It been a rainy week and when it's rainy, all I want to do is drink bucket loads of chai, bake, fry fritters or cook long meals. It's something about the rain that makes me cozy.
It's also Raksha Bandhan on 08/22, a festival to celebrate a sister-brother relationship. The expression "Raksha Bandhan", in Sanskrit means, "the bond of protection, obligation, or care," is now principally applied to this ritual. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August.
Raksha Bandhan is a popular, traditionally Hindu, annual rite, and among people around the world influenced by Hindu culture. On this day, sisters of all ages tie a talisman, or amulet, called the rakhi, around the wrists of their brothers, symbolically protecting them, receiving a gift in return, and traditionally investing the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care.
Today we are bringing you delicious zes'tea orange cake to celebrate. You could also make it into orange muffins. It's a perfect summertime treat with chai and to celebrate this beau'tea'ful festival with your sibling/s and family.
To make this oh so tea'licious orange cake is super easy! All you need is:
Ingredients :
- 2 1/2 cups (350g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 sticks of butter (softened)
- 1 1/4 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
- 3 oz Ojas Orange Sugar
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Method :
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Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease a 9 or 10-inch round pan or two standard loaf pans (9 x 13 inch pans) and set aside. If you are using muffin pan then put the muffin liners in the cups and set aside.
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In a medium bowl whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
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In a mixer bowl fitted with whisk attachment, whisk together eggs and granulated sugar on high speed until pale and fluffy. On low speed and with the mixer running, add butter slowly until combined. Add orange juice, Ojas Orange Sugar, and vanilla extract and keep whisking slowly until combined. Add flour mixture and whisk just until combined. Don’t overmix.
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Pour batter into prepared pan/pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes on the middle rack in the round pan or 40-50 minutes for the loaves or 20 mins for muffins or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake/cakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
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Store cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For the best moist texture, the cake is best served at room temperature. This cake freezes well so if you make two loaves, cover well, and freeze one of them in the freezer for up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge
We hope it tea'lliminates your day and you enjoy your high tea. It pairs well with Sugrisma - Summer Masala Iced Chai, Arunima - Citrus Chilled Chai, or Aprajita - Butterfly Blue Brew. If you make it, bake it then show it to us on social media by tagging us @thechaibar.us. We love to see what you create!!
Until next time tea-ta!!
- Madura Chaudhari