is important to get a smooth glaze. Now, stir in the vanilla, melted butter, and powdered sugar. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
10. Once the cake is baked and slightly cooled, drizzle the lavender glaze generously over the top. Allow it to set for about 30 minutes so that it firms up a bit.
11. For a finishing touch, mix together 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon of dried lavender and sprinkle it over the cake. Slice and enjoy the fruits of your labor!