Sicilian Orange Cake : LTU Butter

What is beautiful about the LTU event is that, if you  missed a theme, you can participate in the following one if the cake or dish that you are making uses the next theme ingredient. Take for example this Sicilian Orange Cake. I wanted very much to bake this cake for the Orange theme but I missed it. But now, I can happily hop on the Butter event with this cake.

There is an interesting story behind this cake and no, it has got nothing to do with the Mafia. For the story, do hop over to Sonia's to read about this famous cake.

I wasn't too happy about the cracks. Had to tent the cake in the last 20 minutes as the top was already browned.

As I have mentioned before, I used to dislike cakes and bakes which contain oranges. But my love affair with oranges started with Chocolate Orange Cake and I have not looked back. This Sicilian Orange Cake is basically a butter cake with the addition of orange juice, zest and some booze in the form of rum. It was rather fortunate that I still have 3/4 of a bottle of rum in the pantry. 

My bottle of rum has been with me for a few years and I only started using it in bakes recently. I know that rum is nice added to other drinks like Coca-Cola but I don't drink alcoholic drinks very often. I don't tolerate alcohol very well ever since I went on my first detox. Not for alcoholism mind you tsk..tsk..tsk...

I used to be able to down 3 cans of beer with no side effects but now just 1/2 a can makes my head spin. Which is why I drink tea or any non-alcoholic drinks when I raise a toast at wedding dinners. Or else you will find me crawling under the dinner table to take a snooze.

I was too lazy to line the bottom of the cake pan and this is what happened :(

This is a very easy butter cake to bake. Everything is mixed in one bowl and the only extra thing you need to do is to zest the oranges and squeeze for juice. I have reduced the sugar considerably and added an extra tablespoon of rum hee..hee.... If you find that your cake is still not done but the top has already browned, just tent the cake with aluminium foil and continue baking until it is cooked. This cake turned out very well for me. The extra rum made a lot of difference as it made the cake even more fragrant. The texture of the cake was also good, surprisingly light and moist with tender crumbs. If you love a good orange butter cake, give this cake a go and it will not disappoint!

Sicilian Orange Cake 
Recipe source : Adapted from Nasi Lemak Lover

Ingredients :
- 250g unsalted butter, softened
- 140g fine granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- Zest from 2 oranges
- 250g self-raising flour
- 120ml freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 tbsp rum

Method :
1. Preheat oven to 160C.
2. Grease and line an 8" round pan.
3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition (I add the next egg when I don't see the first egg in the mixture anymore).
5. Add orange zest zest and rum.
6. Add flour all at once and mix well. then slowly mix in the orange juice.
7. Scrape batter into the prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 45-60 mins (mine was done after 1 hr 10 mins. I had to tent the cake 20 minutes before time).
8. Remove cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan before removing from the pan.

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 Jozelyn Ng of Spice Up My Kitchen.