Cake with whipped cream and oranges

Orange and Whipped Cream Cake - a delicious choice for any occasion

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 45 minutes
Total time: 75 minutes
Servings: 12

Do you want a dessert that is not only tasty but also visually stunning? The Orange and Whipped Cream Cake is the perfect choice! This cake combines the fluffy texture of the sponge with the fresh flavors of oranges and the creaminess of whipped cream, creating an unforgettable experience. The origins of this cake are lost in history, but the combination of fruits and cream has always been a popular choice in many cultures. So, let’s get started and I’ll show you how to achieve a perfect result!

Ingredients

For the sponge:
- 8 eggs
- 8 tablespoons of sugar
- 8 tablespoons of flour
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- Zest of one orange
- Zest and juice of one lemon

For the cream:
- 250 ml milk
- 30 g gelatin
- 5 egg yolks
- 250 g sugar
- 500 ml liquid cream
- 5-6 oranges
- 2 tablespoons of sugar for whipping the cream

Step 1: Preparing the sponge

1. Beat the egg whites: In a large bowl, add the egg whites along with a pinch of salt. Use an electric mixer to beat them until you achieve a stiff peak.

2. Add the sugar: Continue beating, gradually adding the sugar until you get a shiny and firm meringue. This step is crucial to ensure a fluffy sponge.

3. Incorporate the dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix the flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder, orange zest, and lemon zest. Gradually add this mixture over the meringue, gently folding with a spatula to avoid deflating the foam.

4. Bake the sponge: Pour the mixture into a 26 cm diameter cake pan, greased with butter or lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 160°C for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. After baking, remove the sponge from the oven and let it cool on a kitchen rack.

Step 2: Preparing the cream

1. Dissolve the gelatin: Place the gelatin in warm milk and let it hydrate. Then, refrigerate it overnight.

2. Prepare the cream: In a bowl, mix the egg yolks with 250 g of sugar. Add the dissolved gelatin in milk and heat the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Let it cool slightly.

3. Add the whipped cream: Whip the liquid cream with the 2 tablespoons of sugar until it becomes firm. Gently fold the whipped cream into the egg mixture, adding the zest of one orange and the remaining orange pieces for extra flavor.

Step 3: Assembling the cake

1. Prepare the pan: Peel the oranges and slice them thinly. Line the bottom of the pan where you want to prepare the cake with the orange slices.

2. Add the cream: Spread a layer of cream over the orange slices, making sure to cover the sides of the pan as well.

3. Place the sponge: Place the first layer of sponge on top of the cream, followed by another layer of cream. Add the second layer of sponge and spread a thin layer of cream on top.

4. Chill the cake: Cover the cake with plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator overnight to set well.

Step 4: Serving the cake

1. Unmold the cake: Remove the cake from the refrigerator, let it sit for a few minutes to temper, then invert it onto a serving platter.

2. Decorate: You can decorate the cake with orange slices, using both regular oranges and blood oranges for a spectacular look. You can also add mint leaves for a pop of color.

Useful tips

- Gelatin: Make sure to use high-quality gelatin to guarantee a perfect cream. If you prefer a vegetarian option, you can use agar-agar.
- Oranges: Choose fresh and juicy oranges to achieve the best results. The taste of the cake will largely depend on the quality of the fruits.
- Alternative sponge: If you want to save time, you can use ladyfingers instead of sponge cake. They will soak in the cream and create a similar flavor.

Frequently asked questions

1. How can I store the cake? The cake can be stored in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for 3-4 days. If left longer, the cream may start to degrade.

2. Can I use other fruits? Absolutely! You can replace the oranges with lemons or other citrus fruits, but keep in mind that you may need to adjust the sugar amount based on the acidity of the fruits.

3. How can I make the cake less sweet? You can reduce the sugar amount in the sponge and cream, but make sure that the gelatin is sweet enough to balance the acidity of the fruits.

The Orange and Whipped Cream Cake is an elegant dessert, perfect for holidays or to impress guests. So don’t miss the chance to try it and indulge your taste buds! Enjoy!