Raisin cake

Raisin cake – a simple and delicious dessert, perfect for any time of the day! This moist and aromatic cake, with a fluffy texture, is ideal for breakfast or as a snack alongside a cup of tea or coffee. Plus, the recipe is quick to prepare, and the ingredients are accessible. Let's see how we can make this delicacy step by step!

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 35 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Number of servings: 8

### Ingredients

- 120 g soft butter (at room temperature)
- 100 g sugar
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons of milk
- 1 tablespoon of oil
- 150 g flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 50 g raisins (or other optional ingredients)
- Grated zest of one lemon (for flavor)

### Instructions

1. Preparing the ingredients: Make sure the butter is soft by letting it sit at room temperature for about an hour before starting. This will make it much easier to incorporate into the mixture. Also, if you choose to use raisins, it's good to soak them in warm water for 10 minutes to hydrate – this way, they will be juicier in the cake.

2. Mixing the composition: In a large bowl, add the soft butter and mix it with the sugar and vanilla sugar for 3-4 minutes until you obtain a fluffy cream. This is the perfect base for a moist cake.

3. Adding the eggs and milk: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, add the milk and oil, continuing to mix until the composition is homogeneous.

4. Incorporating the dry ingredients: In another bowl, sift the flour together with the baking powder. This step is essential to avoid lumps in the dough. Start gradually adding the flour mixture to the wet composition, mixing with a spatula or with the mixer on low speed until completely incorporated.

5. Adding the raisins: Once the dough is well mixed, add the hydrated raisins and the grated lemon zest. These will add a pleasant flavor and a note of freshness to your dessert.

6. Baking: Preheat the oven to 145 degrees Celsius. Pour the dough into a buttered and floured loaf pan. Bake the cake for 35 minutes or until it turns golden and passes the toothpick test – if the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready!

### Serving suggestions and variations

After the cake has completely cooled, you can slice it and serve it plain or dusted with a little powdered sugar for an elegant look. Additionally, this raisin cake can be enjoyed alongside a vanilla sauce or with a spoonful of sour cream.

For a more exotic version, replace the raisins with sour cherries from a jar or with pieces of dark chocolate to add a delicious contrast.

### Personal note

This recipe is extremely versatile. You can experiment by adding nuts, almonds, or even coconut flakes to personalize your dessert. Furthermore, the raisin cake keeps very well at room temperature, having an even better texture the next day.

So, don't hesitate to try this simple and quick recipe that will impress both you and your loved ones!