- Fruit
Ingredients
- 250ml mild/light olive oil
- 250g soft light brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 125g wholemeal flour
- 125g plain flour, sifted
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 100g chopped nuts (optional) walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds
- 150g sultanas
- 250g finely grated carrot
- 100g butter, softened
- 200g full-fat cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 200g icing sugar, sifted
- Chopped pistachios, dried fruit or edible flowers for decorating
-
Method
-
1Pre-heat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan forced.
-
2To make the cake, combine the olive oil, sugar, eggs, orange zest and vanilla extract together in a large bowl.
-
3Add the flours, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, salt and mix.
-
4Stir in the chopped nuts, sultanas and grated carrot.
-
5Pour the mixture into the tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 50-55 minutes or until the centre is firm and a skewer comes out clean. Leave the cake in the tin for 10-15 minutes before removing the springform cuff and transferring the cake from the base onto a wire rack to cool. For easy transfer of moist or sticky cakes lay a piece of baking paper over the base of the tin and fix the springform cuff over it.
-
6To make the icing:
-
7Blend the softened butter and cream cheese together in a bowl until smooth and creamy using a hand-held or stand electric mixer.
-
8Beat in the fine lemon zest and juice. Once combined, add the icing sugar gradually and continue to beat until the icing is light and airy.
-
9Split the cooled cake in half horizontally and spread 1/3 of the icing over the base, replace the top and cover the whole cake in the remaining icing. Use a palette knife to smooth over to ensure the heart shape is defined.
-
10Decorate with chopped pistachios, dried fruit or edible flowers.
-
11Cook's notes:
-
12If the icing is a little soft place it into the refrigerator to firm up for 10-15 minutes before use.
-
13Store the cake in a cool place and best consumed within 48 hours.