Best Craig Claibornes Mothers Orange Cake Recipes

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S MOTHER'S ORANGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Cream together the butter and 2 cups sugar, until light and fluffy.
• Sift together the flour and baking soda and add it to the butter mixture, stirring until well blended.
• Beat in the eggs, buttermilk, 1 tablespoon grated orange rind, the dates and pecans.
• Pour and scrape the mixture into a 4-quart tube pan and bake 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the cake comes out clean. Do not unmold the cake.
• Combine the remaining 1 cup sugar with the orange juice and remaining 1 tablespoon grated orange rind. Bring to the simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
• Gently poke an ice pick or skewer in several spots on top of the cake and pour the orange juice mixture overall. Let stand 30 minutes or longer, until it is absorbed and the cake is cool. Unmold and serve cut into wedges.

BLOOD ORANGE MACARONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine the confectioners' sugar and almonds in a food processor and pulse until powdery. Sift through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding any large pieces.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in a medium bowl with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and increase the mixer speed to medium high; gradually add the superfine sugar and continue beating until firm peaks form, about 5 minutes. Add the food coloring. Sift the almond mixture into the bowl and add the orange zest. Gently fold with a rubber spatula until the batter slowly drips off the spatula (it will still be thick).
• Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip. Pipe about sixteen 1 1/2-inch circles, 1 1/2 inches apart, onto each prepared baking sheet. Tap the baking sheets against the counter to release any air bubbles, then use a damp finger to smooth any peaks of batter. Let stand at room temperature until shiny and dry, about 15 minutes.
• Bake 1 pan at a time, rotating it halfway through, until the macaroons are slightly crisp and the bottoms release from the parchment, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheets. Sandwich the macarons with a thin layer of jelly.

GRANDMA'S CRANBERRY ORANGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup of white sugar, 1/3 cup of orange juice, eggs, buttermilk, cranberry liqueur, and vegetable oil using an electric mixer. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until moistened. Fold in the chopped dates, cranberries and orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
• Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan set over a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the pan and place on a serving plate. In a small saucepan, stir together 1 cup of orange juice and 3/4 cup of white sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Use a turkey baster or large spoon to drizzle the sauce over the cake. Poke the cake with a fork or skewer to help it absorb all of the sauce, or until the cake is thoroughly moistened.

DELUXE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine the flour, sugar and lemon zest. Cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly. Add the egg yolk and vanilla. Mix.
• Pat a third of the dough over the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with sides removed. Bake about 6 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
• Butter the sides of the pan and attach to the bottom. Pat remaining dough around the sides to a height of 2 inches.
• Increase the oven heat to 475 degrees.
• Prepare the filling: Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon zest.
• In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually blend into cheese mixture. Beat in eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, and the cream. Beat well.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 200 degrees. Bake 1 hour longer, or until set. Turn off oven heat and allow cake to remain 30 minutes in the oven with the door ajar. Cool on a rack. Chill at least 3 hours before serving. Adorn with fruit if you'd like.

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S WALNUT AND GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
• Lightly butter inside of a 10-inch, 12-cup Bundt pan. Sprinkle with flour and shake out excess.
• In a mixing bowl combine the ginger, raisins and walnuts.
• Sift together 3 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Sift this mixture over ginger-and-nut mixture.
• Put 1 pound butter into the bowl of an electric mixer. Start beating while gradually the sugar. Cream mixture well and gradually beat in yolks. Beat.
• in 1/3 cup Madeira.
• Pour and scrape this mixture over nut mixture, and blend the ingredients thoroughly. This is best done by hand.
• Beat egg whites until stiff, and fold into the batter thoroughly, until they do not show.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth over top with spatula. Set pan on baking sheet and place in oven. Bake about 2 1/4 hours, or until cake is puffed above pan and nicely browned on top, or until internal temperature is 200 degrees F. on thermometer.
• Remove from pan shortly after baking. Tapping bottom of pan with heavy knife will help. Store cake for at least 10 days. If desired, add occasional touch or more of Madeira, dry Sherry, Cognac or rum. Keep closely covered, wrapped in cheesecloth and foil, and refrigerated until ready to use.