Description
Mary Berry’s Whole Orange Spice Cake is a unique recipe that uses an entire orange, including the peel, to create a moist and flavorful cake. Infused with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, this cake is rich, aromatic, and bursting with citrusy goodness.
Ingredients
- Self-raising flour – 225g, for a light texture.
- Butter – 175g, softened, adds richness.
- Caster sugar – 175g, sweetens the cake.
- Eggs – 3 large, for binding.
- Whole orange – 1 large, boiled, and finely blended.
- Baking powder – 1 teaspoon, for extra rise.
- Ground cinnamon – 1 teaspoon, for warmth.
- Ground nutmeg – ½ teaspoon, adds depth.
- Milk – 2 tablespoons, for a moist batter.
For the Glaze (Optional):
- Icing sugar – 100g, for a sweet topping.
- Orange juice – 2 tablespoons, for flavor.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Orange
- Place the whole orange in a saucepan and cover with water. Boil for 20–30 minutes until soft.
- Remove the orange, allow it to cool, then cut into chunks and remove any seeds. Blend the entire orange (including the peel) into a smooth purée.
Step 2: Prepare the Cake Tin
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or 350°F.
- Grease and line the cake tin with parchment paper.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy.
Step 4: Add the Eggs and Orange Purée
- Gradually add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the orange purée.
Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
- Sift the self-raising flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the mixture.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Add the milk to loosen the batter if needed.
Step 6: Bake the Cake
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin and level the surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40–45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 7: Cool and Glaze (Optional)
- Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze, mix the icing sugar with orange juice until smooth, then drizzle over the cooled cake.