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Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake

December 12, 2017 by Salma Leave a Comment

Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka Dotter
Citrus and spice are always a winning combination. This luscious syrup cake doesn’t disappoint with sticky slices of blood orange and heady notes of cardamom, cinnamon and cloves, while semolina and almond meal provide a delicious, delicate crumb.

This recipe has been adapted from the delightful cookbook, Sweet, by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh, where you can find a heavenly recipe for mini Lemon and Semolina Syrup Cakes. My favourite citrus, blood oranges, take centre stage in my version of this delicious upside-down cake, but you can easily substitute with navel oranges if blood oranges aren’t in season. The cake won’t have the same gorgeous hue but it will still taste amazing.

Baking Notes
(1) I love a good spiced syrup cake, but if you prefer to keep yours on the lighter side, reduce the amount of cardamom and cloves by a third to a half.
(2) This cake has a rather delicate, crumbly texture so take great care when removing it from the pan, and use a springform pan for easier release.

Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka Dotter
Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka DotterBlood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka Dotter
Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka Dotter
Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka DotterBlood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka Dotter

Print

Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake

Blood Orange Cardamom Syrup Cake | The Polka Dotter
Print Recipe

Makes one round 20cm (8”) cake and serves 8-10 people

Ingredients

Scale

Blood Orange Slices in Cardamom Syrup

  • ¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (60ml) water
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 6–10 cardamom pods
  • 1–2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2–3 cloves
  • 1 blood orange, washed and finely sliced (2-3mm), seeds removed 

Blood Orange Cardamom Cake

  • 120g unsalted butter, softened
  • 135g caster sugar
  • Zest of 1 blood orange (2 tsp) and juice of ½ blood orange (40ml)
  • 100g almond meal
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly whisked
  • 70g fine semolina
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cloves

Instructions

Blood Orange Slices in Cardamom Syrup

  1. Place lemon juice, water, sugar, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in a wide-based saucepan, stirring on low heat until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Increase the heat to medium and place blood orange slices in the pan. The pan should be wide enough so that all slices are submerged in the syrup and cook evenly.
  3. Simmer until slices are soft and slightly translucent, although still maintaining their shape. Remove saucepan from heat and proceed with cake recipe.

 

Blood Orange Cardamom Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced) and lightly grease a 20cm cake tin.
  2. Place butter, sugar and zest in a stand mixer with paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes, then add ground almonds.
  3. Add eggs slowly, scraping the bowl to ensure ingredients are well combined.
  4. Combine semolina, baking powder, salt an spices small bowl, then slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixer while beating on low-medium speed, then add juice.
  5. Arrange blood orange slices neatly along to base of the pan, working from the centre of the pan outwards, so the centre slices will be clearly visable when the cake is inverted later. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of syrup on the orange slices.
  6. Pour batter into prepared pan, ensuring a smooth, even surface.
  7. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
  8. Reheat the remaining syrup just prior to removing the cake from the oven. This will allow the hot cake to readily absorb the hot syrup. When the cake is removed from the oven, spoon over with hot syrup, reserving 2-3 tablespoons for serving later if you wish. Allow to cool completely in pan.

 

To Serve

  1. Carefully remove cake from tin. It will have a delicate crumbly texture so take care not to disturb those carefully placed orange slices.
  2. Place cake on serving dish and drizzle with remaining syrup. Use a sharp knife to cut slices and a cake server to transfer to dessert plates, once again taking care with those delicate slices. 

Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thepolkadotter on Instagram and hashtag it #polkadotbakes

Credits and Sources
Cake recipe adapted from Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh
Ceramic Azalea flower plates and juicer from Kinfolk and Co
Wooden cake stand from Country Road

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Filed Under: Cakes Tagged With: Blood orange, Cardamom, Orange, Spice

Previous Post: « Persian Love Blood Orange Cake
Next Post: White Chocolate, Raspberry and Coconut Cake »

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Salma Sabdia | Food Photography

Hi, I’m Salma, and I love creating beautiful images and sweet treats. If you’re looking for a little baking inspiration, you’ve come to the right place.

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Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and rememb Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
~ Max Ehrmann

Love this quiet scene at Pappa Sven. It was actually a test shot of the lighting, my first shot of the day. The lovely Libby had handed me a bud vase filled with a casual spray of flowers picked from one of Pappa Sven’s flower pots, and I had set out a few unfrosted coconut cupcakes on a her lovely cake stand, getting them ready to glam up with roasted strawberry icing.

I never usually care too much for my test shots, they are what they are, and I often prefer my last shots of a session, when the cakes are cut, the crumbs are scattered and the drizzles have dripped in their imperfectly perfect ways. And I’ve had a sneaky chance to indulge in whatever dessert I have prepared, all in the name of good photography and recipe testing.

But it’s true what they say, there’s a first time for everything, and this photo may actually be my favourite of the whole shoot, a genuine moment of calm in such a cosy space.

And if I had it my way - I’d share the full un-cropped version with you, that included the beautiful detail of the brick wall across the top of the window, but as Instagram would have it, we are obliged to a 4:5 ratio, so alas today this crop will suffice. 

Also I am absolutely elated and humbled that the tickets to this event are selling so quickly. Thank you to those of you who have already purchased a ticket, it truly means a lot to have you share this event with us 💕

And if you missed the event details - head to my last post or click the link in my profile 😊

#thinkpink #pinkribbon #afternoonteatime #pinkcupcakes #nordiclifestyle #pappasven #fundraiserevent #nbcfaus #foodphotographyandstyling #newcastleevents
Event Announcement! 💕 Join us for an intimate Event Announcement! 💕

Join us for an intimate and heartwarming Pink Ribbon Afternoon Tea, hosted by Salma Sabdia (@thepolkadotter) in the cosy surrounds of Pappa Sven’s Apartment (@pappasvens).

We’re raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (@nbcfaus), a cause that’s particularly close to our hearts, and we would love for you to share this special event with us.

Immerse yourself in our much loved ‘Pappa Sven’s Apartment’ and savour a selection of delectable pink-themed cakes, cookies and more, all specially crafted for this occasion. 

Event details:
Saturday 14th October at 2pm
Pappa Sven Apartment in Cooks Hill, NSW, Australia

Click the link in profile for more details and to book your ticket through the @pappasvens website.

We can’t wait to see you there!

#thinkpink #pinkribbon #afternoonteatime #pinkcupcakes #nordiclifestyle #pappasven #fundraiserevent #nbcfaus #foodphotographyandstyling #newcastleevents
Good spring morning 💕 aren’t these blooms abs Good spring morning 💕 aren’t these blooms absolutely stunning? 

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SAVE THE DATE! OCTOBER 14 💕 We have a VERY sp SAVE THE DATE!

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We have a VERY special event coming soon to one of Newcastle’s favourite spaces.

If a little sweet indulgence in a stylish Nordic setting is your idea of a good time, mark the afternoon of Saturday October 14th in your calendars, because you’ll be sharing it with us 😊 and best of all, you’ll be supporting a very worthy cause 💕

Tickets go on sale this week, and with a very intimate gathering planned, they will be limited. Keep an eye out on our socials do you don’t miss out 😊

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Created last summer for @ausmacadamias | Recipe link in profile

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SAVE THE DATE! Hey Newcastle! We have been plann SAVE THE DATE! 

Hey Newcastle! We have been planning a VERY special event for you 💕

If a little sweet indulgence in a stylish Nordic setting is your idea of a good time, mark the afternoon of Saturday October 14th in your calendars, because you’ll be sharing it with us 😊 and best of all, you’ll be supporting a very worthy cause 💕

Stay tuned and keep an eye out on our socials, where we’ll be sharing all the details early next week!

#strawberrycupcakes #pappasven #pinkribbon #newcastleevents
Blood orange season has arrived, gently floating i Blood orange season has arrived, gently floating in with the soft spring breezes. It’s always one of my favourite times of the year.

Last year’s signature blood orange cake was this delicately striped Blood Orange + Earl Grey Bundt Cake, a crowd favourite that you can find on the blog.

(Along with the other twelve blood orange recipes. Yes, I just checked and would you believe there are no less than specifically THIRTEEN blood orange recipes. And I still think there’s room for number fourteen 😂). 

What’s your favourite flavour to pair with blood oranges? And are there any blood orange recipes you’d like to see this year?

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The days are saying Spring has arrived. The sunshi The days are saying Spring has arrived. The sunshine is glorious and warms you all the way to the tips of your toes and deep inside your heart and mind.
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And the beautiful shades of magnolia pink and wattle yellow are already starting to retreat, giving way to tiny green shoots. 
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But the nights seem to remind us that Winter will linger a little longer, and to enjoy the indulgence of cosy beverages paired with cosy knits while we still can 💕
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What’s the weather like in your little corner of the world?

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The magnolias are in full bloom again. It’s alw The magnolias are in full bloom again.

It’s always such a glorious sight to witness. Last year I shared the special story behind our magnolia tree, and I can’t help but share it again after I’ve spent the better part of the last week admiring her brilliant beauty.

The first time she flowered a few years ago, we were completely in awe. We had moved into our home in the middle of a scorching summer drought, and always wondered about this sickly tree that commanded prime position in the front yard.

So imagine our surprise when nine months after living in our home, this bare thin tired tree gave rise to the most stunning, enormous magenta magnolias. 

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Such a special way to welcome in the warmer weather 💕

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