Greek Syrup Cake Food

GREEK YOGURT CAKE SOAKED IN SYRUP RECIPE (YIAOURTOPITA)

Steps:

• To prepare the syrup for this Greek yogurt cake, add all the ingredients for the syrup in a small pot and bring to the boil. Boil for about 2-3 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup has slightly thickened. Leave aside to cool.
• To prepare the Greek yogurt cake (yiaourtopita), divide the eggs into yolks and whites. Place the egg whites in the mixer's bowl, along with a pinch of salt. Make sure your egg whites, bowl and whisk attachments are clean and free of any water. Whisk the egg whites until the mixture is very thick and glossy and a long trailing peak forms when the whisk is lifted (meringues). Place the mixture in a bowl and set aside.
• In another bowl, sift the flour and the baking powder and blend.
• Use an electric mixer, to mix the butter and sugar for about 15 minutes, until the butter is creamy and fluffy (it is very important that the butter is at room temperature). Add the egg yolks, one at a time, whilst mixing, allowing time for each one to be absorbed, before adding another. Add the yogurt, the orange and lemon zest and the vanilla extract and blend to combine. Add 1/3 of the sifted flour and blend, using a maryse spatula. Add 1/3 of the meringues and blend with light circular movements from the bottom up. Repeat with the rest of the flour and meringue (adding 1/3 of the flour and 1/3 meringue and then the remaining flour and meringue).
• Preheat the oven to 190C (both top and bottom heating elements on). To bake the Greek yogurt cake, use a round cake tin, approx. 26cm in diameter. Butter the bottom and sides of the tin and pour in the mixture.
• Place the cake in the preheated oven, on the lower rack, turn the heat down to 175C and bake for 50-60 minutes, until nicely coloured and cooked through. Check if it is ready, by sticking in the middle of the cake a wooden skewer or toothpick. If it comes out clean, then the cake is ready.
• To finish the Greek yogurt cake, ladle slowly the cold syrup over the hot cake, allowing each ladle of the syrup to be absorbed, before ladling again. Allow time for the syrup to be absorbed.
• This Greek yogurt cake is ideally served cold, not hot, with a fresh fruits, yogurt or ice-cream . Enjoy!

GREEK SEMOLINA CAKE WITH ORANGE SYRUP (REVANI)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch pan and set aside.
• Mix the flour, semolina, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
• Using an electric mixer , cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. With the mixer running, add the egg yolks one by one. Continue mixing until the batter turns light yellow. Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest .
• With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 batches alternating with the milk.
• Clean the beaters well and beat the egg whites in a separate bowl with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
• Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter until just combined. Don't mix too much, or you will "flatten" your egg whites.
• Pour the batter into the pan, level with a spatula, and bake for 45 minutes or until the cake is a nice golden color.
• Add the water, sugar, and orange zest to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice and cool.
• While the cake is still warm, cover it with the syrup. When the cake cools, you can sprinkle with some powdered sugar , cinnamon, and almonds, if using.

GREEK HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and orange rind. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the walnuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut into diamond shapes. Pour honey syrup over the cake.
• For the Honey Syrup: In a saucepan, combine honey, 1 cup sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.

PORTOKALOPITA (GREEK ORANGE PHYLLO CAKE)

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups sugar, water, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Squeeze in orange juice and add juiced halves. Bring to a boil and boil vigorously for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool while you prepare the cake.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with some olive oil.
• Remove phyllo sheets from the package. Tear each sheet roughly into shreds and pile up in the baking pan. Let shredded phyllo dry out a little while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Cut 1 orange in half, and slice 1 half into very thin half-moons to garnish the cake. Zest and juice the remaining 2 1/2 oranges.
• Combine orange juice, orange zest, eggs, yogurt, olive oil, 1/2 cup sugar, and baking powder in a blender or food processor. Blend together on high speed until frothy, about 2 minutes. Pour orange and egg mixture over the shredded phyllo in the baking pan. Stir everything together gently to ensure that the egg mixture is evenly distributed. Garnish top of the cake with the orange slices.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden and the filling set, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately pour the cooled syrup over the hot cake. Set aside for at least 1 hour, until most of the syrup has soaked in. Slice into squares and serve.

REVANI (GREEK CAKE USING SEMOLINA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Butter and flour a 13 X 9 inch pyrex baking pan.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt.
• In large electric mixer bowl, beat egg whites until frothy.
• Gradually beat in 1/2 cup of the sugar.
• Continue beating until very stiff and glossy.
• Set meringue aside.
• Beat egg yolks, remaining sugar, and butter until very light and fluffy.
• Add orange rind and vanilla.
• Beat in dry ingredients alternately (slowly, on a low speed) with orange juice and semolina until incorporated.
• Fold in meringue.
• Turn into prepared pan and sprinkle with almonds.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until it tests done.
• Cool.
• For syrup: Boil sugar, water and cinnamon stick for 8 minutes.
• Add brandy and remove cinnamon stick.
• Pour hot syrup over cooled cake.
• Cool and cut into squares.
• Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

GREEK HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and orange rind. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the walnuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut into diamond shapes. Pour honey syrup over the cake.
• For the Honey Syrup: In a saucepan, combine honey, 1 cup sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.

GREEK YOGHURT CAKE

Steps:

• Boil all of syrup ingredients together first to make syrup (10 minutes- remove zest).
• It must be cool before being poured onto hot cake.
• Beat butter with 1 1/2 cups sugar till creamy and light-coloured (about 5 minutes).
• Add yolks, peel, extract and brandy and beat until pale and thick.
• Sift dry ingredients and add alternately to the creamed mixture with the yoghurt.
• Beat whites until stiff and glossy.
• Fold into batter mixture along with almonds.
• Pour into a buttered 13 x 9 x 2" baking dish and bake at 350F for 60-70 minutes or until done.
• Check cake after about 25 minutes of baking. If the colour is already dark enough (as is the case for me), cover with a piece of aluminum foil and continue baking.
• Pour cooled syrup over hot cake and allow cake to cool completely.
• Cut into diamond-shaped pieces and serve.

KARITHOPASTA - GREEK WALNUT SYRUP CAKE

Steps:

• Grease a 22cm by 35 cm pan with butter or margarine. Do not line with baking paper or use non-stick sprays.
• Beat butter in a medium bowl until softened and add sugar beating until light and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl combine breadcrumbs, spices and baking powder.
• Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition and then the liqueur.
• Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and beat until combined.
• Finally add the walnuts and beat until just combined.
• Tip into baking pan and smooth evenly over bottom.
• Bake on the bottom rack of the oven at 200c for 30-35 minutes depending on how hot your oven is.
• Test cake by inserting skewer and allow to cool until room temperature.
• While cake is cooling add ingredients for syrup into a small saucepan, except for vanilla essence.
• Boil for 5 minutes at medium heat. Then take off heat and add the vanilla essence if desired.
• Pour hot syrup over cooled cake. Start by ladling slowly from one end to another and gently tip remaining syrup over cake trying to be as even as possible.
• Allow cake to soak syrup for a few hours. It is best if it soaks overnight.
• Cut cake into diamonds to serve with a swirl of whipped sweetened cream (I add a bit of vanilla essence or liqueur to the cream) and flaked chocolate.
• Note: It is beat to start with all ingredients at room temperature to avoid butter curdling when eggs are added.