Sunday, February 7, 2010

Orange Sour Cream Cake





Here we have another winner from the Canadian Living Baking Book - A refreshing cake for sunny days ahead. I find it amusing how this winter Vancouver is hosting the 2010 olympics and yet this year is one of the warmest winters compared to the past few years. They have to transport snow from one part of BC to another for the games! One of our mountains even had to be closed due to lack of snow. Sooo... I guess this sunny cake is quite fitting for the weather!

This cake is wonderfully orangey and so moist. I used fat free sour cream because I bought the wrong tub by accident (Argh!) and it still turned out excellent. I usually go for fat free products when I'm not baking, but for baked goodies I rarely skimp on the full fat (and full flavor) stuff. Oh yea, I am one of those inconsistent people who orders fries with a diet coke. Actually, the truth is that I like the aftertaste of aspartame and without that aftertaste it seems like something is missing.

On a side note, I wish I were as talented as Elizabeth Baird, Executive Food Editor of Canadian Living Magazine and was the magazine’s food editor for more than 20 years. She is Canada’s expert on Canadian cooking and I am so envious of her job.



Orange Sour Cream Cake
1 Bundt | Adapted from Canadian Living

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened (250 mL)
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar (300 mL)
4 eggs, separated
1 tbsp orange zest (15 mL)
1 tsp vanilla (5 mL)
2 cups all-purpose flour (500 mL)
1 1/2 tsp each baking powder (7 mL) and baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (2 mL)
1 1/2 cups sour cream (375 mL)

Syrup
1/4 cup granulated sugar (125 mL)
1/4 cup orange juice (125 mL)

1. Grease a Bundt or tube pan; dust with flour. Set aside. In large bowl, beat butter with 1 cup (250 mL) of the sugar until light and fluffy; beat in egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Beat in orange rind and vanilla.

2. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir into butter mixture alternately with sour cream, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of sour cream. In separate bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites until frothy; beat in remaining sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until stiff peaks form. Fold one-third into batter; fold in remainder. Scrape into prepared pan; smooth top.

3. Bake in centre of 325°F oven until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Turn out onto rack.

4. Syrup: Meanwhile, in small saucepan, bring sugar, orange juice to boil over medium heat; reduce heat to low and simmer until reduced about 7 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Brush over warm cake. Let cool. (Make-ahead: Wrap in plastic wrap; store at room temperature for up to 1 day or overwrap in heavy-duty-foil and freeze for up to 1 month.)

11 comments:

Stella said...

This looks nice, and citrus scented cakes are always so good. I also always forget how nice a simple glaze like that is-I end up making whipped cream or something overly decadent. Oh, and I love your header! I need to figure out how to do something like that...

Jenny said...

That looks delicious... I shall attempt it sometime.

Thanks for sharing :)

Rambling Tart said...

Mmm, this sounds so good. I was pondering cake this weekend, wishing for something dense, with sourcream and a syrup drizzled over it, wondering where there was a recipe for such a thing. :-) Now I know!

mango said...

Great blog full of yummy recipes! I've already earmarked a few to try out :) Thanks & keep up the good work!

creampuff said...

Oh boy! That is one good-lookin' cake, Tia! It looks so moist!

Unknown said...

Oh that looks good. I never made a cake with sour cream before. Orange in cakes is one of my favourites.

Tara said...

AHHHHHH this looks sooooo good! YUMMY!

Anonymous said...

You make me want to cook and add reviews to my blog too. I think I'll just start doing that. :) Because of reading this blog I ordered Taste of Home magazine.

Amanda said...

Oooo I'm bookmarking this, I LOVe sour cream cakes and orange is one of my favorite flavors!

Joudie's Mood Food said...

I love citrus cakes. This looks so tempting!

Nina said...

Tia, this looks wonderful...I need that book. WIsh I had seen this recipe before I made the one I just made!!! Cant wait to try this one. Beautiful job!