Winter citrus delight: The irresistible upside-down orange cake
Upside-down fruit cakes are a delicious way to incorporate citrus, apples, or berries into baked goods. In January, the best choice is an upside-down orange cake. Adding juice and one spice to the batter can enhance the final flavor. Here's how easy it is to make.
Winter is definitely citrus season, and recipes featuring citrus fruits are taking social media by storm. Many people even wonder, what will happen if they eat oranges every day. My upside-down cake is tempting with its aroma from the moment it's baked. Honestly, I've been repeating this recipe for over two years, so I can confidently say that I was making orange cake before it became trendy. Today, I'm sharing this method further.
Which oranges to choose?
In stores during the winter months, citrus fruits are often available at promotional prices. It's worth taking advantage of this season. Regular oranges or their blood variants are perfect for baking. Before using the fruit, they should be thoroughly scrubbed. The best solution for this is natural products, whether eco-products or water and baking soda. You should also scald the peel to remove any preservatives or other contaminants. Choose fruits that are not bruised or have unsightly changes on their surface.
Recipe for upside-down orange cake
Properly prepared oranges can be arranged in a slightly layered fashion, depending on the form you're using. The cake will work in a classic loaf pan measuring 12x5 inches and a springform pan measuring 10 inches.
Ingredients:
- 2 small or medium oranges,
- 7 oz soft, unsalted butter,
- 6 oz fine sugar,
- 2 oz orange zest sugar,
- 4 large eggs,
- 8.5 oz all-purpose flour,
- 2 teaspoons baking powder,
- 1.5 teaspoons turmeric,
- a pinch of salt.
Preparation:
- Grease the baking form with butter and line it with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Grate the zest from one orange and squeeze its juice. Cut the second orange into medium-thick slices.
- Whip the butter until fluffy, gradually adding both sugars.
- Add the eggs one at a time while constantly mixing. The mixture should be well aerated.
- Add the orange zest and mix.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, and turmeric in a separate bowl, then add salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture while mixing. Once the mixture thickens, pour in the juice as well.
- Arrange the orange slices at the bottom of the pan.
- Pour the mixed ingredients into the form. Place in the oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes, conducting a "dry stick" test towards the end. Let the finished cake cool in the form for a while, then remove and flip onto a cooling rack.
