Sunday, May 2, 2010

Whole Orange Poppyseed Loaf





Waste not want not. That's why I love this recipe. You use the whole orange in this cake! Yep, the entire fruit gets thrown into the food processor and pureed. I expected the flavor to be overpoweringly orangey but that wasn't the case. The cake was filled with refreshing sunny flavor and a nice crunch from the poppy seeds.

As you can see, the cake doesn't rise very high and doesn't have a nice domed top, but that doesn't make it any less delicious. This recipe is as easy and as quick as using a cake mix. Don't be tempted to skip the glaze. It's a sweet, sticky and really addictive. I think it will be making future appearances on all sorts of baked goods from here on out - chocolate cake with orange glaze anyone? orange glazed vanilla muffins? I think so!

Whole Orange Poppyseed Loaf

1 loaf | Adapted from the Sweet Melissa Baking Book

Cake:
1 whole orange, well washed
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tbsps poppy seeds

Glaze:
4 tbsp orange juice
3 tbsp sugar

1. Position a rack in the center of your oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter and flour a 1 1/2-quart loaf pan.
2. Using a paring knife, remove the little green stem from the orange skin. Cut the orange into 8 pieces. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse the orange pieces (skin and everything but the seeds) and 1/2 cup of the sugar until pureed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, so that no large pieces remain.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Stir in the orange pulp. whisk in the melted butter to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and poppy seeds to combine. Sprinkle over the orange mixture and, using a rubber spatula, gently fold until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
4. Bake for 50-60 minutes, rotating halfway through baking. Make glaze while cake is baking: In a small saucepan, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, and sguar at a high simmer. Simmer until reduced by half. The cake is done when a wooden skewer comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes before unmolding the cake onto the rack for glazing. Using a pastry brush, brush the hot glaze all over the cake while it is still warm.

15 comments:

Helen said...

Yum this looks amazing. Any recipe that uses fruit, especially a whole orange is good in my book! The glaze sounds amazing too and I'm looking forward to seeing it on more cakes!

Kate said...

I have just found your blog and may well throw out all the recipe books I own - you have here all I could ever need or want !!

Valerie Gamine said...

This looks so refreshing! I love recipes that used the entire fruit. :D

Wandering Coyote said...

This is totally awesome! I have a few recipe that call for whole oranges, too, and they are all wonderful. I think it's great to use the whole orange, rather than just the juice or the zest...Way less waste. I also have a lemon pie recipe that uses whole lemons. That also rocks.

Nice job!

Natalie said...

wow i love that it uses the whole orange! this reminds me of a lemon poppyseed loaf I make..i need to make it and blog it asap, thanks for the reminder ;) I'll have to try this one sometime too!

Lindsay @ http://pancakesnpajamas.blogspot.com/ said...

Wow that looks amazing! The fact that it uses the whole orange makes it even better!

Unknown said...

the pics make it even more tempting !!!

Valen said...

I love lemon poppy seed baked goods! This looks delicious!

Rambling Tart said...

Oh how fun! :-) I adore poppyseed cake and the addition of the orange sounds fantastic! :-)

grace said...

what a lovely loaf! i adore poppy seeds but really can't abide lemon, so i'm thrilled to see something other than lemon-poppy seed! the glaze is the kicker--excellent work. :)

Holly said...

Yummmmmy! Love orange flavored desserts:) The chicken bacon ranch pizza looks awesome!!

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

GORGEOUS!!!!!!

Leslie said...

I have to make this soon...it sounds so good and looks even better.

margot said...

The loaf looks beautiful. We made this with the Sweet Melissa Sundays group and I loved it.

Unknown said...

Oh hooray - this looks quite yummy.