Orange Marmalade Buttercream Spread Food

ORANGE MARMALADE

Steps:

• Wash the oranges and lemon thoroughly. Cut the oranges into 1/8-inch slices using a mandoline, removing the seeds as you go. Stack the orange slices and cut them into quarters. Place the oranges into an 8-quart stainless steel pot. Add the lemon zest and juice and the water to the pot, set over high heat and bring to a boil, approximately 10 minutes. Once boiling, reduce the heat to maintain a rapid simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for 40 minutes or until the fruit is very soft.
• While the fruit is cooking, fill a large pot (at least 12-quart) 3/4 full with water, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Place 10 (8-ounce) jars and rings, canning funnel, ladle, and tongs into the boiling water and make sure the water covers the jars by at least an inch. Boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the lids and leave everything in the pot until the marmalade is ready.
• Meanwhile, place a small plate in the freezer. Increase the heat under the orange mixture to return to full boil. Add the sugar and stir the mixture continually, until it reaches 222 to 223 degrees F on a deep-fry or candy thermometer, and darkens in color, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. You may need to adjust the heat in order to prevent boil over. Test the readiness of the marmalade by placing a teaspoon of the mixture onto the chilled plate and allowing it to sit for 30 seconds. Tilt the plate. The mixture should be a soft gel that moves slightly. If mixture is thin and runs easily, it is not ready.
• Remove jars from the water and drain on a clean towel. Place a canning funnel onto the top of 1 of the jars and ladle in the marmalade just to below the bottom of the threads of the jar. Repeat until all of the mixture has been used. The amount of marmalade may vary by 1 to 2 jars. Wipe the rims and threads of the jars with a moist paper towel and top each with a lid. Place a ring on each jar and tighten.
• Return the jars to the pot with boiling water, being certain that they don't touch the bottom of the pot or each other. (If you don't have a jar rack, try a round cake rack, or metal mesh basket. Even a folded kitchen towel on the pot bottom will do in a pinch.) Add additional water if necessary to cover the jars by at least an inch. Boil for 10 minutes. Using canning tongs, carefully remove the jars from the water, place in a cool dry place and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 24 hours before opening. Once open, store in the refrigerator. Unopened marmalade will last for up to 6 months.

CHOCOLATE MUD CAKE WITH ORANGE MARMALADE AND CHOCOLATE-ORANGE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the marmalade: Cut the oranges and lemon in half, then cut the halves into very thin slices. Place the slices in a large nonstick or stainless-steel pot, add 4 cups water, and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sugar, stirring well until the sugar is dissolved. Cover the pan and refrigerate overnight.
• The following day, bring back to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 2 hours. Turn up the heat a little and boil gently for another 30 minutes. Place a candy thermometer in the marmalade and cook until it reaches the jelly stage (220 degrees F).
• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray.
• Melt the butter and chocolate in an 8-cup microwave-safe container. Whisk in the sugar and then the cocoa powder until fully incorporated. Slowly add the hot coffee in three increments, whisking until smooth. Add the vanilla, then add the eggs, one at a time.
• Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; mix until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually pour in the chocolate mixture; beat on medium-high speed for 1 minute. Scrape the bottom of the bowl and beat until smooth, another 30 seconds.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a baking rack.
• For the buttercream: Set a clean stand-mixer bowl over a double-boiler and add the egg whites and sugar. Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Transfer the bowl to the mixer and beat with the whisk attachment until stiff and glossy. Piece by piece, gradually incorporate the butter--the mixture will start to look curdled but will come together once fully incorporated. Add the melted chocolate, cocoa powder, orange zest and vanilla; beat until incorporated.
• To assemble: Level the cooled cake layers and lightly brush with the orange liqueur. Spread the top of each layer with a thin layer of marmalade and then, using an offset spatula, with the buttercream cream. Stack the cake layers.

ORANGE MARMALADE BUTTERCREAM SPREAD

Steps:

• Cream the butter until fluffy using an electric mixer on low speed.
• Add the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons orange juice; blend 1 minute longer with the mixer still on low speed. Stir in the marmalade.
• Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute more.
• If the mixture is too stiff, blend in 1 additional tablespoons orange juice to reach desired consistency.
• Use as desired.

BLOOD ORANGE MARMALADE

Steps:

• Wash oranges well. Use a peeler to remove all the zest in long strips. It's okay if some of the white pith comes with it.
• Transfer the peels to a saucepan and add 6 cups of cold water. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low to low and simmer until the peels are soft and tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• While that cooks, cut oranges in half and juice them into a large measuring cup; this should equal 1 cup. Pour in 1/2 cup cold water and set aside.
• Remove peels from heat and drain off the water. Transfer peels to a cutting board, and when cool enough to handle, slice the zest into very thin strips. Transfer into the blood orange juice.
• Pour zest-juice mixture into the saucepan along with lemon juice and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reduces and thickens slightly, 30 to 40 minutes. A probe or candy thermometer should read about 225 degrees F (107 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, inspect jam jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until juice mixture is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Pour into sterilized jam jars and let cool to room temperature. Seal jars and transfer to the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight, before enjoying.

ORANGE DREAM MINI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line 48 mini-muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange zest, orange juice and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition., Fill prepared cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 11-13 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely., For buttercream, in a large bowl, beat butter and salt until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth., Using a paring knife, cut a 1-in.-wide cone-shaped piece from top of each cupcake; discard removed portion. Fill cavity with marmalade. Pipe or spread buttercream over tops.

ORANGE LAYER CAKE WITH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING AND BERRIES

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of two 10-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Line bottoms with parchment paper rounds; spray parchment. Dust pans with flour, tapping out any excess. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, beating until well blended between additions. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until foamy. With mixer running, gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Beat egg white mixture until stiff glossy peaks form, about 3 minutes. Gently fold egg white mixture into batter in 3 additions. Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; remove parchment paper, turn cakes over, and cool completely.
• For orange-flower syrup:
• Bring sugar and 1 cup water to boil in heavy small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, about 5 minutes. Stir in orange-flower water. Chill until cold, about 2 hours.
• For buttercream:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating well. Add orange-flower water; beat until smooth.
• Place 1 cup orange-flower buttercream in medium bowl; mix in orange marmalade. Set marmalade buttercream aside to use as filling.
• To assemble:
• Hull and cut half of strawberries lengthwise into 1/2-inch wedges. Trim cake tops to flatten. Place 1 cake on plate, cut side up. Brush 1/2 of orange-flower syrup (about 3/4 cup) over top of cake. Place scant 1/2 cup plain orange-flower buttercream into pastry bag fitted with 1/3-inch tip. Pipe 1/3-inch line of buttercream around edge of cake. Spoon marmalade buttercream into center, spreading just to line. Gently press sliced strawberries, half of raspberries, and half of blueberries into filling, leaving 1/2-inch border (chill remaining berries for garnish). Top with second layer; brush top with remaining syrup. Frost top and sides with remaining plain orange-flower buttercream. Chill at least 2 hours.
• Remove cake from refrigerator 1 hour before serving. Hull and cut remaining strawberries lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Sprinkle sliced strawberries and remaining raspberries and blueberries over cake.
• *A flavoring extract; available in the liquor or baking section of some supermarkets or at liquor stores.