How To Make Orange Polenta Cake

This is a change from a flour-based cake and is very moist and tangy. Polenta is simply cornmeal and it is very popular in Italian cookery.

1. Step 1:

   Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Grease a 20cm square cake tin and line it with baking parchment.

3. Step 2:

   Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in the almonds and beat in the eggs.

4. Step 3:

   Add the baking powder to the polenta and combine well.

5. Step 4:

   Mix the polenta into the creamed mixture and add the orange juice and zest.

6. Step 5:

   Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn down the heat to 170°C/gas mark 3 and bake for a further 35–40 minutes, or until the cake is firm.

7. Step 6:

   Leave the cake in the tin to cool while you make the syrup.

8. Step 7:

   In a small pan on a very low heat, stir the honey into the juice and zest of the orange and add the brandy or Cointreau.

9. Step 8:

   Prick the cake all over with a skewer and pour the warm juice evenly over the entire cake. Cool for 30 minutes, then remove the cake from the tin and allow it to cool completely before removing the paper.