Sunny Citrus Cake Food

SUNNY CITRUS CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Invert the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan (to make it easier to slide the cake off the bottom) then lock on the sides of the pan. Lightly grease and flour the bottom and sides of the pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the butter, lemon and orange zests and sugar. Beat on medium for several minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Add the eggs, one at a time and blend just until the yolk disappears. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and blend again.
• In a measuring cup with a spout, combine the vanilla, sour cream, lemon juice and orange juice and stir to combine (the mixtures may seem curdled). Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat on low until incorporated. Add ⅓ of the juice mixture and blend until smooth. Do not over beat. Repeat adding ½ of the remaining flour, then ½ of the remaining juice until both are incorporated. Add the last of the flour and juice and blend once more. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl and gently stir with a spatula once more.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. A few moist crumbs is okay - but no wet batter.
• Cool the cake on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before removing the sides. Cool completely before glazing.
• Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a deep saucepan or skillet large enough to hold the sliced citrus in a single layer. Reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer. Add the sliced citrus and cook for 10-15 minutes, turning once or twice until tender, but not falling apart. Remove to a wire rack to cool. The remaining simple syrup can be refrigerated and used to sweeten smoothies, tea or cocktails.
• Combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice and whisk to combine. Add boiling water or additional sugar until you reach the desired pourable consistency. Drizzle over the cake and top with candied citrus if desired.

UPSIDE-DOWN CITRUS CAKE

Steps:

• For the topping: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Use a fine grater to zest 1 teaspoon zest from each of the citruses (for a total of 1 tablespoon zest). Reserve the zest for the cake.
• Cut the top and bottom off of each citrus and place them with a flat side on the cutting board. Then, following the curve of the fruit, use a sharp knife to cut off the peels and as much of the white pith as possible. Slice the fruit crosswise into 1/4-inch thick rounds; carefully remove any seeds.
• Combine the butter and sugars in a small saucepan and warm over medium-low heat until melted. Pour into the prepared cake pan and spread evenly. Top with the citrus rounds so that they fit very snugly and are slightly overlapping (you may not use every slice). Drizzle with the orange liqueur, if using.
• For the cake: Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl. Put the butter, sugar and reserved zest in another bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour; mix until just combined.
• Pour the cake batter over the citrus and bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center just comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edge of the cake and let it cool for 15 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a platter, replacing any citrus that may have stuck to the pan. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

SUNNY CITRUS COOLER

Steps:

• In a 1-gal. pitcher, combine pineapple juice, orange juice concentrate and lemonade concentrate. Add ginger ale and mix well. Serve over ice. Garnish with orange slices if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

SUNNY CITRUS CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan. Place on a baking sheet., In a small bowl, mix flour, sugar and zest; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 25-30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in flour and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Divide batter into thirds. To 1 portion, add lime juice, lime zest and green food coloring. Pour batter over crust., Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake until center is just set and top appears dull, about 25 minutes., Meanwhile, to another portion of batter, add lemon juice, lemon zest and 3 drops yellow food coloring. Carefully remove pan from oven. Gently spoon over lime layer. Return to oven; bake until center is just set and top appears dull, about 25 minutes., To remaining batter, add orange juice, orange zest, red food coloring and remaining 3 drops yellow food coloring. Carefully remove pan from oven. Gently spoon over lemon layer., Return to oven; bake until center is just set and top appears dull, 30-35 minutes. Carefully remove pan from oven., In a small bowl, whisk topping ingredients. Gently spoon over cheesecake in small dollops; spread carefully. Return to oven; bake 5 minutes., Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan. If desired, top with orange, lime and lemon slices. Refrigerate leftovers.

CITRUS SUNSHINE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray a 10-cup Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.
• Add the butter, sugar, salt, baking powder, vanilla, oil and citrus zests to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 4 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl and beater. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating on medium speed for 30 seconds after each addition. Scrape the bowl.
• Add 1 1/2 cups cake flour and blend on low to combine. Add the cream and buttermilk and blend on low to combine. Scrape the bowl. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups cake flour, blending on low to combine and then raise the mixer to medium speed and beat for 4 minutes. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
• Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 65 to 70 minutes. The cake will rise to fill the pan and will settle slightly once removed from the oven.
• Meanwhile, for the syrup: While the cake bakes, juice the lemon and oranges to make 1/2 cup of citrus juice. Transfer the juice to a small saucepan and add the sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer and swirl the pan to dissolve the sugar. Turn off the heat. Reserve the syrup at room temperature while the cake bakes.
• When you've removed the cake from the oven, use a toothpick to pierce the top crumb of the cake about 30 times and then slowly pour the syrup evenly over the hot cake. Cool the cake in the pan for about 30 minutes before turning out of the pan on a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

SUNNY CITRUS POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating lightly after each until smooth, then beat on high speed until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.
• Add the zests.
• Add the dry ingredients alternately with the yogurt and orange juice, beating on low speed until blended.
• Spread the batter in a greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan or tube pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 65 to 75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack.
• Glaze: Heat together the sugar and juice, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Poke holes in the cake with a toothpick, skewer or fork.
• Brush the glaze over the cake, letting it soak inches Cool the cake completely before slicing.

SUNSHINE CAKE WITH CITRUS BUTTER CREAM

Steps:

• Make cake layers:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 (8- by 2-inch) round cake pans and dust with flour, knocking out excess.
• Put sugar and zests in a food processor and pulse until blended well, about 30 seconds. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Beat butter in large bowl of standing electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar mixture and beat at high speed 5 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, 1 at a time, and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add one fourth of flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Beat in milk until just blended. Beat in remaining flour mixture alternately with juices in 3 batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Divide batter evenly between cake pans and smooth tops. Bake in middle of oven until golden and a tester comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool layers on racks 5 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans, then invert cakes onto racks to cool completely.
• Make buttercream:
• Heat whites and sugar in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, whisking constantly, until sugar is dissolved and a thermometer registers 160°F. Remove bowl from heat and beat mixture in standing electric mixer on medium-high speed until thick, glossy peaks form. If mixture is still warm, continue beating until cool.
• With mixer running, add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Add liqueur and lemon juice, beating on high speed until smooth and fluffy, about 10 minutes. If buttercream begins to separate, beat on high speed until smooth.
• Assemble cake:
• Brush any loose crumbs from layers and put 1 upside down on a serving plate. Spread with about 1 cup buttercream. Place other layer on top, right side up. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining buttercream.

SUNNY CITRUS POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 10" tube or bundt pan.
• Cream butter and sugar in stand mixer with paddle attachment (or with hand mixer) until light and fluffy and pale in color. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to fully incorporate before adding the next. Beat in yogurt, extracts and lemon zest.
• Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to wet, and stir until well-mixed.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in the middle of the preheated oven, 60 minutes or until cake tester inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool to room temperature.
• While cooling, stir together confectioner's sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Spoon over cake once cool. Sprinkle with additional lemon zest while glaze is still wet, if desired.

CITRUS CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 320F
• Mix the margarine and sugar together and cream until light and fluffy.
• Then beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• Stir in the fruit juices and the flour and mix well. Pour the mixture into a cake tin measuring 8"x12"x1½" which has been lined with baking parchment and spread evenly.
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for roughly 35 minutes.
• Allow the cake to cool in the tin before removal and storage in an air-tight container.