MORE SWEET TREATS
Flourless Orange and Chocolate Cake
This cake is very easy and very delicious! One of our favourites to serve to guests.
2 oranges
6 large eggs
1 heaped teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 cups finely ground hazelnuts
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
pinch salt
Place the oranges in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to boil then cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until oranges are soft (about two hours).
Once the oranges are cool enough to handle, slice them in half and remove any large pips.
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
Place the oranges in a blender and pulse until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender, and pulse until well blended.
Grease an 8-inch-round tin spring form pan.
Pour the blended mixture into the pan and bake for 45 - 60 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick/knife comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool, then sprinkle with powdered sugar and decorate with orange peel.
Recipe by Nigella Lawson
Hazelnut, Date and Banana Loaf
1 ½ cups dates, chopped (can substitute dried apricots for dates) 1 ½ cups hazelnuts, coarsely chopped 1 ½ cups self-raising flour ½ cup hazelnut flour ½ cup caster sugar scant tsp baking powder pinch or two of salt (optional) 3 large ripe bananas, mashed 210g unsalted butter, melted + butter for greasing, softened (for an extra hazelnut-flavour you can substitute hazelnut oil for some of the butter) juice of 1 orange 2 large eggs, lightly beaten Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line a 26cm x 15cm x 8cm loaf tin with lightly buttered baking paper or foil. In a large bowl mix the dates, hazelnuts, self-raising flour, hazelnut flour, caster sugar and baking powder. Add a pinch or two of salt if desired. Mix in the mashed bananas, then mix in the butter. Add the orange juice and the eggs and mix well. Put the mixture into the loaf tin and place in pre heated oven. After 20 minutes turn the tin around to ensure even baking and bake for a further 15 minutes. (Note, cooking times may vary slightly depending on the oven.) Remove loaf tin from oven and allow to cool in the tin. Turn out onto a cake dish. Can be served immediately but is better if it has stood a few hours. |