Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 300 g | 10.5oz soft dark brown sugar
  • 300 g | 10.5oz plain (all purpose flour)
  • 150 g | 5.3oz black treacle (or use light molasses)
  • 160 g | 5.6oz cold unsalted butter (cubed)
  • 180 ml | 6fl oz milk
  • 60 ml | 2fl oz fresh orange juice (1 medium orange)
  • 3 large eggs
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp butter and a little flour for the cake tin
  • handful star anise to decorate (optional)

Instruction

  • Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Melt 1 tbsp of butter on the stove or microwave and brush the inside of a 25cm (10in) bundt tin. Add a little flour and tap the tin to coat. Shake out any excess.
  • Put the sugar, treacle, milk, orange juice and zest in a large pot and heat gently, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Take off the heat, add the cubed butter and stir until melts.
  • Add the eggs and use a hand whisk to mix them in until incorporated.
  • Sift in the flour, spices, soda bicarbonate and salt. Fold them in until you have a smooth, fairly thin, batter.
  • Pour into the prepared bundt tin and bake for 45-50 minutes until the cake is risen, firm on top and a skewer inserted in the deepest part of the cake comes out clean.
  • Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes then carefully turn out on a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Drizzle with some toffee sauce or a simple glaze made with icing sugar and orange juice. Decorate with star anise or perhaps some frosted cranberries. The cake keeps really well in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days.