New Years Orange And Brandy Cake Recipe Epicuriouscom Recipes

NEW YEAR'S ORANGE AND BRANDY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 10-inch round cake pan.
• In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until light yellow and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the butter or butter and margarine and beat for 1 minute more. Beat in the orange juice and brandy.
• Whisk together the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and the zests in another large bowl. Add to the yolk mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until incorporated.
• In a large clean bowl, with clean beaters, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold them into the batter. Pour the batter into the pan and shake gently to even the top. Decorate the top with almonds.
• Bake the cake for about 1 hour, or until it is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack before removing from the pan and serving.

LANE CAKE

Steps:

• To make the cake: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-by-2-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment and butter it as well. Lightly dust the pans with flour, tapping the pans on the counter to shake out the excess.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Set aside.
• In a large measuring cup or small bowl, combine the milk and vanilla. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer), cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn the speed down to low and add the flour mixture in thirds, alternating with the milk mixture and beginning and ending with the flour, mixing until just combined; scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary. If using a stand mixer, transfer the mixture to another large bowl (unless you have a second mixer bowl).
• Wash and dry the mixer bowl and wipe the inside of the bowl (or another large mixing bowl) with the lemon juice to make sure the bowl is squeaky clean. Attach the bowl to the mixer stand (if using) and fit it with the whisk attachment.
• Put the egg whites in the mixer bowl (or large mixing bowl) and beat (with clean beaters if using a handheld mixer) until the whites hold soft peaks, about 3 minutes. Fold one-quarter of the egg whites into the cake batter to lighten it, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites until incorporated.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans on a large wire rack for 15 minutes, then invert onto another rack, peel off the parchment, and turn right side up to cool completely. Leave the oven on.
• While the cake is cooling, make the frosting: Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 5 minutes, until lightly toasted and fragrant. Let cool, then chop into ¼-inch pieces.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from the heat and let cool to tepid, then whisk in the sugar and egg yolks until smooth.
• Return the pan to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the frosting has thickened enough to coat the back of the spoon; it should read 180°F (80°C) on an instant-read thermometer. Be careful not to let the mixture come to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and add the toasted pecans, coconut, golden raisins, and bourbon, stirring well. Transfer the frosting to a heatproof bowl to cool; it will continue to thicken as it cools. It will be gooey, and that is exactly what you want.
• To make the vanilla milk soak: In a measuring cup, combine the whole milk and vanilla extract.
• To assemble the cake: Level the tops of two of the layers with a serrated knife to make them flat. Place one layer cut side up on a serving plate (you can keep the edges of the plate clean while you frost the cake by sliding strips of parchment underneath the cake). Brush the top of the layer with half of the vanilla milk soak. Using an offset spatula or a butter knife, spread the layer with one-third of the frosting. Place the second cake layer cut side up and brush with the remaining vanilla milk soak, then spread with another third of the frosting. Place the final layer right side up on top and frost the top with the remaining frosting, leaving the sides of the cake naked.
• The cake can be stored, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to 1 day or refrigerated for 5 days. If it has been refrigerated, bring to room temperature before serving.

MAJESTIC AND MOIST NEW YEAR'S HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease the pan(s). For tube and angel food pans, line the bottom with lightly greased parchment paper. For gift honey cakes, I use "cake collars" (available from Sweet Celebrations) designed to fit a specific loaf pan. These give the cakes an appealing, professional look.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Make a well in the center and add the oil, honey, sugars, eggs, vanilla, coffee, orange juice, and rye or whisky.
• Using a strong wire whisk or an electric mixer on slow speed, combine the ingredients well to make a thick batter, making sure that no ingredients are stuck to the bottom of the bowl.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan(s) and sprinkle the top of the cake(s) evenly with the almonds. Place the cake pan(s) on 2 baking sheets stacked together and bake until the cake springs back when you touch it gently in the center. For angel and tube cake pans, bake for 60 to 70 minutes; loaf cakes, 45 to 55 minutes. For sheet-style cakes, the baking time is 40 to 45 minutes. This is a liquidy batter and, depending on your oven, it may need extra time. Cake should spring back when gently pressed.
• Let the cake stand for 15 minutes before removing it from the pan. Then invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely.

ORANGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line bottom with wax paper, then lightly butter paper.
• Beat together butter, sugar, and zest in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until just incorporated. Whisk in sour cream and orange juice, then add remaining ingredients (except confectioners sugar), whisking until just combined.
• Transfer batter to baking pan and bake in middle of oven until golden and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack. Discard paper and cool. Dust with confectioners sugar.

LEMON CAKE WITH FRUIT

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour a 13x9" baking pan. Whisk baking powder, salt, and 2 cups flour in a medium bowl. Finely grate lemon zest into another medium bowl. Slice lemon in half; set aside. Add 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar to zest and work with your fingers until mixture is fragrant and looks like wet sand, about 1 minute.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat 1 cup butter in a large bowl until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add sugar mixture, increase speed to medium-high, and beat until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add eggs one at a time, beating well between additions; mix in egg yolk. Reduce speed to low and gradually add dry ingredients. Beat just until incorporated, then add brandy and beat just until smooth. Fold batter a few times with a rubber spatula; scrape into prepared pan and smooth top. Scatter fruit over (do not press down). Squeeze a reserved lemon half over fruit (save other half for another use) and sprinkle with remaining 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar.
• Bake cake until sides are golden brown and top is golden, 55-65 minutes. Let cool; cut into squares. Serve dusted with powdered sugar.
• Do Ahead
• Cake can be baked 2 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.