Orange Velvet Pound Cake Food

ORANGE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Cream the butter and 2 cups of the granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. With the mixer on medium speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, and the orange zest.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the orange juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.
• While the cakes bake, cook the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar with the remaining 1/2 cup orange juice in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, let them cool for 10 minutes. Take them out of the pans and place them on a baking rack set over a tray. Spoon the orange syrup over the cakes and allow the cakes to cool completely.
• To glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and orange juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Add a few more drops of juice, if necessary, to make it pour easily. Pour over the top of one cake and allow the glaze to dry. Wrap well, and store in the refrigerator.

ORANGE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-inch fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®).
• Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl; set aside.
• Beat white sugar and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, then beat in vanilla extract and orange zest. Add flour alternately with sour cream in 3 additions, beginning and ending with flour. Beat until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then unmold the cake onto the wire rack to cool completely.
• While the cake is cooling, bring orange juice, sugar, and orange zest to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and cook until syrupy, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Drizzle warm syrup over cake slices.

BLOOD ORANGE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and butter and line a 1-litre loaf tin.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl for 8 mins until fluffy and very pale. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Fold in the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt, then the soured cream and zest. Spoon into the tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 45-50 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool slightly in the tin, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
• To make the icing, combine the sugar and juice and spoon over the cake. Sprinkle over the pistachios and candied peel, if using (see tip, below). Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.