This cake reminds me a lot of Christmas because of the citrus and spice and it also reminds me a lot of coastal and middle eastern cooking.
The unlikely marriage of orange and cardamom make this cake warm and inviting and the smell of it as it bakes......it literally warms up your house. If you've had a tiff with the neighbors, this cake is the perfect peacemaker, I assure you.
The basis of the cake is a simple batter infused with the spice and the citrus. Another perfect cake for tea time!!
Makes one loaf
250 grams self raising flour
250 grams of butter
3 medium eggs
1 tbs vanilla extract
200 grams castor sugar
200ml orange curd (or the juice and zest of one large orange)
1 1/2 tbs cardamom powder
One orange, segmented, for the garnish
For the frosting
Zest and juice of 2 oranges
200 grams icing sugar
Special equipment - Rectangular loaf tin and baking parchment
Pre - heat your oven to 175°C and line your tin with baking parchment.
Sift your flour and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar until it gets a pale yellow color and is light and fluffy. Next, add the eggs and vanilla extract and whist until the eggs are incorporated into the mix. ( Don‘t mind if it has a few lumps)
Add the flour to the wet mix a bit at a time to form a thick batter. Add your orange curd or orange juice and zest and mix in well.
Pour the batter into the baking tin and place into the oven on the middle shelf for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
As the cake bakes, put your icing sugar, orange juice and zest into a bowl and whisk together to form a thick but loose paste. Set aside.
Once ready, take the cake out of the oven and let it cool completely before pouring over the cake. Garnish with the segmented orange slices and serve.