Orange & White Chocolate Cake

Orange & White Chocolate Cake

A fantastic light orange and almond sponge covered in a delicious white chocolate topping

Serves 10

Prep time 30 minutes

Cooking time 40 minutes

Ingredients

175g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

175g golden caster sugar

4 oranges, zest of 4, juice of 1

4 eggs, separated

100g self-raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

100g ground almonds

For the topping

200g white chocolate

200ml creme fraiche

100g white chocolate, to decorate

Preparation method

1.  Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4.  Grease two 20cm sandwich tins and line the bases with baking parchment.

2. Place the sugar into a large bowl and add the butter and orange zest, beat until the mixture is pale and fluffy then add the egg yolks.  Sift the flour and baking powder over the mixture and fold through lightly.  Then fold through the almonds and orange juice.  

3. In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until they can hold their shape.  Now fold through a third of the egg whites into the cake mixture.  Repeat with another third and then the final third.  Try not to over mix the mixture otherwise you will lose the lightness.

4. Divide the cake mix between the 2 cake tins and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.  Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes and then remove and leave to cool on a wire rack.

5. For the topping, place the chocolate in a bowl and melt over a slightly simmering pan of water and leave to cool.  In a separate bowl whip the crème fraiche until it is thick then fold through the white chocolate.  Place one cake on a serving plate and spoon half the icing onto the cake and top with the other layer of cake.  Spread the rest of the icing on top then allow to set in the fridge for at least one hour.

6.  To decorate the cake, melt the remaining chocolate and spread thinly over a baking tray.  Leave to set in the fridge then use an angled knife blade to scrape chocolate curls.  Pile the curls in the middle of the cake.  Cut into slices and enjoy!