Skip to Content

Elia’s Orange and Chocolate Cake

Elia’s Orange and Chocolate Cake

Sharing is caring!

My daughter’s first cake

I have written a lot of times about my mother and some memories I have shared with you relating to cooking with her. I am hoping that one day my daughter, Evangelia (we call her Elia) will also have some good memories whenever she is helping me out in the kitchen. That does not happen very often as she does not have much free time from her lessons and she doesn’t know a lot about cooking but I am hoping to gradually make her love cooking as I do.

Last Monday and Tuesday the schools closed because of the snow and she did not have many lessons to study. On Monday she was bugging me all the time to bake a cake and I told her “Why don’t you attempt to make one yourself”. At the beginning she hesitated and was afraid that she would not succeed in making it and when I told her that I would help her if she needed something then she agreed.

She liked the idea and I gave her the simplest recipe I have for cakes.  Infact it was the first cake I also made and learned from my mother and the only thing I changed from the original recipe was to add orange liqueur instead of brandy.

I asked her if I could take  a photo of her while she was preparing it but she threatened that she would quit if I dared to post her photo on the internet. Well I respected her wish and you will see only the cake.

This is my entry for the theme-based monthly photography event hosted by Jugalbandi and this month’s theme is Flour.

Elia’s Orange and Chocolate Cake


Ingredients:

  • 500 grams of self raising flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 ½ cups of butter or margarine
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup of milk
  • ¼ cup orange liqueur
  • 1 spoonful of orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • 3 – 4 spoonfuls of cocoa
  • 1 – 2 spoonfuls of milk, if needed
  • ½ cup of ground almonds


Directions:


Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and place rack in centre of oven. Butter or spray with a pan spray, a ring tin. Set aside while you prepare the batter.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of your electric mixer or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the sugar, beating continuously on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (this will take about 5 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. After about five minutes the batter should be light in color and fluffy in texture. Then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. You will notice that the batter will look curdled. Don’t worry as the batter will come together again after you add the flour mixture. Add the orange extract, orange zest and orange liqueur and beat until incorporated.

Add the flour mixture and milk, a little at a time, and mix just until incorporated. Pour ¾ of the batter into the prepared pan. In the remaining batter add 3 – 4 spoonfuls of cocoa and beat again, adding a spoonful or two of milk, if needed. Add on top of the other batter and smooth the top. Sprinkle almonds on the top.

Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Remove the cake from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and cool completely.

Sharing is caring!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Ivy

Sunday 2nd of March 2008

The licking of the bowl is very popular among my kids as well but yesterday I was happily surprised when my husband and I returned from a short trip and she had prepared a chocolate and strawberry cake. I couldn't have made it better.

african vanielje

Sunday 2nd of March 2008

My daughter too, just wants to do the lick the bowl type of helping, but as long as she thinks the kitchen is fun I am happy. Well done Elia, great looking cake. I bet it was delicious.

Ivy

Monday 25th of February 2008

Thanks Cakelaw, next time I'll have her make an orange frosting on top.

Ivy

Monday 25th of February 2008

I am sure Deeba your daughter will turn out to be a lovely person like you are but even a better cook since she has the passion of cooking and baking. I know about the mess but it's worth it. I was inspired by the lovely quotes you put on your site and I thought it was a lovely idea to put one as well.

Passionate baker...& beyond

Monday 25th of February 2008

Elia sounds just like my daughter ivy. Mine is forever bugging me to let her bake & do everything on her own. The mess thereafter is enough to make me swear never again! Am glad she blackmailed you into doing this...what fun! My girl has a special recipe book that she writes down my recipes in...takes forever, making illustrations etc...but enjoys it.BTW, did I ever tell you thatI love Hopi's quote on your comment form! LOL & have a great day. Deeba

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Privacy Policy · Copyright