Tuesday 23 July 2013

Orange Ginger Cake


I still have quite a bit of Crystallized Ginger/Candied Ginger in the fridge and I used it to bake this delicious Orange Ginger Cake. I admit that I was apprehensive at first because even though I love ginger, I was not so sure if I would like it in a cake.

Crystallized ginger.

But I was prepared to give it a go because that was the only way to find out. Having just discovered the beauty of oranges in a cake, I was quite sure that I would love the orange flavour. And I wondered if the crystallized ginger would taste overpowering or hot in the cake.


This recipe (again!) comes from the book Lovely Butter Cakes. Looks like this is my favorite baking book :) The recipe calls for a product known as Cream Well which I am not familiar with. There is a note in the book that explains that Cream Well is a white cream that is refined from palm oil. It is commonly used for cake decoration after the beating process to enhance the butter flavor. I was not about to go out and get Cream Well and decided to use extra butter in it's place.


I have cut down on the sugar in anticipation of the sweetness that comes from the crystallized ginger. But the cake still came out a little bit sweet for my liking. But wow, the cake was delicious! It was fragrant with hardly any hint of ginger. 

See the ginger?

When I tasted a piece (making sure I choose the part that was studded generously with ginger) I was very pleased as it tasted so good. The crystallized ginger, which is hot when eaten on it's own, lost it's bite and was very mild. It complemented the orange flavor beautifully.


This cake really made my day. It is moist, buttery, orangey and best of all now I know one yummy way to use crystallized ginger besides chomping on a piece every time I open the fridge. By the way, I found ready made candied ginger at Aeon just like what Baby Sumo told me. It is at the place where they sell nuts and tidbits. But really, for me, I will spare some time to make more candied ginger.


This cake is another keeper for me and for my next bake, I will further reduce the sugar. 









Orange Ginger Cake
Recipe source : Lovely Butter Cakes (page 102)
(My adaptations and notes in red)

Ingredients :

Ingredients A
- 100g butter
- 70g cream well
(I used 200g butter)
- 150g caster sugar (I used 100g but still found it too sweet)
- 3 eggs
- 50ml orange juice (I did not measure and used juice from 1 orange)

Ingredients B (sifted)
- 70g high protein flour
- 100g self-raising flour
(I used 200g self-raising flour)

Ingredients C
- 30g glazed ginger (chopped)(I used 50g finely chopped)
- 1tsp orange emulco (I used zest from 1 orange)

Topping
- Orange slices (cut into half moon shapes)(I omitted)

Method :
1. Beat butter, cream well and sugar until creamy.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Alternately fold in ingredients B and orange juice. Mix well.
4. Lastly add ingredients C and mix well.
5. Pour the batter into baking mould and top with orange slices.
6. Bake at 170C for 35-40 minutes or until cooked. (I baked at 160C for 1 hour)


Photobucket

This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs Up organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY and hosted by Alvin of Chef and Sommelier



This post is also linked to Cook-Your-Books #2 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.

55 comments:

  1. Hi Phong Hong,
    Your cake looks so moist and tender, and I can imagine how buttery good it must be! You must be pretty pleased with citrus in baking now! :) Adding ginger is a superb idea, I know I will like this cake!
    Thank you for linking to CYB!

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    1. Joyce, the smell was really amazing! Buttery and orangey. Oh yes, I love orange cakes now and I am so glad :)

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  2. Hi Phong Hong, I think I gonna like this cake. Can smell the aroma of ginger-lah.

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    1. Kimmy, hah! hah! Surprisingly, the ginger smell and taste was quite mild. Maybe should put more ginger next time.

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  3. Hi Phong Hong,
    Whenever I see the word Orange in their cake post, I will usually stop by for a peep....as I loves citrus cake. They brings out the aroma and I love it .But my....this is the first time I came across Orange Ginger Cake. Really....is a keeper? Then, I got to try this one day. Thank PH, for sharing with us.

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    1. Hi Mel! You must try this cake, very good. The ginger is not overpowering and it complements the cake very well.

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  4. Can imagine the fragrance. Can use ginger juice or ginger powder, you think?

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    1. Arthur, I think ginger juice or powder should be OK. It is a nice cake.

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  5. Hi PH, i think i will like this after trying out a orange ginger combo ;) Can i exchange some with my chiffon?

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    1. Oh yes, I would love to have some of your chiffon!

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  6. Phong Hong, I don't know what is cream well before until you explained what it is, thanks. Hmmm, can I try a slice so I can share this joy with you?

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    1. Jessie, sure you are welcome to have a slice!

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  7. I have been wanting to experiment with crystallized ginger but have not bought any... your cake looks really soft moist and fluffy.

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    1. Mich, this cake is moist and the texture is tender. Tastes incredibly good too!

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  8. Hi, Phong Hong. That day I saw Zoe post a ginger cake recipe but yours is different made with your homemade candied ginger. Love the colours, your cakes looks buttery and tasty, may I have one piece?

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    1. Jozelyn, the cake Zoe made was really kaw kaw with ginger. That one I think I cannot tahan hee..hee..This one has much less ginger and I could hardly taste it. Very mild and nice with the orange.

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  9. Hi Phong Hong, your orange ginger cake look so good, very moist and buttery. Got kopi-o or not?
    With ginger I'm sure it taste very flavorful. :)

    Have a wonderful week ahead.

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    1. Amelia, I can make kopi-o for you. Will go very well with this flavourful cake :)

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  10. Your cake looks so delicious!

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    1. Thanks, Doris! I am very pleased with it.

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  11. You guys are killing me with these cake today!

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  12. I can find cream well easily here, didn't realized butter cake can also use cream well, next time I must try the original version. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Sonia, I so dungu dono what is cream well. Must check at the baking shop.

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  13. ivy sew http://simplybeautifulhealthyliving.blogspot.com24 July 2013 at 00:03

    Phong Hong, I am droolinnnnnnnnng and hungryyyyyy.... Your cake is indeed very tempting and delish. How I wish I can bake like you!!!!

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    1. Ivy, this cake is very easy to make. You can try it without the ginger and I am sure it will still taste very good!

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  14. orange and ginger sounds good leh, i think you made a pick from the book for the ginger entry! if i'm not wrong, cream well is shortening.

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    1. what i meant was you made a good pick :D

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    2. Hi Lena, oh ya kah? I have not worked with shortening yet. One day perhaps :)

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  15. sabar jer la masuk sini pagi2...
    akak pun ragu2 halia dlm cake? tp bila baca sini and tengok gambar, sabar jer laa...will try after hari raya...hari raya ni takder preparation apa2, nak pi somewhere else...:)

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    1. Kak Q! Lepas raya nanti Kak Q cuba lah buat kek ni. Kalau tak letak halia pun OK. Wangi semerbak.....

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  16. Orange with ginger must be Ichiban leh! Gooood.......

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  17. My mum has been checking out your blog, and she keeps telling me that I should make more cakes too! Hehe. This looks incredibly moist. I saw creamwell in the bakery shop the other day, I was wondering what it was.... looks just like vegetable shortening.

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    1. Yen, I think your mum wants to eat this cake hee..hee...

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  18. I love this type of cake especially with a cup of tea!

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    1. Gloria, this cake makes a good tea time cake!

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  19. Phong Hong, your butter cake looks moist, soft and flavourful!!! Please reserve one slice for my tea time :)

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    1. Esther, sure I reserve two slices for you!

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  20. Wow so soft and spongy cake. Looks so inviting.

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    1. Thanks, hemalata! It is a very good cake :)

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  21. Wow! This is indeed my kinda cake! Rich buttery with soft crumb cake! Great with a cup of tea or coffee. I've never bake with crystallized ginger before but I do love eating it! Eeee.... a LOT! hahahaha Thanks for the info about cream well, not sure I can find it here; Have to research abit! LOL But I think you've made a good choice by replacing it with butter ! Rich & intense citrus cake! YUM! I nak try lah!

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    1. Kit, you must try this cake because I love it lah! I wish I could eat more but I have to control myself. Haiyah, wish I was one of those people who can eat and not get fat!

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  22. Phong Hong, you always make the best, moist, buttery, and super yummy cakes...I am seriously addicted to each and everything you make. Love the buttery, moist, and the crystallized ginger;which I always have on hand, also the fresh orange. I'm all set to try this amazing recipe. Thanks for sharing my dear friend! xo

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    1. Oh, thanks you, Elisabeth! You are too kind with your compliments :) I knew you would love this cake. It is a very good cake, you will not stop at one slice! Do try it, you won't regret it :)

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  23. Hi Phong Hong,

    First of all, kudos for making your own candied ginger... Second, I must say using your own candied ginger to make this ginger cake is simply superb! Thirdly, seeing your soft and cottony texture of your cake just simply make me speechless for a moment!

    Wow!

    Zoe

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    1. Thank you, Zoe! I am glad I made the candied ginger as it tastes so good. And I love this cake as it has the right texture and it tastes so good!

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  24. Hey PH! My wife just added candied ginger into her scones too! But I think I got the amount used wrong... Better update my post soon!

    Love the bright colour and the ginger flavour of your cake! :D

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    1. Alvin, I noticed your recipe stated 1 cup of candied ginger and that sounds a bit much? Thanks to your chosen ingredient, I baked this cake or else I would never know how delicious an orange ginger cake can be!

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  25. such a lovely golden cake, moist and tenderly perfect :-)

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  26. Nice bake from you Pong Hong

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