Orange and Cardamom Syrup Cake

A moist sweet cake bursting with citrus flavour and the undertones of the exotic cardamon spice.

There is no arguing the natural marriage of these two flavours, a match made in heaven…..

Dress this cake with sweet fresh strawberries covered in the orange and cardamon syrup.

Cut a generous slice and serve with vanilla cream. Mmmmmmm dessert time.

This recipe is adapted from the cookbook; Delicious, Simply the best by Valli Little

RECIPE: 

• 250g unsalted butter, softened
• 220g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 50g plain flour, sifted
• 2 tsp baking powder
• finely grated zest and juice of 2 oranges
• 250g fine semolina
• 250g almond meal, pushed through a course sieve
• 120g this Greek-style yoghurt
• 250g punnet strawberries, halved or quartered

SYRUP

• finely grated zest and juice of 2 oranges
• 6 cardamon pods bruised
• 2 cinnamon quills
• 275g caster sugar

METHOD:

1. Preheat oven to 170ºC and Grease a 23cm round springform pan, line the base with baking paper and lightly dust sides with flour, shaking off any excess
2. Beat butter and sugar until thick and pale, add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition
3. Fold in the flour and baking powder, followed by the orange zest, almond meal and semolina
4. Add orange juice and yoghurt and stir until combined
5. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour or until skewer comes out clean when inserted into centre
6. cool n pan for 5 minutes
7. Meanwhile, for syrup, place all ingredients in a saucepan with 375ml water
8. Stir over low heat to dissolve the sugar, then simmer for 15-20 minutes until slightly thickened
9. Prick surface of the warm cake all over with a skewer, slowly drizzle over half the syrup, then allow to cool
10. Toss strawberries in remaining syrup, then drizzle over cake

Tagged: Almond meal, baking, Baking powder, Butter, Cake, cardamom, Chocolate cake, citrus, dessert, Flour, orange, orange cake, orange juice, orange zest, Parchment paper (baking), Recipe, semolina, spice, strawberries, Sucrose, Syrup, zest