Wondering what to do with orange peel? How about this easy orange cake

Jun 2, 2022 | 1 comment

How to make this simple orange cake recipe

an easy orange cake on a plate with a slice removed

For a standard 20cm sponge cake, take 4 large eggs and separate the yolks from the white.
Put the yolks in a large bowl, with 200g ordinary granulated sugar and whisk until light and fluffy
Add 200ml of rapeseed oil, and continue beating until the volume of the mixture has increased
Beat the egg white a little so they break up and add the whites, a little at a time, to the mixture
If the mix looks like it is curdling, add a spoonful of flour
Add 100g of pureed orange peel and beat it in
Now carefully stir in the flour, being careful to keep as much air in the mix as you can. Don’t beat it, the cake will be tough, and you will lose a lot of air from the raw mix.
Tip the mixture into 2 x 20cm prepared cake tins and bake at 170 Fan / for 20-25 minutes until firm to to the touch or a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Be careful not to open the oven door before the estimated cook time or your cake will likely sink.
Transfer your cooked cakes to a cooling rack and leave to get cold.
Meanwhile, beat 300g of soft cheese (curd cheese) together with 75g ordinary sugar and 50g orange puree
When the cakes are cold, put one cake on a serving plate and spread with about two thirds of the cream cheese. Put the second cake on top and spread with the remaining cream cheese.

orange peel cake with a slice on a yellow plate

The cake will freeze well before frosting, but cream cheese tends to go grainy if frozen and defrosted, so not recommended.

a slice of orange cake with cream cheese frosting

Flavour the cake with cocoa by substituting about 50g flour with sifted cocoa powder for an orange and chocolate cake
Top with chocolate ganache by mixing melted choc with cream and spreading in and on the cake while the mix is still warm
Use just lemon carcasses, or just lime, or a mixture of all three
Fill with lemon or orange curd
Top with jellied orange and lemon slices
Use the mixture to make individual cakes in small or large muffin tins

Add a little to yogurt, you may well need to add a little sugar too
Stir through rice for an exotic option
Flavour biscuits, perhaps with some fine crushed walnuts too
Stir through pancake batter for a refreshing change, and maybe spread the pancakes with chocolate spread too!
Add to salad dressings and marinades
Use in pasta or rice salads