Saint Phanourios’s Cake
User Reviews
5
Saint Phanourios’s Cake
Description
Saint Phanourios’s Cake combines vegetable oil, fresh orange juice, brandy, and sugar with chopped walnuts into a batter enriched by flour, baking soda, baking powder, and warm spices including cinnamon and cloves. The mixture is whisked energetically to combine before being baked at 375°F in a greased and floured pan.
The cake offers a moist texture with a balance of sweet citrus and nutty undertones from the walnuts, enhanced by the warmth of cinnamon and cloves. The inclusion of brandy adds depth of flavor and moisture. Traditionally, bakers pause to say a prayer before baking, reflecting its cultural significance.
This cake can be dusted with confectioners sugar if desired. It serves well as a dessert or a special occasion cake, appreciated for its complex spice profile and moist crumb.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegetable oil plus more for greasing
- 1 cup orange juice from about 3 oranges, fresh
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- 4 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves ground
- confectioners sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Oil the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake pan or a Bundt or loaf pan of equal volume. Dust the pan with flour, tap out any excess, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, orange juice, brandy, and sugar until thoroughly combined. Mix in the chopped walnuts.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves. In small batches, add the flour mixture to the brandy mixture, whisking vigorously as you go. Continue whisking until completely combined. Tradition dictates that you're supposed to whisk for 9 minutes by hand.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Before putting the cake into the oven, pause to say whatever kind of prayer you feel comfortable with as you focus on the thing you hope to find. (Greek Orthodox women always make the sign of the cross, but the cake won't suffer if you skip this step.)☞ TESTER TIP: The batter will be very thick and slightly gummy—not to worry. And if it seems impossibly thick, you can always splash in another tablespoon of brandy.
- Bake the cake until the top looks hard and golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then remove the cake and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
- Traditionally, the cake is given away whole or cut into 9 pieces and shared with others. If you're serving the cake at home, you may want to sift a little confectioners' sugar over the top before slicing. The cake dries out easily, so if you do cut into it, make sure to wrap any leftovers well, first in plastic wrap and then in foil, or store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 355 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1slice | |
| Calories | 355kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 39g | 13% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 104mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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