Mandarin Orange Cake

This moist and flavorful cake is infused with the bright and zesty essence of mandarin oranges, imparting a delightful citrusy flavor with every bite. Whether you're indulging in this dessert as a teatime treat or as a sweet finish to a meal, this mandarin orange cake is a delightful option for those seeking a unique and refreshing twist on traditional cakes.

Ingredients

• 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice

• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

• 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. Combine cake mix, mandarin oranges with juice, eggs, and oil in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool for at least 30 minutes.

4. Beat pineapple with juice, whipped topping, and dry pudding mix together in a large bowl until blended. Spread on cooled cake.

Rose Pavlova Cakes

Indulge in the romance of Valentine's Day with these exquisite Rose Pavlova Cakes. This delicate dessert combines the crisp, meringue base of a classic pavlova with the subtle, floral essence of roses. Topped with a light, whipped cream and adorned with fresh petals and berries, it's the perfect sweet treat to share with your loved one.

Ingredients

• 3 egg whites, at room temperature

• 1 teaspoon dried rose petal powder (Optional)

• ½ cup white sugar, or more to taste

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or to taste

• ½ teaspoon rose extract, or to taste

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

• 1 ½ tablespoons cream cheese

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

• 2 tablespoons white sugar

• 1 tablespoon dried rose petals (Optional)

• Berries (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 225 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine egg whites and rose petal powder in the bowl of a stand mixer; beat until soft peaks form. Start beating in 1/2 cup sugar gradually. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff and glossy peaks form. Mix in vanilla extract and rose extract. Fold cornstarch very gently into the meringue using a spatula.

3. Spoon meringue into a piping bag fitted with a fine round tip. Pipe into 18 individual rounds.

4. Bake in the preheated oven until edges appear dry, 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave pavlovas inside the oven for another 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

5. Beat cream cheese in a bowl for 30 seconds. Add heavy cream and 2 tablespoons sugar; beat until fluffy. Spoon whipped cream into another piping bag.

6. Pipe whipped cream over cooled pavlovas. Decorate with dried rose petals and berries.

Lemon Yogurt Cake

A lemon pound cake made with yogurt instead of sour cream.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature

• 2 cups white sugar

• 3 eggs, room temperature

• 1 teaspoon lemon extract

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 (8 ounce) container lemon flavored yogurt

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan.

• Step 2

  Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat one egg at a time into the butter mixture; add lemon extract with last egg.

• Step 3

  Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Alternately mix in the flour mixture and the yogurt, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat just until incorporated.

• Step 4

  Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Vaselopita - Greek New Years Cake

On this week’s episode of The Keep Growing Podcast, we looked at 2023 garden trends. Greek-inspired gardens are hot right now so let’s get that trend started with this cake! Traditional Greek New Years Day bread. Served as a coffee cake for breakfast. Also the person who receives the quarter inside gets good luck for 1 year!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter

• 2 cups white sugar

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 6 eggs

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• ¼ cup blanched slivered almonds

• 2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 10 inch round cake pan.

• Step 2

  In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light. Stir in the flour and mix until the mixture is mealy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the baking powder and milk, add to the egg mixture, mix well. Then combine the lemon juice and baking soda, stir into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pan.

• Step 3

  Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle the nuts and sugar over the cake, then return it to the oven for 20 to 30 additional minutes, until cake springs back to the touch. Gently cut a small hole in the cake and place a quarter in the hole. Try to cover the hole with sugar. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes before inverting onto a plate.

• Step 4

  Serve cake warm. Each person in the family gets a slice starting with the youngest. The person who gets the quarter in their piece, gets good luck for the whole year!

German Sunken Apple Cake

For this apple cake you need to cut the apples like a fan not only for looks — this little trick makes the cake especially moist. I like to use tart apples. You will need between 5 and 7 apples, depending on their size.

Ingredients

• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 10 tablespoons white sugar

• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 3 medium apples, or as needed

• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting, or as needed

Directions

• Step 1

  Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar and mix until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.

• Step 2

  Mix 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoon flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add to batter and mix until batter is smooth.

• Step 3

  Peel and quarter apples. Remove core and cut apples like a fan from the outside towards the inside but do not cut all the way through.

• Step 4

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a springform pan with butter.

• Step 5

  Spoon batter into the prepared springform pan and spread out evenly. Set cut apple quarters in a circle into the batter with the round, cut side facing up. Gently push apples into the batter.

• Step 6

  Bake in the preheated oven until cake is golden brown, about 45 minutes.

• Step 7

  Remove from oven, allow to cool, and dust cooled cake with confectioners' sugar.

Fresh Lemon Bundt Cake

With fresh lemon, this cake is the perfect, refreshing dessert for a spring cookout.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 2 cups white sugar

• 5 large eggs

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

• 1 large lemon, zested

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a bundt pan.

• Step 2

  Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add eggs one at a time, alternating with flour, allowing each egg and portion of flour to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Stir lemon juice and zest into flour mixture until batter is just combined; pour into prepared pan.

• Step 3

  Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes.