I had wanted to get this posted a couple of days ago, but as is the unpredictability of children, I got a call from school in the middle of Wednesday saying my daughter had hurt her arm, which subsequently resulted in a check at the minor injuries unit. No broken bones thank goodness!
Then on Thursday, with plans to get the post out full steam ahead, she decided to throw a major hissy at bedtime about her hair. This resulted in her managing to make it look like a completely matted birds nest which required an emergency wash and condition at 10pm. For those of you without children, this is the moment to breathe a sigh of relief that all is (at least slightly more) calm and ordered in your life.
The fact that Mums manage these ups and downs, tantrums and unpredictabilities with what sometimes feels like the flexibility and patience of a saint (and there are definitely days when even a saint would struggle in my household), means we should be acknowledged and celebrated.
Okay, I know Dads work hard too, but with Mothers Day coming up on March 15th, it’s our turn for a bit of gratitude. Don’t worry Dads….. you get your turn for some pampering in June.
Anyway…… This is a perfect cake to say ‘you’re worth it!’ And it’s made with my new Nordic Ware Heritage Bundt pan. I know I’m a bit slow getting there, but my new purchase is very exciting……
This is the first cake that I have made in it, although I have made it twice just to check it really works……
I will be honest, it was originally made for an 80th birthday celebration, but this cake is so pretty that I think it would also be perfect for Mother’s Day.
Moist with almonds and yoghurt, the rich orange sponge is swirled through with freshly-made raspberry puree (not jam) and topped with white chocolate ganache and pistachio nuts. It has all the flavours of a warm summer’s day and the smell that escapes from the oven as it is cooking is truly alluring.
The sponge uses coconut oil instead of butter and also brown sugar which gives more of a caramel sweetness. Use dairy free yoghurt and the sponge can easily be made dairy free as well as gluten free.
The sharpness of the raspberry and the citrus of the orange nicely offset the sweetness from the sponge and the white chocolate ganache. The pistachios (which I always think work so well with raspberry) add a wonderful nutty crunch and an extra texture-dimension.
I was worried that the cake would not release from the bundt pan very easily and although I was very careful to lightly oil and flour the inner surface, there was a moment when I held my breath as nothing happened when it was upturned (despite a hefty wallop). Cue 9 year old daughter…….. ‘No Mum….. you just have to gently pat the bottom a few times when it is upside down’. The tip worked perfectly. How did she know that?
The creamy ganache is carefully balanced to ensure a thick drizzle…… I love how it spills down the side of the cake and pools in the middle. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to get a photo of the cake cut (as the couple of slices that were left after the birthday celebration stayed with the birthday boy). You’ll just have to take my word for the wonderful, slightly dense, succulence of the sponge.
I am sharing this beautiful bundt with the following challenges this month :
Simply Eggcellent – a new idea for a challenge ‘hatched’ (ha ha…. bad joke I know…) by Dom at Belleau Kitchen. Celebrating everything the amazingly versatile egg has to offer us (I only ever use free range), the challenge is brilliant in its simplicity and emphasis. I hope that I for one, will be a regular entrant. This cake contains 3 big ones!
Cook, Blog, Share with Lucy at Supergolden Bakes.
Let’s Cook for Mother’s Day with Simply Food.
Recipe of the Week with Emily at A Mummy Too.
Orange & Raspberry Swirl Bundt with White Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare your bundt pan by very lightly oiling and then dusting with a little corn flour.
- Put the raspberries and caster sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, squashing the raspberries against the side of the pan with a spoon to release the juice. Simmer until the liquid has reduced by about a third, then remove from the heat. Once cool add the cornflour and stir through.
- Whizz in a food blender for a few seconds so that you have a thick, smooth paste. Set aside.
- Pre-heat the oven to 170 C/325 F/Gas 3.
- Weigh and mix together the flour, almonds, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and xanthan gum, making sure any lumps are broken down. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until well-blended and slightly thickened.
- Add the yoghurt, oil, orange zest, juice and extract and whisk again.
- Add the dry ingredients and fold until you have a well-combined thick batter.
- Spoon a layer of the batter (about half the mixture) into the bundt pan and then dot spoons of the raspberry puree across the top and swirl through with a knife.
- Add the rest of the batter and remaining raspberry puree and repeat the swirling process. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the top springs back to the touch and a skewer comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, before turning out onto a wire rack. Cool completely.
- Once cold, make the ganache by placing the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Put the cream into a small saucepan and heat until just starting to simmer (do not allow to boil).
- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and leave to stand for a few minutes. Stir through until the chocolate has melted and the ganache is smooth. If the chocolate does not completely melt, place the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water for a few seconds, and stir through again.
- Leave to cool, stirring frequently until the ganache thickens enough to drizzle over the cake, but to remain thick.
- Use the ganache to decorate the cake, and then top with raspberries, chopped pistachios, sprinkles and sparkles.
Just how to stop onto this post to say "wow!!!" It's so beautiful, Kate! Great job 🙂 PS. Glad to hear your daughter was OK x
Thank you Aimee! Sadly trips to A&E are one of the hazards of being a parent. Fortunately my daughter doesn't have to go too often!
Phew your week sounds hectic! So pleased to hear no broken bones though! There's not a mother in the world wouldn't appreciate this beauty on Mothering Sunday. A belated thank you for joining in with #Bakeoftheweek x
Thanks Helen. It was a bit of a week…… but I am not sure (when I really think about it) any week is any less hectic….. just differently hectic! Still cake more than makes up for it!
Glad to hear your daughter is ok and things have calmed down now!
This cake is beautiful! I'm even slower as I still don't have a bundt pan but very tempted after seeing how beautiful the design makes the cake look.
http://www.agirlandherhome.com
Thank you Laura. It took me a long time to get a Bundt (although some of my dithering was which one to get). Having tried one, I now want a whole collection and will have to restrain myself very carefully!!!
What a stunning cake! I love the combination of flavours and textures you have gone for. Yum! Pinning now #RastyTuesday
Thanks you so much!
I have the same tin and I use it all the time. It really makes your cake look spectacular. Love the flavour combination here and it's absolutely perfect for any kind of celebration. Just wish I could have a slice or maybe two 🙂
Thanks Ros. It is a great tin! I love the way toppings drizzle down the 'slides'…..
Lovely colours here from the raspberry and pistachio! the icing looks so tasty too. Love the shape from this tin.
Thanks Lucy. I love using pistachio with red berries. The contrast in colour is always so eye catching! It took me ages to choose the tin……. I love the shape too!
This is the most beautiful cake I've seen in ages!! I love the ingredients, I bet they worked so well together – lovely #CookBlogShare
Thank you Lydia. That is such a lovely comment!
Wow! This cake is just stunning. I love the colours, and the way the icing works so beautifully with the bundt shape – gorgeous! The flavours sound wonderful too 🙂
Jennie // Scarletscorchdroppers
x
Thank you so much Jennie. It did look very pretty!
Gorgeous! Love the colours, bet it tasted great.
Cheers Kat! It did!
Oh Kate this looks utterly stunning and gorgeous! What a tasty treat for Mother's Day!
Thank you so much Kate. Any Mum would be chuffed with this (I hope!)
Love the flavours of this and the photos are stunning. You really have a good eye for decorating cakes and bakes. They always look spectacular. I'd love a big slice of this. Looks so fresh and summery
Thank you Katie. What a lovely compliment! I am generally pretty lazy when it comes to cake decoration! The easier the better…… But then as they say…. 'less is more'!
What a glorious bundt cake! The flavour, colour and form…all perfect!
Awwww. Thank you Angie! That's really kind.
Such a lovely post and what a wonderful cake. A beautiful way to spoil mum. I love the combo of raspberries, citrus and almond flour. I would love to see the internal structure. An eggceptional entry for the simply eggcellent link up. Thank you xx
Well thank you Dom! Next time round, I will make sure I take a picture sliced. I'm sure there will be many more Bundts to come and I loved this sponge texture, so I would definitely use as a base-recipe for lots of other flavours!
I love any kind of Bundt cake but this is simply stunning!
Thanks Ness.
I love any kind of Bundt cake but this is simply stunning!
Utterly stunning and as someone who follows a mostly gluten-free diet, this is ideal for me! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays x
Thanks Vicki. You're welcome! x
This is really lovely and I love the colours too. It is perfect for mother's day. I have a mold for bundt cake too so I could think of something like that. I am intrigued.
I have two children so I know exactly what you mean. It is hard work! They are both in school now so it is easier and it is getting better and better. You enjoy them more as they grow up as they become more independent.
Have a nice (relaxing!) weekend xx
Thank you Alida. Perhaps it's time to dig out your bundt mould! Baking is definitely my sanity!