Well, we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner last night. It was so nice spending time with my family and friends. My daughter, Stella, her boyfriend, Chris, my sister, Kim, my brother, David, his son TJ, TJ’s wife Melissa, their son’s Nick and Jake, my sister/cousin Donna, my sister/friend Angie, my brother/friend George and myself all enjoyed a wonderful meal. We feasted on Prime Rib Roast, my sister, Kim’s to-die-for mashed potatoes and her yummy mushroom and onions in Merlot sauce. We also had oven roasted veggies, garden salad and Caesar salad. For dessert, I wanted something different. Don’t get me wrong, I love Red Velvet cake as much as the next person but I was just in the mood for something different. I came up with this wonderful cake that I am calling April’s Amazing Orange Walnut Cake Christmas Cake and I do believe it is my newest masterpiece! My daughter was so sweet to help me out with the mixing of the batter. I am so glad I took notes as I made this so I would be able to reproduce it later. I cannot believe how perfect it turned out. Both my sister and my daughter said it was the best cake I have ever made. Try it yourself. I think you will love it too! Afiyet olsun!
- 4 eggs
- 1 Cup Vegetable Oil
- ¾ Cup Orange Juice
- ½ Cup Milk
- 2 Cups All purpose Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- 1½ Cup Walnuts, Chopped (Reserve ½ Cup for topping cake)
- For the Orange syrup:
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Orange Sliced in thin circles
- 1 Cup Orange Juice
- For the Icing:
- 2 Packages Cream Cheese, softened
- ½ Cup Powdered Sugar
- ¼ Cup Orange syrup
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine the 1 Cup sugar with the orange slices and the 1 cup orange juice in a medium-sized sauce pan.
- Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat to cool.
- Remove the orange slices from the syrup and place on wax paper.and cool the slices.
- Strain the syrup and cool completely.
- Grease and flour 2 - 9 inch round cake pans and set aside.
- Mix the eggs and vegetable oil until well blended.
- Put the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl and stir well.
- Add the orange juice and the milk to the egg and oil mixture and blend well.
- Whisk in the flour mixture.
- Next add in the chopped walnuts.
- Pour the batter into the two cake pans equally.
- Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool on a cooling rack, then remove from the pans onto the cooling rack.
- Put a piece of wax paper under the rack.
- Using a chopstick or other utensil poke holes in each cake.
- Spoon the syrup mixture over each cake but reserve ¼ cup of the syrup for the icing.
- Mix the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and the reserved syrup in a blender until fluffy.
- Place the bottom layer of cake on the cake plate and cover with icing.
- Top with the second cake and cover the top and sides with icing.
- Toast the reserved walnuts and once cooled, place on top of cake.
- Decorate top of cake with candied orange slices. Enjoy! Afiyet olsun!
