Byzantine Spice Cake Recipes

AGIOS FANOURIOS CAKE - FANOUROPITA (SPICED RAISIN CAKE NO EGGS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170 degrees.
• Hidrate the raisins in water or cognac (heat water/cognac and soak the raisins til they are tender).
• Butter and flour a 10-11 inches round cake pan or use silicon lining.
• Mix the oil and the sugar in a bowl. With a mixer/electric blender beat it for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the orange juice and beat for 1 more minute.
• Add to the liquid mix the raisins, walnuts, ground clove, cinnamon, orange peel, cognac.
• Add to the preparation the flour previously mixed with the baking powder and mix making sure there are no lumps.
• Pour mixture in baking pan and place in oven for 55 / 60 minutes in 170 degrees.
• Check if the cake is ready with a toothpick in the middle of the cake. Should come out clean.

MOIST, TENDER SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9-by-13-inch pan. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.
• Beat softened butter into dry ingredients, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cake pan.
• Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake's center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack. Let cool.

BYZANTINE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
• 2. Beat oil and sugar together. Add eggs and half of the yogurt. Mix well.
• 3. Mix baking soda into orange juice and add to batter.
• 4. Sift dry ingredients together and add to oil mixture. Stir in remaining yogurt and mix well.
• 5. Pour into prepared pan and bake 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
• 6. For topping: Boil all topping ingredients for about 15 minutes, covering pan the last 5 minutes (reduce heat if needed to keep it from boiling over).
• 7. Pour hot syrup over the cake. Let soak in and cut into squares to serve.