Tuesday 31 July 2012

Summertime Citrus Cake

♫ Summer time, and the living is easy ♫... And it definitely is when your weekend can be spent by the lake soaking in the sun at the cottage and enjoying the warm water!  2012 Birthday Bash was the perfect opportunity for me to try a citrus cake I had been thinking about.  Mmmm citrus!



Sponge cake with a hint of lemon, a citrus butter cream frosting and as you can see, slices of lemons, limes and oranges and a few pieces of fresh mint for decoration.

And here's the recipe! (and yes, I'm finally adding it like a year since I made it :-D... better late than never?!)

I have had this recipe saved for a long time, I believe some parts of it were found online but sadly I don't know where from originally (this was before the Pinterest days) but parts of it were altered as to how I did it too, so try it out - it is so yummy!  So thank you to the person who first inspired me to make this :-)

Citrus Sponge Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter
2 1.2 cups all-purpose flour
Grated zest of 2 oranges and 2 lemons
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1.5 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
Blood oranges, oranges, lemons, limes sliced for decoration on top of the cake.  Fresh mint to arrange around fruit.

Method:
1.  Heat oven to 350°F.  Grease 2 8",9" or 10" round cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease again and also dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
2.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3.  Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high until fluffy.  Mix in the grated zests of the oranges and lemons.  Add vanilla and then the eggs one at a time.
4.  Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk.  Use mixer on low speed.  Mix together until just combined.
5.  Divide the batter between the cake pans and level it out before baking.  Bake until a skewer (or toothpick) comes out clean.  Between 20-30 minutes depending on your pan size.
6.  Cool the cakes for 15 minutes in the pan before turning out onto cooling racks to cool completely.

Lemon Curd Filling

Ingredients:
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Method:
1.  In a heatproof bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, juice and salt.  Add the butter.
2.  Set the bow over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, whisking constantly until the mixture has thickened - 12 to 15 minutes.
3.  Pour the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl.  Place a piece of parchment paper right on top of the surface of the lemon curd and refrigerate until completely cool.  At least 2 hours.

Citrus Buttercream

Ingredients:
2 cups unsalted butter
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tabslespoons fresh orange juice
3 3/4 cups sifted icing sugar
Pinch of salt

Method
1.  Beat the butter and lemon zest on high until light and fluffy.
2.  Add the orange juice.
3.  With the mixture on low, gradually add the sugar, then the salt and beat unti smooth.

Ice the cake and decorate, and enjoy :-)

11 comments:

  1. WOW!!! I have to make this! Stopped by from Tasty Tuesdays

    Lori
    Lori's Culinary Creations

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    1. Thanks so much Lori! Great to have you here :-)

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  2. When I saw this in the link up list I thought, "That has GOT to be Hannah's" & I was right! OMG, girl!!! This cake looks amazing! Do you slice through the fruit slices on the side or is that a guide for how big each slice will be?! :D Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers! Please be sure to stop back by the party and check out some of the other links!

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    1. Ooh thanks so much Anyonita! I love that comment, and amazing you could tell it was mine! (I hadn't linked it up before had I :-S ?!)... Anyhow, thank you SO much for featuring the cake - it inspired me to add the complete recipe to the blog post too!

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  3. Thanks for linking on Tasty Tuesdays! I am one of the co-hosts this month and I love this recipe!!!

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    1. Yey thanks so much Chandra! Great to have you stop by and check it out :-)

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  4. Wow! This cake is stunning! I can only imagine how good it tastes:) Beautiful!! Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines Stopping by from Tasty Tuesdays

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  5. Impressive!

    I would love for you to share and link up at my weekly TGIF Link Party if you haven't already this week. Your favorite posts, most popular, recent or new! The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday's at midnight. Followed by (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/. I would be honored if you join us! Have a wonderful week!

    Hugs, Cathy

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    1. Hi Cathy, thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment! Coming by to your blog now :-)

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  6. What a pretty summery cake. I love it. I am a new follower from Anyonita Nibbles. Pinned it!
    My link party is going on now, I would love for you to stop by at http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/
    Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile

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    1. Yey thanks so much Wanda! I saw you started to follow me too, thank you :-D Coming by to visit your blog now too :-)

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Thanks for reading!! Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you :-)