Orange Cake

Well this cake i guarantee you is gonna turn out really realllyy soft. It will melt in your mouth! Oranges with the winter season are loved all across in India. So here goes the recipe for something made out of this lovely fruit which is all the way more delicious and a great pick to bake for tea time :D

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup (150gm) sugar
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup fresh orange juice  - as required
• peel of 1/2 orange (white part should be scrapped off )
  
  
  
  Cut into thin strips of 1/2"
• 1 tsp soda bicarb* Also called ‘meetha soda’.
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp less than 2 cups (180gm) maida
• 1 cup full (180 gm) malai (milk topping)
• 1/4 tsp orange essence
• a few drops of orange food color

Method: 

1. Boil 1/2 cup water and 1tbsp sugar ( you can do that in the microwave - faster option). Add the orange peels for 1/2 a minute and then drain the water.
2. Sieve flour , baking powder  and soda bicarb together. Keep aside.
3. Mix sugar and malai in a pan . Leave for 5-10 mins. Mix well till sugar nearly dissolves. *do not over beat* .
4. Add flour , soaked orange peels , color and essence.
5. Add enough orange juice as needed to obtain a dropping consistency. Beat well.
6. Pour into a greased tin. Go for any shape :D
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 210 C / 400 F for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature after 10 mins to 150 C / 300 F and bake for 35-40 minutes or till the cake seems done when knife tested.

* Knife testing - nearly when its time to pull the cake out (before 5-10 mins) you can insert a toothpick or a knife into to the cake to see if its done or not. If its done the knife will come out clean , if not , then there will be some residual on it so bake it for some more time :D