CHOCOLATE ORANGE CLOUD GATEAU...WALKING ON CLOUDS!!
06 March 2008
"After about 20 years of marriage, I'm finally starting to scratch the surface of what women want. And I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate."
Mel Gibson
Chocolate Orange Cloud Gateau...I love cake making occasions & am beginning to explore newer avenues. Loads of experience & some success has made me bolder! One of the 2 books that are parked at my bedside are 'Cream Cakes & Gateaux' by Sue Ross. She says ...'Homemade cream cakes are irresistibly compulsive - and you don't have to be an expert to gain perfect results. Even the most spectacular results need no more than a quick final assembly of parts that have been cooked ahead". How true, & beautifully worded. I advocate her theory completely...
Sheer indulgence...delightful & delicious!!This cake is an adaptation of the 'Mandarin Orange Cloud Gateau' from her book. The basic sponge & sandwiching are quite the same, & I chose to make the topping dark chocolate. The flavours of chocolate, orange & almond tie up really nicely & make for a luscious dessert. I made this one for our anniversary... & was AMAZED at how moist & beautiful the sponge turned out. It was a complete departure from all other recipes I have ever used; & I can honestly say it's the best sponge ever. The difference probably lay in the use of oil & a little orange juice in the sponge, as well as the egg whites & yolks being separated. I made the sponge day before & sandwiched it. I frosted & dressed it up yesterday in the morning...it couldn't have been easier & more spectacular in taste! When we cut the cake this afternoon, we were all like 'WOW'!!
A Luscious Treat Alright!Can't believe I've been sitting on this book for ages...Sue Ross's book is a WINNER!! (The book is a small pocket type edition, published by Hamlyn in 1991). The author rightly says that these cakes should be kept as a treat as they provide a touch of luxury & a sense of sheer indulgence. Without any more words...
...the Recipe, as adapted from Mandarin Orange Cloud Gateau by Sue Ross, pg 17.
Ingredients:
Plain flour - 150gms (1/2 cup + 1/8 cup)
Cornflour - 25gms (1/8 cup)
Baking powder - 2 tsps
Pinch of salt
Icing Sugar - 150gms ( 1/2 cup + 1/8 cup)
Oil - 5 tbsps (I used sunflower oil)
Water - 5 tbsps
Eggs - 3 / separated
Zest of 1 orange
Orange juice - 1 tbsp ( I used it out of a carton)
Filling:
Whipping Cream - 200ml
Almonds - 3 tbsp (ground)
Castor sugar - 2-3 tbsps
Ganache:
Cream - 150 ml (15% fat)
Dark chocolate - 150gms / broken into pieces
Some extra chocolate for garnishing (grated, scrolls etc)
Silver dragees, orange slices, powdered sugar etc for garnishing.
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C. Line an 8" springform tin. (the original recipe uses 2 8" sandwich tins)
- Sift the cornflour + flour + baking powder + salt + icing sugar (yes, it's correct) into a mixing bowl.
- Beat the egg whites till they stand in soft peaks & keep aside.
- Lightly beat the oil + water + yolks together & stir into the dry ingredients.
- Beat until smooth, & stir in the juice & zest.
- Fold the whites gently into the yolk mixture.
- Turn into lined tin & bake for about 45 minutes till well risen & golden brown. Check if it is done with a wooden pick.( Slide a sheet of foil lightly over the top if it begins to brown too fast).
- Leave in tin for 10 minutes, & then cool completely on rack.
- Once cool, cut into 2 or 3 layers.
- Filling:
- Whip the cream + sugar till firm. Whisk in the ground almonds.
- Reserve a little cream for the topping, & sandwich the layers with the rest.
- Ganache:
- Put the cream & dark chocolate into a pan heat over low heat till all the chocolate has melted, stirring constantly. Stir well, & leave to cool.
- Frost the sides & top of the cake with the ganache. Decorate the top with grated chocolate curls & pipe a design with the reserved almond cream. Top with a few slices of orange, chocolate shavings & silver dragees etc. Dust with some powdered sugar.
- Chill well & serve right out of the fridge! This gateau doesn't need to sit at room temperature for a while; it's great!
Serving a slice of heaven...dressed in SILVER!
With CLICK @ Jugalbandi focussing on METAL this month...here is my kinda metal! Edible silver!! Most folk would cook or serve in metal; I'm serving up some silver. My entry for CLICK : March 2008.
March 6, 2008 9:11 PM
Gorgeous Cake Meeta...I haven't tried making cakes other than carrot cakes; Hopefully, DB will get me baking such beauties as yours!
March 6, 2008 11:00 PM
Deeba, old cookbooks are the best whether it's Indian or western. They use to give us such authentic recipes. Orange and Chocolate is my husband's fave flavors too. Looks delicious. Good one.
I posted Sally Lunn at FH from an very old book too, check it out!:)
March 7, 2008 2:00 AM
Gorgeous cake, Deeba! Am totally bookmarking this for later use! :)
March 7, 2008 2:50 AM
Hi there my name is Jeena and I have started a food recipe forum that I thought you would like to join here Click here for food recipe forum
I would love to see you on there to chat about food and cooking you can talk about anything you like and start your very own topics. :-)
or see my main food recipe website Jeenas food recipe site
Hope to see you soon
Thanks
Jeena x
March 7, 2008 6:15 AM
Absolutely beautiful Deeba!! Love the orange and choc flavors!! Edible silver, thats a great idea for Click :)...
March 7, 2008 6:22 AM
First time visitor and I must say I am speechless ! spectacular creations !
March 7, 2008 8:18 AM
That is a great looking cake and the way you talked about it made my mouth water. I need to get those cookbooks!
What is that on the cookbook in the first 2 pics?
March 7, 2008 8:51 AM
Look like a bakery cake! Wonderful creation :)
March 7, 2008 11:52 AM
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Deebaaaaa!!
The cake looks so glam, even Sue Ross's publishers wd hv pleaded for that pic to increase readership!
I truly lack words for you, thks for sharing and insight into details of sponge n others!
Great CLICK entrant,those dragees!
March 7, 2008 12:20 PM
Deeba, I think I would balloon up to two hundred pounds if I ever lived with you :D I think I bake a cake once every two months only! That looks so good!
March 7, 2008 1:23 PM
this sponge recipe sounds fabulous. thanks for your entry.
March 7, 2008 6:39 PM
Hello your cake looks absolutely fantastic, delicious :-)
Dell xo
March 8, 2008 12:34 AM
If forced to choose, I bet more women would choose chocolate over conversation. That cake, Deena, it's just splendid!
March 8, 2008 2:16 AM
Looks amazing!! :-)
www.zaiqa.net
March 8, 2008 11:03 AM
Hi there!
Thanks for visiting my blog! You have a great entry too for March. :)
Lovely baked goods.. yumm
March 8, 2008 12:38 PM
wow!!awesome cake ...wish could have a small bite!!!
March 8, 2008 1:25 PM
Love your creations deeba.You are talented lady with an excellent hardwork
vineela
March 10, 2008 12:16 AM
Deeba,
Happy Anniversary.
That cake looks good as always.
March 12, 2008 5:54 PM
The cake looks incredible - truly professional!
March 15, 2008 1:07 AM
That cake is unbelievably gorgeous! I can only imagine how divine it must have tasted. Love the quote too!
May 30, 2008 12:51 PM
hi Deeba.....i'm a great fan of yours. i have tried making most of your cakes and it has worked like a charm, except for this one.....i tried baking this for my husband's b'day but it was a complete disaster, the cake base was too firm....hope u could tell me what went wrong.....
May 30, 2008 2:47 PM
Trying to think what could have gone wrong Anju...because this is a pretty simple straightforward sponge. Not much to it other than a different mixing method than usual. Maybe it was the raising agent or overmixing. I've made this a couple of times with no problem. It was very moist. If the base is too firm, slice it up, add some syrup to soften the sponge, sandwich with whipped cream & leave to chill for a while.Should work Ok...