Monday 9 June 2014

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.



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 Jozelyn Ng of Spice Up My Kitchen.

43 comments:

  1. Lovely looking cake. You don't use Golden Churn? Salted's nice leh...would have a hint of that salty taste alongside the sweetness of the cake itself. I love that.

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    1. Oh yes, I did! Nothing less than Golden Churn hee..hee..I agree with you on salted butter. I usually go for that.

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  2. I baked this cake before too, nice.

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  3. This is a great cake. Glad you try this out.

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    1. Hi Mel! The texture is surprisingly fluffy even though did not use egg separation method.

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  4. wah, early morning you let me see this DELICIOUS cake!! you want to kill me is it?? haha.. i can already imagine the rich buttery flavor and the refreshing zest of orange, and the fluffiness of the cake, all melting inside my mouth already.. aiyah, who cares about the crack and that little flaw at the bottom because you were lazy to line it.. just cut and pop into the mouth, and that makes people want more somemore!! :p

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    1. Hi SK! Haiyah, why I want to kill you? This cake will make you feel very alive! It is a good cake and must use good butter. Bake lah. hee..hee..

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  5. Hi Phong Hong, I was attracted to this cake from Jess [Bakericious] and has bookmarked to bake. You're fast, I'm waiting for Golden Churn butter to go on offer-lah before I bake this. Very 'kiam siap', you may think, hahaha! I believe this cake is yummy and I agree with Suituapui, I wouldn't mind a little salty cake.

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    1. Hi Kimmy! Golden Churn naik harga already. Used to be RM9.50 and suddenly I see it at RM12.50. Yesterday on offer at RM10.59. Not really a great offer but I bought because I need it for good butter cakes. I am also kiam siap hee..hee..I also like cake with a bit of salty taste. Very nice!

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    2. Hi Phong Hong, I managed to get several before CNY at RM6.85, Then it went up to RM 11.85 until now. Puasa month coming, price may come down.

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  6. Hi Phong Hong, I liked this cake and baked this before too. Is a great cake..

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    1. Hi Cecilia! I am glad that I baked this cake. Will be repeated as it is so good!

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  7. Love simple, no frills butter cake like this, very nice texture :)

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    1. I was pleasantly surprised that the texture was light and fluffy even though this does not use egg separation method. A cake worth repeating!

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  8. Hi Phong Hong, lovely bright orange butter cake ! But I pulled my hand brake when I see 250g unsalted butter ! ... okay never mind, if I bake this I'll just have 2 mouthfuls ^-^!

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    1. Hi Karen! It does use a lot of butter but worth the calories hah..hah...

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  9. Was about to ask what's the difference between butter orange cake and sicilian orange cake.. Then you explained it has some rum in it.. Anything with orange (or lemon), I think will taste nice.. I would be lying if I tell you now that I can finish the whole cake.. I'm not really back on my feet yet, but I have to come to work today, coz already off for a week+.. I'm having sore eyes and fever.. Yep, my turn..

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    1. Hi Louiz! Oh dear, poor you! It is very tough to be a mummy. Baby sick you have to take leave. You must be very tired and not enough sleep. And now you are sick! Go see a doctor. I know you feel bad to take MC but it is what it is. You can't be working in this condition. Please take care and get well soon. Hope that your baby G is fully recovered.

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    1. Sorry typo...

      Oh..Phong Hong, this cake is looks so good and I believe the smell must be great. :)

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    2. Hi Esther! No worries :) When this cake was baking, wah....the smell was beautiful! When I ate a slice, lagi beautiful!

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  11. Hi, Phong Hong! You are right, when we miss one theme, we have another theme later!
    I have never eat orange butter cake with rum before...may I have a piece?
    Thanks for linking up with LTU!

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    1. Hi Jozelyn! Yes, please have a piece and hope you won't "mabuk" hee..hee...

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  12. Thanks for the mentioned and link. You just remind me how long I didn't make this cake again, because always tempt by other new recipes, hehehe..ya, additional rum make this cake extra fragrance. Lovely bake!

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    1. Hi Sonia! This cake is really thumbs up! Very fragrant and very sedap!

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  13. LTU has been given us lots of chances to try on new recipes! Phong Hong, your Sicilian orange butter cake looks so delicious!

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    1. Thank you, Jessie! This month I will be eating a lot of butter hee..hee.

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  14. Hi Phong Hong, I had tried this cake before when I first saw it on Almost Bourdain. Lovely cake indeed, and sinful! but just lovely, yours looks so moist and it's tempting me to bake one!

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    1. Hi Jeannie! I am glad I baked this cake. Will bake it again because I only had one small slice.

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  15. Your Sicilian cake looks so lovely but I've not tried to make this yummy cake yet.
    Gosh.. my baking list is getting longer and longer :D

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    1. Hi Ann! Hope that you have a chance to bake this very aromatic and delicious cake!

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    1. ooops press enter button to fast. Sorry about that. This cake was very popular at one time. Everyone seems to be baking it. I like the addition of rum in yours.

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    2. Hi Gertrude! I always do that at the ATM machine hah..hah...Anyway, I added 4X the recommended amount of rum and it worked really well.

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  17. Phong Hong,
    I love to use golden churn for my bakes too especially butter base cake.
    Love your addition of extra rum.. Wangi !!! Can I have a piece for tea?? :D
    Thanks for sharing this lovely cake to LTU!
    mui

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    1. mui mui, yes you may have a piece for your tea. And you must give me some of your yummy pandan buns!

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  18. i wanted to make this cake for last month LTU but didnt make it but i do hope to attempt this cake too as i read many good reviews on it. cant drink beer? ok, next time i yum seng chinese tea with you ya!

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    1. Hi Lena! You must bake this cake. Really worth it! Can, can, we two yum seng with Chinese Tea hee..hee....

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  19. Phong Hong, I'm so happy that I see you made this classic Sicilian Orange Cake! It nay surprise you, but I have actually made this cake at least 30yrs ago when we lived in Sicily (husband was Sicilian)
    Sicilian orange is very famous all over the world, and you can imagine the flavor and the aroma!!
    I also keep rum around for baking. Your cake is the moisest and perfectly droolworthy of all these cake I have seen. Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories. I must try your version! Hugs,

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    1. Hi Elisabeth! Looks like I am slow in catching on to this very famous cake! Better late than never, eh? I am glad I came across the recipe and I love this cake a lot!

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