The Best Polenta Orange Cake
User Reviews
5
The Best Polenta Orange Cake
Description
The Best Polenta Orange Cake relies on a mix of cornmeal and fine semolina alongside Greek yogurt to produce a moist crumb that carries a mild grainy texture characteristic of polenta. Grated orange peel and an optional syrup infused with fresh orange and lemon juice add vibrant citrus flavor. The cake batter is prepared by beating egg yolks with sugar and yogurt to a pale, thick consistency, then incorporating oil, milk, and dry ingredients before carefully folding in whipped egg whites to keep the cake light.
After baking until golden and done, the cake is soaked with an orange syrup made from fresh juice and sugar, enhancing sweetness and moistness. The texture balances softness with the slight grit of the cornmeal, and the flavor profile features citrus brightness that complements the underlying richness from yogurt and oil.
This cake suits a tea or coffee break and can be dusted with icing sugar or decorated with orange slices. Using a digital scale ensures precise measurement of ingredients, contributing to consistent texture and rise.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 150 g cornmeal 5.5 oz), Note 2, 1 cup medium grind
- 50 g semolina 1.8 oz, fine/soft
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon orange peel optional (Note 3, grated
- 3 egg large
- 125 g granulated sugar 4.5 oz
- 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 450 g Greek yogurt 1 lb), divided
- 100 ml vegetable oil 3.5 fl.oz, scant ½ cup
- 50 ml milk 1.7 fl.oz, scant ¼ cup
- icing sugar to dust
- 1 orange optional, to decorate
For the orange syrup:
- orange juice about 100 ml/ 3.4 fl. oz/ scant ½ cup fresh juice, juice of 2-3 oranges
- 50 g sugar 1.7 oz, ¼ cup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
Sweet polenta cake:
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/ 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter a casserole dish, 28x18 cm/ 11x7 inches.
- Mix the cornmeal, semolina, baking powder, and grated orange peel in a bowl. Set aside.
- Eggs: Separate the eggs. Beat the egg whites until stiff and set aside. In a larger bowl, beat the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla sugar, or vanilla extract and 50 g/ 1.7 oz/ scant ¼ cup of the yogurt until pale and thick.
- Add the vegetable oil in a slow stream while beating all the time.
- Add the rest of the yogurt and beat for about 1 minute.
- Add the milk and mix shortly.
- Slowly add the cornmeal – semolina mixture mixing with a regular egg beater/whisk this time.
- Fold in the egg whites carefully.
- Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and bake for about 45 minutes or until the cake is golden and a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Orange syrup:
- In the meantime, make the orange syrup. Juice the oranges until you have about 100 ml/ ½ cup juice. Sieve the juice into a small pot add the sugar and the lemon juice.
- When it starts to boil, remove it immediately, you should have a relatively thin syrup.
- Poke cake: When baked, take the cake out of the oven and prick it all over with a toothpick.
- Soak cake: Pour about ¾ of the syrup all over the cake. Add a bit more around the edges, should they be drier than the rest of the cake.
- Cool completely in the dish. Cut the cake into squares, remove carefully from the baking dish and sprinkle with icing sugar. Decorate with orange wedges if you wish.
Notes
- Use a digital kitchen scale for accurate measurement of dry ingredients to ensure the best texture and consistency.
- For quicker baking, choose a coarse cornmeal variety that cooks in about 10 minutes.
- Use organic, unwaxed oranges to obtain clean, flavorful zest and juice for the orange components.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 238 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1square | |
| Calories | 238kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 8g | 47% |
| Cholesterol | 49mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 120mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 18g | 36% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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