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Orange Honey Cake For Rosh Hashannah

Orange Honey Cake with Orange Mousse

Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour

Servings

16 Servings

Ingredients

  • Spray oil containing flour or spray plus 2 tablespoons flour to prepare pan
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • ½ cup boiling water
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • ¾ cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest from one large or two small oranges
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed strained orange juice (from zested oranges)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs plus 2 yolks
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 5 tablespoon pareve margarine
  • ½ cup whipping cream
  • 2 to 3 small oranges
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Orange sices nuts or fruit

Instructions

  • To make cake:
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.   Spray and flour two 8-inch square or round pans.
  • In a small bowl or cup, dissolve the honey in the boiling water.
  • In a large bowl, mix together sugar, eggs, oil, flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, orange zest, orange juice and dissolved honey.
  • Mix with a whisk or electric mixer on medium speed until all ingredients are combined and the batter is creamy.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans, and bake for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the cakes comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes in the pans. Turn the cakes onto a rack and let cool completely.
  • The cakes may be stored in plastic wrap at room temperature for three days or frozen for up to three months.
  • To make candied oranges:
  • Slice oranges across into ¼-inch slices.  You do not want to cut the slices too thin or they will fall apart.
  • Bring four cups water to a boil in a small saucepan.  Add oranges and cook for two minutes.
  • Drain, and rinse with cold water.
  • In the same saucepan, place sugar and 1 cup water, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • Return the oranges to the saucepan and simmer on low heat for 45 minutes.
  • Let cool and store, between pieces of parchment, in an airtight container.
  • These oranges can be made five days in advance.
  • To make the orange mousse:
  • First prepare the orange curd by placing sugar, eggs, yolks, orange zest, orange juice, and lemon juice in a medium heatproof bowl.
  • Whisk to combine.
  • Set over a medium saucepan with simmering water (a double-boiler).
  • Cook the curd, uncovered, whisking occasionally until a mixture is thickened, approximately 25 minutes.
  • Remove bowl from the heat and whisk in the margarine 1 tablespoon at a time.
  • Cool for 10 minutes, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate eight hours or overnight.
  • The mousse can be made three days in advance.
  • To use immediately, place the bowl of curd over a larger bowl filled with ice and a little water (below the level of the cream).
  • Stir occasionally until the curd is chilled.
  • Whip cream and fold into the curd, one third at a time.
  • To assemble cake:
  • Trim cakes so that the tops are flat and the sides are straight.
  • If you want the cake to be all white, trim off all brown edges. Eat the trimmings immediately.
  • Place one of the cakes on a platter, bottom-side down, and tuck strips of waxed or parchment paper underneath it on all sides.
  • Place 1/3 cup filling on top of cake and spread all the way to the edges.
  • Cover with the second cake, bottom side up.
  • Spread a thin layer of mousse all around the top and sides of the cake.  Do not worry about covering all the dark parts of the cake.
  • Place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
  • Remove from freezer and add another coat of mousse, using a long, metal, flat-blade spatula to smooth.
  • Place back in the freezer for 20 minutes.
  • Add a third coat, using up all the mousse.
  • Heat your metal spatula under boiling water, dry, and use to smooth the top and sides of the cake.
  • Store in the fridge up to five days, or freeze up to three months.
  • When ready to serve, decorate with orange slices, nuts, or fruit, as desired.