Orange cake with tahini and nuts

Cakes, in their simplest or most complex form, perfectly accompany morning or afternoon coffee. Add this orange version to your favourites list, too.

Materials

2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup of sugar
1½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
¾ cup orange juice
1 tsp. orange zest
2 tsp. tablespoons of finely ground almonds
2 tsp. sesame
1 tsp. raisins
Two tsp. of tahini
One capsule of vanilla
½ tsp. of tahini together with 1 tsp. honey, for the spread

Procedure

Step 1

Toast the sesame seeds without oil in a small pan until they take on a little colour.

Step 2

Dissolve the tahini in the orange juice. Mix the baking powder and soda with the flour. Beat the oil with the sugar until smooth, and add the tahini, orange juice, zest, and vanilla. Add the toasted sesame, almonds, and raisins and beat until incorporated. Then, add the flour little by little until it is incorporated into the mixture.

Step 3

Spread the mixture evenly in an oblong form, greased and sprinkled with flour. Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 45-50 minutes. It is ready when a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out dry.

Step 4

After a while, unmold the cake on a wire rack. Let it cool down a bit, and brush the surface with the tahini and honey mixture. Transfer to a plate and serve sliced.

Recipe by Georgia Kofina. Translated by Paul Antonopoulos.

READ MORE: Refrigerator dessert with petit beurre biscuits by Stelios Parliaros.