Victorian Citrus Glazed Poppy Seed Cake
- 1/2 cup dark poppy seed
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3/4 lb unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- 2 tablespoons grated lime rind
- 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
- 1 teaspoon dried lavender, powder (optional)
- 8 eggs, separated, at room temperature
- 2 cups sifted cake flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Syrup (Optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- 1/3 cup superfine sugar
- fresh organic lavender flowers (or roses, for garnish)
- Soak the poppy seeds in the milk for 4 hours or more. Rinse the seeds under cold running water, and then drain well.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a Bundt pan or a 10-inch tube pan.
- Cream the butter and gradually beat in 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar. Beat in the brandy, grated lime and orange rinds, lavender powder and poppy seeds. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Continue beating for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture is very light and creamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and beat until the peaks are stiff but not dry.
- Sift the flour and salt over the egg yolk mixture a third at a time, folding in after each addition. Gently fold in a quarter of the egg whites; then fold in the rest.
- Pour the batter carefully into the prepared pan. Bake 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested in the center. If you like a tangy cake,make a syrup by combining the lime juice and orange juice (and brandy!) in a glass measuring cup; stir in the superfine sugar until it has completely dissolved.
- Immediately upon removing from the oven, prick the top of the cake with a long-tined fork or thin skewer and pour the citrus-brandy syrup all over the top to cover it completely. Allow syrup to soak in and let stand until cool, about 1 hour, before removing pan. Place cake on serving platter and garnish with sprigs of fresh edible flowers.
milk, unsalted butter, sugar, brandy, lime rind, orange rind, dried lavender, eggs, cake flour, salt, syrup, lime juice, orange juice, brandy, sugar, flowers
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/victorian-citrus-glazed-poppy-seed-cake-286879 (may not work)