Perfect Sand Cake

• 1 cup corn oil (sunflower oil, vegetable ghee, margarine or butter)
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Options
• Option 1
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 orange, juice and zest of, grated
• 1/2 cup golden raisin
• Option 2
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon anise seed
• 1 orange, juice and zest of, grated
• 1/2 cup golden raisin
• Option 3
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• Option 4
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup golden raisin
• Option 5
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Option 6
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 cup golden raisin
• 1/2 cup coarsely-chopped walnuts

1. Put the oil in electric mixer bowl, put in sugar, beat the mixture until blended.
2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Mix yogurt with water.
4. Add flour in thirds alternating with yogurt and water mixture.
5. Add baking powder, baking soda and one of the variations mentioned above (or you can be creative and add whatever you like).
6. Pour the cake mixture (the mixture shouldn't be thick, it is almost watery in consistency).
7. In greased, floured cake pan (I prefer the one with the whole in the middle or a loaf pan for easy cutting).
8. Put the cake in COLD oven, set the heat at 180u0b0C, let the cake in the oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
9. Remove the cake from the oven,let it sit for about 10 minutes, remove from pan.
10. Let the cake cool on wire rack (or I put the cake in plastic bag and close it while the cake in it so the outer surface of the cake won't be hard, it will be soft instead.
11. Optional: You may sprinkle icing sugar on the face before cutting into pieces.
12. Serve the cake with orange juice, coffee or hot tea.

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Taken from www.food.com/recipe/perfect-sand-cake-275715 (may not work)