No Bake Orange Cream Tart with Berries September 15, 2014

You can use whatever fruit is in season for this tart and whatever flavour extract you prefer in the cream base (experiment)

 

Ingredients for the base

 

15 digestive biscuits

2 Tbsp caster sugar

Pinch of salt

10 Tbsp butter, room temperature

 

Ingredients for the filling

 

2 tins coconut milk, refrigerated overnight

3/4 cup icing sugar

5 tsp orange extract

1/2 pint raspberries

1/2 pint blueberries

 

Method

 

In a food processor blend the biscuits, sugar and salt until it’s very fine.

Add the butter, in pieces and pulse until a crumbly dough forms.

Tip the dough into a 23cm tart tin with removable base, press the dough into and up the sides of the tin then refrigerate for at least an hour.

Scoop the white layer of milk fat off the top of each tin of coconut milk into a large mixing bowl.

Cream the milk fat, icing sugar and orange extract with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy.

Spoon the cream mixture onto the base and refrigerate until ready to use. It will keep up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Top with the berries just before serving.

 

 

Orange Drizzle Cake May 6, 2013

This is a great recipe as you can change it into a lemon drizzle, or coffee cake if you like. You can also use plain whole-milk yogurt, vanilla yogurt or buttermilk. You can even throw a handful of bluberries in there if you like. I like to use olive oil but if you prefer vegetable oil that would work just as well.

 

Ingredients

 

1 1/2 cups plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk (or plain whole-milk yogurt, or vanilla yogurt)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1/2 cup olive oil (or vegatable oil)

1 tsp orange extract

zest from 1 orange

 

Method

 

Preheat oven to 175/gas 4. Grease a springform pan.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. If using blueberries, place them in a small bowl and toss with 1 teaspoon of the flour mixture. Set aside.

In another medium bowl combine the buttermilk or yoghurt, sugar, eggs, olive oil, orange extract and zest. Mix well, then add to dry ingredients. Mix until you can’t see any clumps of dry flour.

Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle blueberries on top if you’re using them. Bake for 45-55min, until the cake is golden brown and the sides begin to pull away from the pan.  Let cool for 5 minutes before turning out onto a rack to finish cooling.

Once cooled, if you want to, mix 4 Tbsp icing sugar (sieved) with some juice from the orange to make a runny, but not too runny icing to drizzle over the cake. Enjoy with a nice cuppa 🙂

Gold Cake June 9, 2012

I needed to make this as I had a few egg yolks left over after making a meringue. The orange extract is optional, but it makes a nice complement to the cake.

Ingredients

2 cups self raising flour, sifted

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

3 egg yolks, beaten

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp orange extract or vanilla extract

6oz icing sugar, sifted

1/2 tsp orange extract

2Tbsp water

Method

Preheat oven to 175C/gas mark 4.

Cream the butter well, then slowly add the sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the egg yolks, mixing well.

Add half the sifted flour and baking powder and half the milk, beat well then add the rest of the flour and milk and beat again.

When the batter is smooth add the extract and beat again.

Pour the batter into a greased loaf tin or a greased 8in square baking pan.

Bake for 50 – 60 minutes.

Once completely cooled, mix the extract and water with the icing sugar and pour over the cake.