Orange Cake

This is one of my favourite cakes whether it be for tea or a birthday. Love the citrus flavour and almonds that give this cake such a delightful taste.

125g self - raising flour

125g caster sugar

2 whole eggs and 1 egg yolk, Eggs should be at room temperature

125g butter, softened at room temperature

30g ground almonds

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1 tablespoon orange zest

Grease and line a 6 inch cake tin. Oven temperature 180 C.

Cream the butter and sugar with an electric whisk for 5 minutes until it is pale and smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition (plus egg yolk). Whisk in the orange zest and orange juice.

Sift the self-raising flour and fold in with a spatula. Add the ground almonds and mix well until combined.

Transfer the cake batter into the prepared cake tin. Level the surface of the batter in the cake tin. Tap gently on the counter 2 or 3 times. Place the cake tin in the pre-heated oven temperature 180 C /350 F / Gas marked 4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Take cake out of the oven. Cool in tin for 5 minutes and then turn out cake onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust the cake with a bit of icing sugar.

Candied orange slices

Cut 3 or 4 round slices of the orange and places in a small pan with 25ml orange juice and 2 tablespoons of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Simmer orange slices for 15 minutes. Remove slices of orange and use it to decorate the cake.