Monday Bake - Orange and Poppy Seed Loaf Cake

We are back after our lovely week away, the weather wasn't great (still isn't) but that didn't stop us doings lots - visiting castles and pebbley beaches.  I'll be back at work tomorrow and it will feel like I've never been away.....

This blog post came about as I needed a cake that I could make a few days in advance for some visitors. This is quite a dense cake and is actually better eaten the next day (or the day after that!)  There are three stages to this cake but don't let that put you off - they are very straight forward.

Cake:
175g margarine
175g caster sugar
3 large eggs
4 tbsp milk
175g self raising flour
Zest of one orange
25g poppy seeds, plus some for sprinkling on top

Syrup:
4 tbsp caster sugar
5tbsp water

Icing
5 tbsp icing sugar
Juice of one orange

Method:
Preheat the oven to 180c/Fan 160c/GasMark4
Line a 2lb loaf tin with a loaf tin liner (I use Lakeland)
Place the margarine and sugar in a large bowl.
Cream with an electric whisk until light and creamy.
Add the eggs one at a time beating well between each one.
Whisk in the milk.
Sift in the self raising flour, add the orange zest and poppy seeds fold in until all combined.

Spoon into the tin.

Bake for about 50 to 55 minutes.
While the cake is in the oven make the syrup.  Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to the boil stirring to dissolve the sugar.  Boil for a couple of minutes until thick and syrupy.
Check the cake is cooked - when an inserted skewer comes out clean - if it doesn't pop the cake back in the oven for another 5 minutes - then check again - repeat as necessary.

When the cake is done, prick several times and pour over the syrup.
Leave to cool in the tin.
While the cake is cooling make the icing by mixing the sifted icing sugar with enough orange juice to make the icing as thick or as runny as you like.  Remove the cake from the tin and pour over the icing, sprinkle with some poppy seeds.

Enjoy a slice with the remaining orange juice.

Thanks for visiting, hope to see you next week, bring the sunshine with you please!

Bakebakegirl.

Todays top three random Ipod songs:

1. Rehab - Amy Winehouse
2. Safety Dance - Men Without Hats

3. Foundations - Kate Nash