Pandolce (sweet bread) is a homely alternative to the traditional shop-bought panettone cake. I have adjusted this pandolce recipe a little to make it more orange, sweet and, dare I say it, delicious.
Serves 12
Ingredients:
– 250g butter, softened
– 250g caster sugar
– 2 free-range or organic eggs, beaten
– zest and juice of 1 orange
– zest and juice of 1 lemon
– 500g self-raising flour
– 1 level tsp baking powder
– 400g mix of sultanas and raisins
– 25g candied fruit
– 25g pine nuts
– 25g roughly crushed hazelnuts, walnuts or pistachios
– 2 level tsp ground cinnamon
– 1 level tsp grated nutmeg
For the glaze
– 200g caster sugar
– zest and juice of 2 oranges
Method:
1. Preheat to 175℃. Grease a 23cm springform baking tin.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well to incorporate them each time.
3. Mix in the orange and lemon juice and zest, then stir in the flour and baking powder. Add the raisins and sultanas, candied fruit, nuts, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well to a creamy consistency.
4. Pour the batter into the greased baking tin.
5. Bake in the oven for 1 hour, until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before releasing the cake from the tin. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
6. To make the glaze, place the sugar, orange zest and juice in a small saucepan. Bring up to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes over a low heat, until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup has thickened. Pour over the cake.
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