Orange Cake With Syrup Food

JULIE GOODWIN'S ORANGE SYRUP CAKE

Steps:

• Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy and light. Add the zest and eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Sift the flour and ginger. Fold into the creamy mix.
• Pour batter into a greased and lined 26 cm spring form tin.
• Bake at 150oC for 50-60 minutes (or until cooked when tested).
• Meanwhile, when the cake is cooking: place the syrup ingredients in a saucepan. Dissolve the sugar over a low heat. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Skim off any scum that arises. Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 10 minutes (you should have just over a cup of syrup).
• Remove the cake from the oven when cooked, pierce the top of the cake all over with a skewer, carefully pour the syrup all over the cake. Leave to cool completely.
• Remove the cake from the pan and slice into wedges.

ORANGE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the orange juice, water, orange peel and almond extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. , For the frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter and enough orange juice to achieve spreading consistency. Frost cake.

ORANGE & SAFFRON SYRUP CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Oil the base of a 23cm ring tin (or oil and line the base of a 20cm round or 18cm square cake tin). Put the ground hazelnuts in a frying pan and toast over a medium heat, stirring frequently until evenly browned. Leave to cool, then mix with the semolina, caster sugar and baking powder.
• Finely grate the zest from one orange and combine with the eggs and oil. Beat well with a wooden spoon, then fold into the dry ingredients. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 30-40 mins, until risen and firm to the touch.
• While the cake is baking, pare the zest from the other orange and cut into very thin shreds. Put in a saucepan with the juice from both oranges, the saffron and icing sugar. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 5 mins.
• When the cake is done, leave it to cool in the tin slightly, then turn out onto a plate. Peel off the lining paper. While the cake is still warm, skewer it well and spoon the syrup over. Serve as it is, or with yogurt or crème fraîche and orange segments. The cake will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

ORANGE AND ALMOND CAKE WITH ORANGE SYRUP

Steps:

• Grease and lightly flour a 23cm springform cake tin.
• Place the whole oranges in a medium saucepan, cover with water and boil for 2 hours, topping up with more water as it evaporates.
• Remove the oranges.
• Preheat the oven to 180C.
• Cut the oranges into quarters and place in a food processor.
• Blend until smooth, then cool thoroughly.
• Place the egg yolks, orange liqueur and caster sugar in a large bowl and beat until smooth, then stir in the orange puree and mix well.
• Whisk the egg whites in a dry bowl until firm peaks form.
• Add the almonds and baking powder to the orange mixture, stir together well, then carefully fold in the eggwhites.
• Gently pour into the cake tin and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 1 hour.
• Cool the cake in the tin, then transfer to a serving plate.
• To make the syrup: place the orange juice, sugar and sauterne in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until reduced by half.
• Skim off any scum that forms on the surface.
• The syrup will thicken as it cools.
• To serve, cut the cake into wedges, top with the candied orange, or rind and drizzle the syrup over.
• Serve with cream.