Description
Rich Italian Sicilian whole orange cake delivers a moist, zesty dessert celebrating Mediterranean citrus traditions. Homemade baking brings Mediterranean warmth directly to kitchens, inviting you to savor authentic flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large organic orange
- 1 ¾ cups (275g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsps baking powder (or 1 packet Italian Pane Degli Angeli vanilla baking powder)
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/8 cups (250g) sugar
- ⅓ cup (100g) butter, softened
- ⅓ cup (100g) plain Greek yogurt
- 1 juice of 1 organic orange
- ⅓ cup (100g) sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (if using plain baking powder)
Instructions
- Preparation: Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 350°F (175°C), ensuring uniform heat distribution.
- Pan Setup: Thoroughly grease an 8-inch springform pan with oil or butter, then line meticulously with parchment paper for effortless cake release.
- Batter Foundation: Whip sugar and eggs using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes pale and voluminous, creating a light, airy base for the cake.
- Ingredient Integration: Sift flour and baking powder, gently fold into the egg mixture while simultaneously incorporating softened butter to maintain a silky, homogeneous texture.
- Moisture Enhancement: Blend yogurt into the batter, ensuring complete incorporation and a smooth, consistent mixture.
- Citrus Transformation: Pulverize the whole orange in a food processor, breaking down the fruit into a fine, liquid-like consistency.
- Flavor Infusion: Thoroughly mix the orange puree into the cake batter, distributing the citrus essence evenly throughout the mixture.
- Baking Process: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading carefully to create an even surface, then bake for 50-60 minutes, periodically testing doneness with a cake tester.
- Cooling and Glazing: After baking, let the cake rest for 15 minutes, release from the springform pan, then create a glossy syrup by simmering orange juice and sugar in a small saucepan.
- Final Touch: Delicately brush the warm glaze over the cake’s surface, allowing it to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Maximize Orange Flavor: Use a whole, organic orange with thin, unblemished skin for maximum citrus essence and optimal zest concentration.
- Prevent Cake Sinking: Avoid overmixing batter and ensure ingredients are room temperature to maintain perfect cake structure and rise.
- Moisture Magic: The yogurt and whole orange puree create an incredibly moist texture, so precise measurements are crucial for consistent results.
- Glaze Technique: Apply glaze while cake is warm to help syrup penetrate deeply, enhancing overall flavor and creating a luscious, moist finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg