I am literally all over the shop. A metaphorical shop of course, I would love to own a little business though someday… Ok, I am being tangential once more, I told you I am all over the place! 😛
Yesterday, was quite literally (FYI, I will be using literally quite a bit in this post) the first day in ages I haven’t done anything. I sat at home, I watched Fawlty Towers and I ate so much junk food my head started turning.
It was literally, the best day ever. 😀 #noregrets
But yes, I am officially frazzled. Everyday till yesterday basically, I have been out. I am not even going to tell you about the indent this has caused in my wallet (a girl’s gotta eat!) but whether it be spontaneous movie trips or patisserie splurges, I am there.
I need to learn how to say no but… it is WAY too much fun 😀
And now, after my day’s break, I am frazzled once more. Because tonight, it’s my used-to-be-annual movie night with my girls from high school a.k.a. as my mate so delicately put it, my stuff-yourself-with-chocolate night.
She isn’t wrong you know, and you will see that when I post that recipe another time (hopefully sooner than it took me to post this one 😀 )
This means I need to get the food ready, I need to clean my room (much to my mother’s disgrace) and this means I need to finish off baking, and find the movies and make sure singstar works and just… in general… get myself organised!!!
Now, I totally know I could have done that yesterday, I really do… but my bed was legit lonely…
Oh c’mon guys, don’t lift your eyebrows up at me, we have ALL been there! 😉
Anyways, did you realise that none of this ‘frazzlement’ has anything to do with the impending holiday? Nope that is a whole other bag of frazzles. You see, well, um, it’s like this… I may or may not have put our Christmas tree up. Yes, yes, I know Christmas is on Thursday BUT I have been waiting for a time my daddy and I can put it up together.
And classic moi, haven’t been home you know?
But I’ll remedy that asapfu. Or as-soon-as-possible… for Uru hehe
Also, I may or may not have gotten my presents yet. BUT again, I have an excuse for being so disorganised… I was volunteering at a gift-wrapping station AND as gift wrapping stations are, I got a ton of ideas for everyone!
Transformer deluxe for my dad maybe? Perhaps a my little pony set for my mum? Or would she prefer the X-Men limited edition action figure?
Aaah choices.. 😛
But, as you can tell, one thing I have had time to squeeze in, while sacrificing the four hour naps that are regimented into my cycle, is baking. Mais bien sur 😀
Who am I to resist the tantalising lure of warm marmalade, dense cake and citrusy smells right? I mean, if I had scattered some cloves on top of this cake, it literally would have attracted Santa a wee bit early!
Not that I ever said no to that, I mean, it’s Santa! If I could, I would have that jolly guy over for tea everyday!
And who am I to not fall under the smell of freshly toasted almonds that are comfortably nestled in snowy folds of whipped cream?
Wow. I need to get into foodsmut writing or something, romance authors look out! 😛
Oh dear, oh my, let me quote the White Rabbit here and mumble under my breath, ‘I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date!’
Which is why I shall leave you now dear readers to bask in the awesomeness of this delicious recipe and make yourselves hungrier, while I go untangle the christmas light chaos in my brain.
Hope you all are having a very merry holiday and are much more on top of your game than I! ❤
P.S. I know, it is icing sugar but for me, pretend it is snow? 😉
Orange Almond Cake
Adapted from: Women’s Weekly High Tea Cookbook (originally called OA Victoria Sponge, but the cake recipe is not a spongecake!)
Ingredients:
- 190g butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 80g caster sugar
- 80g brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 60ml full cream milk
- 175g self raising flour (SRF)
- 50g almond meal
- 300g citrus marmalade
Decor:
- 300ml thickened cream
- 2 tbs icing mixture (or icing sugar) + extra for dusting cake (optional)
- 100g flaked almonds, toasted and cooled
- Sliced oranges and mint leaves (optional)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180/160 degrees C (fan-forced). Grease a ring pan generously (I didn’t do that as you shall see!)
- Beat butter, sugar, vanilla essence in a large bowl till light and fluffy. Beat in the egg one at a time till mixture is smooth.
- Sift the almond flour and SRF together, then fold through the butter mixture, alternating with the milk.
- Spoon mixture into prepared pan and smooth top.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or till a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Let cool for 10 minutes in pan, before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, whip the thickened cream with the icing mixture till it can hold it’s shape. In a small bowl, warm up the marmalade, rind and all.
- Assemble the cake: Prick holes into the cake using a fork.
- Generously glaze the top with the warmed marmalade, spreading it all around and inside the hole.
- Spread the whipped cream along the sides of the cake (don’t worry if it is a tad messy).
- Press the toasted almonds into the sides till all of the whipped cream is covered.
- Dust the cake with icing sugar and in the centre, arrange orange slices with mint leaves for an exotic look!
Note:
- The icing sugar clumps on top of the cake due to the marmalade, so if you want flawless icing, do it just before serving. I personally liked the cake’s look better where some of the icing had dissolved in.
Au revoir mes cheris! I am on the clock now 😉
Oh, CCU, this cake looks so lovely!!
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How pretty… I love how almond slices are decorated all around the cake. As I LOVE citrus + sweet combination, a cake like this stands out and calls my name! 🙂
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What a delicious treat! I’m about to bake an almond and orange cake too! YUM 😀
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Your cake turned out lovely–and very festive too!
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Your cake looks beyond delicious, anything almond has my attention! Hope you have a very Happy New Year! Hugs, Terra
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A VERY VERY HAPPY,HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!! 🙂
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Oh wow, that’s the prettiest treat I’ve ever seen! I wanna dig in too! Happy 2015 to you & may you have a wonderful new year, dear! Well, I’m back in action & resuming my blog hopping now. So glad to be back blogging ^_^
Luxury Haven
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Great baking, Uru!!!
Cheers to all the lovely stories you posted last year! Looking forward to more this year 🙂
Happy New Year! Thank you for being part of our Blogging Friends!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
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This looks absolutely delicious, Uru! Hope you had a lovely non-frazzled Christmas 🙂 Happy New Year!
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This sounds amazing. Happy New Year Uru! Here’s to an even more delicious year of adventures ahead 😀
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love the idea of the almonds on the side!
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That cake literally looks good 😉 I want a piece now mm
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This is one of the craziest times of the year. Your cake looks stunning! Have a very Happy New Year!
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This cake is stunning and sounds so moist and delcious! It would be a perfect to serve at breakfast or afternoon tea. I look forward to trying it and checking out that cookbook at well. Thanks for sharing.
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That cake looks and sound delicious! I love the orange-almond combo! And yup, I am with you. Totally frazzled (though that is my normal state these days… wah!) Hope you had the best Christmas break ❤ xx
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That cake looks superb! Orange and almond is really a nice combo. Happy belated Holiday! 🙂
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Hope you had some time to relax, your orange almond cake is gorgeous!
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just lovely 🙂 Sorry for the frazzled. ’tis the season! Hope your Christmas was merry and bright.
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I love everything about this cake. The flavour, texture and look how pretty it is! Happy Holidays Uru…have a wonderful time!
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Merry Christmas, my dear friend Uru! I hope you’re feeling much less frazzled by now and are simply enjoying the holiday to the fullest!
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Wow CCU, I think this is one of the most beautiful cakes you have made thus far. Wishing you and your family a very safe and happy holiday season.
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Uru this cake is gorgeous!! 😀 Wow I would love, love, LOVE a slice! 😀
Merry Christmas sweetie 🙂 Sending holiday hugs your way~~
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Oooh, I can only imagine how moist this cake must be—I love citrus cakes and can only fantasize about the glaze soaking in and making everything so bright and delicious—I’ll be looking for Uru’s food smut books in shops soon! =)
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That cake looks amazing!! And I can almost smell it here! XD
Merry Christmas Uru! 🙂
x
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Sorry to hear that you’ve been frazzled. You should have seen me today-I was crazy! But onto the cake-what a stunner Uru! You’ve really outdone yourself! 😀
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oh it is so good to be frazzled with a day out,loads of chocolate treats with ones friends and then the special baking for the holidays and a day full of scrumptious junk food….we often have this frazzle-time even now when this time of the year arrives….sometimes we all need a break and enjoy doing things which are not our routine…and this gorgeous cake so beautifully decorated with toasted almond flakes gives us just another reason to bake them and enjoy a break,thanks…HAVE A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY!!! 🙂
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This time of year is crazy, isn’t it. Your orange and almond cake is so beautiful! I love the cream/almond decoration. Merry Christmas CCU.
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Your cake looks heavenly.
I hope the day of rest was all that you had waited for. Fortunately, my daughter came home from university to wrap my presents and finish my tree – otherwise, I would be feeling the pain of frazzle 🙂
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Your cake looks absolutely gorgeous! Santa might just have to arm-wrestle me for the last piece.
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This presentation is GORGEOUS. Looks so tasty.
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Beautiful cake. I love the combination of orange and almond. Perfect cake for Christmas. I wish I could grab a bite. 🙂
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Thank you very much 😀 I hope you enjoy making it, it is simple and has great results!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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What a great looking cake! Love the almonds around the edge, they are the perfect touch. Have a wonderful Christmas!
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Gorgeous cake and I love the scent of orange in it, what surrounded with almonds. Yum all the way. Merry Christmas to you and all at home. Enjoy.
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What I would like for you to do please is… HIBERNATE ALL WEEKEND LONG!!!!!!!! BINGE WATCH AND EAT ALL THE JUNK FOOD AGAIN, just like yesterday, but ALL WEEKEND! You deserve the BREAK! 😀
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Hi Uru,
Transformer deluxe for your dad? A little pony set for your mum? Am I hearing something wrong here??? Maybe I’m too stereotypical!!! LOL!
I like almond orange cake… It doesn’t have to be flawless but I know it must be flawlessly delicious!
Enjoy your Christmas holidays and happy 2015!
Zoe
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You’re way to young to start saying NO to your girlfriends!!! My girlfriends gave me some of the most fun times of my life! I would love to have that orange almond cake on my holiday table. Pretty AND delicious! Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!
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Exactly what I thought (though I don’t feel like I will ever get too old :P)
Thank you, enjoy your holidays my friend!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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What a gorgeous cake! I want to eat it all up! Have fun decorating your tree! xo
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I know everything will be ship shape by the time Christmas arrives…and as long as you have cake (and a marvelous one at that), everything is good! Merry Christmas, my friend!!! xo
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Oh I LOVE Fawlty Towers. Hilarious!! Manuel…Spanish fellow. Hey, we are feeling frazzled. Shouldn’t be this way!! 😉 Lovely cake as per usual. Merry Christmas!
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thats a gorgeous looking cake!
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Hey I just love a night to stuff my face with chocolate girl lol. I need a day like that very soon. And loving this almond orange cake.
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That is my kind of cake. You have done a great job with the presentation. lovely post 🙂
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Paddington Bear would love that cake (and me too)! Nothing wrong with being a bit frazzled during the holidays. Have fun and enjoy!! Merry Everything to you and a very Happy New Year!
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what a looker of a cake! the almonds along the border are a masterful touch. 🙂
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Sorry, your comment could not be posted. Does that mean it thinks I’m spammy? 🙂 You’ll be ready by Christmas and I’m glad you had a day off. I need one too. Merry Christmas!
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That’s so weird! But nope, you are never spam 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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I thought that surely that beautiful cake had come straight from a bakery! Impressive, CCU! Hope that your “bag of frazzles” gets emptied out soon ;-)!
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Lady, you got some serious baking skills. That is one fine looking cake. 🙂
Hope you are over the frazzles… This time of year sends everyone a bit wacky. Only a few days until all that changes. I am in Asia at the mo, so if I don’t catch you before. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a fun filled and safe New Years. Lots of hugs and loves headed your way. xox
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Asia? Lucky you, have a super awesome blast Anna!! 😀
Happy Holidays! 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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Your cake looks so wonderful! By the way, we just put our Christmas tree up tonight, so you aren’t along!
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It’s a busy time of year! Taking the time out to bake something so delicious is very important though!
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Wow, what a beautiful cake! I am totally craving citrus desserts right now! 🙂
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Your cake looks absolutely AMAZING! I wish I could have a slice right now.. perfect for your girls night 🙂
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I can smell that citrus marmalade from here, what a great looking delicious cake!
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I hope so, I used so much 😀 Thank you!
BTW I tried visiting your site and it isn’t loading properly?
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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I always feel frazzled this time of year! You will get it all done – no worries! That’s what I tell myself 🙂 What a beautiful cake! Love the almonds.
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absolutely gorgeous cake.
I smell it in Duluth!! xx
Merry Christmas!!!
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Looks so amazing! Would really love to try a slice!
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That’s was the holidays are all about – frazzled 🙂 We’ve all been there. Such a beautiful cake with lovely citrus flavors. I can almost taste it! Merry Christmas to you and your family, CCU!
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Singstar!! ahaha =D (I have the first one on PS2!)
Almond orange goodness, you are bringing sunshine into my house Uru.
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Mine is still a PS2 😀 Haha glad you enjoyed it my friend!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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I’m so glad you finally got to do nothing!!! The chaos hits here this week. I’m kind of excited for it… but I’m weird like that. HA!
LOVE the almond sides to the cake. Gorgeous!
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Seems like you are having the perfect holiday! Hope you enjoyed movie night 🙂
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It looks very tempting even without all the dressing up! And about going out..well, do it when you still can and WANT to…
Have a happy holiday season!
Angie
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What an absolutely beautiful cake, Uru. As busy as you are I am so impressed with your ability to prioritize such a delicious treat! I feel frazzled, too, but I have learned that it goes with this time of year and nothing I do seems to change the feeling of pressure. I’m really glad to hear that the pressure you’re under is because you are out having fun and I hope you ever change! 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your very wonderful family, Urvashi! I hope yo have a wonderful Christmas Day and that the New Year brings you even more contentment and fun!
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This cake look stunning! Even without dressing it up, I love it already…
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I don’t judge. I’m a hermit. I know how lonely beds get. (And I’ve barely started putting gifts together… crud.)
This cake looks beautiful, Uru, and I’m sure it tastes even better. Have fun at your annual stuff-yer-face-with-chocolate movie night!
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You and I are actually the same during Christmas 😀
It was a lot of fun, thank you!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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Oh Urvashi, I hear ya! My poor credit card is taking a battering and I am lurching towards the Chrissy finishing line looking and feeling like a zombie. This cake might get me over the finish line – it looks amazing 🙂
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omg! this is a delish!
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Thank you very much 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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Almond is one of my favorite flavors for sweets and your cake is stunning! De – frazzle with a slice of this for sure!!
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What a gorgeous looking cake!! I just had a HUGE breakfast, but I would be so down for trying this cake too!
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What a beautiful cake, Uru! This is my kind of treat! Have a safe and grand Christmas!
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This post sounds a lot like how I’ve been the last few weeks! It’s been good to chill the last few days so take your time and enjoy it! My favourite fruit is citrus, so I love this already. Looks wonderful!
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You are only young once and now is the time to party, enjoy and live life just for yourself. Once you get married and start having kids… well… you don’t get much of that happening. Now how can I get some of this cake happening in my life without having to actually go into the kitchen. 🙂
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You have to take some leisurely me time every once in a while and at this stressful time of year, and with school, you have an excuse for being frazzled. Your almond orange cake is very pretty with its collar of sliced almonds and the marmalade decoration.
I decided to take it easy with my Christmas baking (I MAY make some gingerbread men in the next few days) but in any case, I just made a batch of toffee decorated with melted white chocolate and chopped cranberries. I may make another batch cause I have some salted almonds and red and green peppermint candy canes that are calling to me but that’s up in the air. At least I have my Christmas and New Year’s menus planned. 🙂
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Thank you! At least you did a nice bit of christmas baking though, I got so busy I only had time for a little bit! Nice to be back to blogging though, hope your holidays went wonderfully 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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I ended up doing a bit more baking than I thought I’d do as I made 2 dozen gingerbread men and 20 mini cheesecakes, and a pan of dinner rolls, but I held back on the Christmas and New Years day dinners so I have NO leftovers to deal with on that end.
I’m especially pleased with the mini cheesecakes. I have a dozen stored away in the freezer that I can take out and nibble on one (or two) at a time.
http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/212419.html
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