Spring is just around the corner and the birds are warbling cheerfully in the garden. Another Dexter calf was born early this morning, still without name but many are in the running. What a glorious day, makes me want to talk like Robbie Burns, oh deary laddie oh.
These simple little morning tea cakes are not overly sweet and include a small amount of almond meal helping to keep things moist. They have a sweet/bitter heart, just like mine, provided by a daub of orange marmalade. Best of all, they can be thrown together in minutes.
Orange, Almond and Marmalade Cakes.
- 125 g unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup caster sugar
- 1 large orange, rind zested then juiced
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup SR flour
- 3/4 cup almond meal
- orange marmalade
Cream the butter, sugar and orange rind until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Then add the flour, the almond meal and the juice. Spoon into a greased 12 hole muffin tin, regular sized , and if you prefer, encase them in muffin papers or parchment. Make a small indent into the batter and add a half teaspoon of marmalade to each. Smooth batter over the top.
Bake in a preheated (180 c oven for 15-20 minutes). Cool on a rack. Dust with icing sugar.
Help name the Dexter calf. The name must start with D and be male-ish. Irish/Celtic names preferred but not essential. Leave a D name in the comments below. His name will be chosen by Sunday, August 24th.
ALMOST ITALIAN 
The calf is lovely – add Devin to the list. I like these little tea cakes. I bet they would be good with a dollop of damson plum jam instead of marmalade (as I just made up a huge pot of the dark purple stuff). Glad spring is on the way.
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Devin is a good one, on the list.I added the marmalade to this old recipe due to the large amount of preserves in the larder, I think damson plum would be great tucked into these. Oh yes, winter is tedious in a country that pretends to be about sun!
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Oh Francesca, how very beautiful to have a ‘youngster’ at your place! And these little cakes, yum!
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He is so cute, and a friend for young Dougie. Now will we have enough land to keep them!
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How will you ever choose a name from all those? The cakes look wonderful! Now you’ve done it, I may have to do some baking this weekend!
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There have been more offered. we are getting close.
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Hehe so you’ve got a sweet and bitter heart do you Francesca? 😉
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Yes,could be a song title.
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This could’ve been your orange entry. I wonder if Ailsa took inspiration from it? As I sit down to write drudgery, I crave these things. Thanks for at least the vision.
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Morning tea on a sunny day is what I crave for again. Or just another sunny day. Good luck with the drudgery.
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Just made these, delicious, but added a splash of Grand Marnier as well 🙂
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hmm, excellent addition. some for the cakes and a wee drop for the cook.
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I thought the drop for the cook might be pushing it at 8am, but it was tempting
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