Upside down Orange and Polenta Cake – Gluten free flour works too!

February 2020- I am resending this recipe as I have recently discovered that replacing the all-purpose flour with gluten free flour works and produces a really lovely cake. I am also suggesting you experiment with the oranges, I have been using blood oranges and the effect is very pleasing!

This orange and polenta cake is loosely based on the classic Victoria Sponge recipe, but part of the flour is replaced with a mixture of ground almonds and polenta. Why polenta? To be honest, I am not quite sure but for some reason I just had a need to make a polenta cake. I was pretty happy with how it turned out  It is more substantial than a regular Victoria Sponge, and has a very pleasing, slightly gritty texture.

Orange Marmalade

I made orange marmalade for the first time earlier this year. I got the recipe from the lovely Ros. Find her on facebook @goodthingsfrommykitchenandgarden

A very satisfying if slightly time consuming process. However,  I did not realise just quite how much orange marmalade I was making.

Much as we like the odd bit of toast and marmalade, I am now trying to think of ways of up ‘using it up’, as my dad would say.  I have already given you a recipe for Marmalade Bread Pudding but in this Upside Down Orange and Polenta Cake, oranges takes front and centre stage.

Orange Slices

From making marmalade I learned that you you have to cook orange rinds for quite some time if you want to soften them enough to be edible. For this cake I poached the orange slices beforehand. Once cooked I am using them straight away as part of the cake. You could however dry them on a wire rack and they would harden into pretty crystallised orange slices, which would keep in the fridge until you found a use for them (dipped in chocolate perhaps?).

To Serve

I think this cake is absolutely delicious served slightly warm with caramel sauce (see recipe below) and creme fraiche.

Last time I made it I also sprinkled some gold leaf (thank you Magasin Du Nord), over the top.  It made a very impressive dinner party dessert.

Upside Down Orange and Polenta Cake

February 22, 2020

Servings: 8-10

Difficulty: not difficult

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A gorgeous dense, slightly gritty upside down orange and polenta cake.

By: Carolyn Eddie

Ingredients

• For the Orange Top
• Two oranges,thinly sliced, blood oranges look spectacular if you can find them
• 1 cup/7 ounces /200g sugar
• 1 cup /240ml water
• For the Orange Cake
• 250g /9 ounces butter, softened ( 2 1/4 sticks)
• 250g/9 ounces/11/4 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 140g/5 ounces/scant cup of plain or all-purpose flour(you can also use gluten-free flour, such as cup for cup)
• 100g/31/2 ounces/scant 2/3 cup polenta
• 100g /3/12 ounces/one cup ground almonds
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 large tablespoon marmalade
• 2 tablespoons of ricotta
• For the syrup
• 1/3cup sugar
• 1/3 cup orange juice

Directions

• Step 1 Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/320F
• Step 2 Line a 9inch springform pan with parchment paper
• Step 3 To make the sliced oranges
• Step 4 In a large frying pan or skillet dissolve the sugar in the water.
• Step 5 Add the orange slices and gently poach in the liquid for around an hour and a quarter or until the rind is soft and almost transparent.
• Step 6 Arrange the slices in overlapping circles at the base of the springform tin.
• Step 7 To make the cake
• Step 8 Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix thoroughly
• Step 9 Add all the dry ingredients to a separate bowl and mix together, then fold into the creamed mixture  
• Step 10 Finally add the marmalade and the ricotta.
• Step 11 Add a little milk or liquid from the poached oranges if the mixture seems too dry.
• Step 12 Transfer the mixture to the tin, spread evenly, over the orange slices.
• Step 13 Cook for about 45 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
• Step 14 Make the syrup by dissolving the sugar in the orange juice in a small pan over a medium heat.
• Step 15 Remove from the oven, pour over syrup and leave to cool.

Caramel Sauce

February 22, 2020

Difficulty: can be tricky

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Make your own caramel sauce to add to desserts. Will keep in fridge for a couple of weeks. YUM!

By: Carolyn Eddie

Ingredients

• 101/2oz/300g/11/2 cups sugar
• 3fl oz/80ml/1/3 cup water
• 10 fl oz/310ml/11/4 cup heavy cream
• splash of vinegar or lemon juice

Directions

• Step 1 In a heavy bottomed pan add sugar, water and a little splash of vinegar. The vinegar stops crystals forming but does not affect the taste. 
• Step 2 Melt the sugar over a low heat until it is dissolved. Do not stir. Increase heat to medium and boil until sugar turns a deep brown, be careful as mixture goes from perfect to burnt very quickly. 5-7 minutes, do not be tempted to stir
• Step 3 Be careful caramel is very hot! Once it has reached the desired color take pan off heat.
• Step 4 Slowly add the cream, it may bubble up.
• Step 5 Return pan to a low heat and stir until the mixture is smooth. The caramel will thicken as it cools

This is based on the fabulous Delia Smith recipe from her ‘Summer’ cookbook.  I love using the baby peppers and filling them with the mini multicolored heirloom tomatoes when they are in season.  The anchovies are not essential, and I sometimes miss a few peppers in case there is someone who refuses to eat them, but for me they add a wonderful depth to a dish that is already full of wonderful summer flavors.

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