“This is a classic flavour combination that looks impressive served in slices,” claim the pros at Leiths Cookery School.
“Alternatively, try baking the mixture in the tiny individual loaf tins you can find in cooking shops, reducing the cooking time to about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the exact size of the tins.”
Serves: 6–8
Ingredients
- oil, to grease
- 2 small oranges
- 170g butter, softened
- 170g caster sugar
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- 170g self-raising flour
- 1–2 tablespoons water or milk
- 1 tablespoon good quality cocoa powder
- a few drops of vanilla extract
Method
Heat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Lightly oil the tin and line the base and short sides with a strip of greaseproof paper. Lightly oil the paper.
Read: Jamie Oliver’s Chocolate Orange Crème Brulée
Finely grate the zest of both oranges and set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using an electric whisk or wooden spoon until pale, light and fluffy.
Break the eggs into a small bowl and beat lightly, using a fork, until broken up. Gradually add the egg to the creamed mixture, in several additions, beating well after each addition.
Sift over the flour and fold it in, using a metal spoon or a spatula. If necessary, fold in enough water or milk to give a dropping consistency.
Divide the mixture between two bowls and sift the cocoa powder into the first, mixing it through evenly. Stir the vanilla and orange zest into the second mixture.
Spoon some of each flavoured mixture into the bottom of the tin, layering them alternately. Once all the mixture is in the tin, use the handle of a teaspoon to make two or three swirls through the mixture, to create the marbling effect.
Read: Chocolate Marmalade Mug Cake
Bake in the oven for 50 to 60 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Remove the lining paper and leave to cool completely.
Leiths How To Cook Cakes by Leiths School of Food and Wine, photography by Peter Cassidy, is published by Quadrille. Available now.
– With PA
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