Marlene's 'Maltese' blood orange cake
 
Cook time
Total time
 
Blood oranges have a wonderful sweet sharpness which normal oranges seem to lack (although they can be wonderfully sweet too). Enjoy with creme fraiche, cream or ice-cream.
Author:
Cuisine: Maltese
Ingredients
  • 100 grams butter softened
  • 100 grams castor sugar
  • 3 eggs lightly beaten (add in a tiny amount of flour to help the mixture not to curdle)
  • 3 oranges (zested and juiced)
  • 250 grams ricotta
  • 250 grams almond meal
  • 250 grams self raising flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 100 grams golden sultanas (optional)
  • For the topping:
  • 75 grams castor sugar
  • 100 ml water
  • 1 blood orange zested and juiced
  • 1 blood orange sliced thinly
  • Icing sugar to decorate
Instructions
  1. Line a 23 cm round cake tin with baking paper. Grease lightly.
  2. Preheat the oven to 180oC.
  3. In a food processor or beater, cream the butter and castor sugar.
  4. Add in the lightly beaten eggs with a tiny amount of flour and mix further until mixed well.
  5. Add in the zest of the orange and juice of the blood orange. (Once you zest the oranges, remove the white pith of the oranges and process with a hand blender to produce the juice). Mix well together.
  6. Gently fold in the ricotta.
  7. Fold in the mixture the sifted flour, baking powder and salt.
  8. Mix in the sultanas if using.
  9. Place in the cake tin and bake in the oven for approximately 40 - 45 minutes. The cake is ready when a skewer is inserted and comes out clean.
  10. While the cake is baking you can prepare the topping.
  11. In a saucepan add all of the topping ingredients. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes until a thick syrup forms and the sliced blood orange peel is softened.
  12. Remove the cake from the oven and take out of the cake tin.
  13. Drizzle the syrup over the cake and place the orange peels in the centre of the cake.
  14. Dust with icing sugar.
Recipe by A Maltese Mouthful at https://www.amaltesemouthful.com/marlenes-blood-orange-cake/