Orange Currant Tea Cakes Recipes

TEACAKES

Steps:

• Warm the milk with the butter in a pan until the butter has melted, then add 100ml water to cool the mixture to room temp. Tip the flour, yeast, sugar, spice and 1 tsp salt into a bowl, making sure the yeast is on the other side of the bowl to the salt. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour the milk and butter in, mixing until it forms big flakes, then bring together with your hands. Tip on a surface and knead until smooth (about 5 mins). Put the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave until doubled in size, so about 1-1 ½ hours.
• Line a tray with baking paper. Tip the mixed dried fruits into the dough and knead them in, trying to disperse them evenly throughout the dough. Cut your dough into 6 even-sized balls, take each ball and, using the cup of your hand, and pressing down a little with your palm, roll the ball in a circular motion on the surface to create tension across the top of the bun and a neat round shape. Place onto a tray about 5cm away from each other and press down with your palm to flatten the dough down a little, creating the teacake shape. Cover loosely with an oiled sheet of cling film, for a further 45 mins, or until they have doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Brush the top of each bun liberally with the egg wash, then bake for 20 mins on the top shelf of the oven, until the buns are golden and well risen. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then slice in half, toast and slather with butter if you like.

CRANBERRY ORANGE TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325° F. In small bowl, toss cranberries and 1 teaspoon flour; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat margarine and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Beat in egg, sour cream, orange peel and orange extract until smooth.
• Beat in 2 cups flour, the baking soda and salt on low speed until well blended. Stir in cranberry mixture. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until bottoms are light golden. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Sprinkle tops with powdered sugar. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

CURRANT TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Cream butter, lemon peel and lemon juice until light.
• Add sugar and cream until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs and blend well.
• In another bowl, mix flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating well until blended.
• Stir in currants.
• Drop by teaspoonsful onto greased and floured baking sheet.
• Bake at 350* for 10 minutes or until set.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool.

SPICED ORANGE BLOSSOM TEA CAKES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, orange blossom water, salt, baking soda, cloves and allspice. Add the softened butter, working it into the dry ingredients with your hands until fully incorporated. Add the egg and vanilla extract and gently knead the dough until it comes together. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat a grill to 350 degrees F. (See Cook's Note)
• Roll out the dough to roughly 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured piece of parchment. Punch out six 3-inch rounds, re-rolling the dough once if necessary. Place the dough rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure they are evenly spaced.
• Place the baking sheet over indirect heat on the grill. Bake the tea cakes until set but still pale, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the grill and allow to cool. Additional garnishes can be added to the top of the tea cakes. I enjoy adding a sprinkle of allspice at the end.

ORANGE TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift flour and salt; set aside. , In a large bowl, beat yolks until slightly thickened. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. Blend in orange juice and zest. Add dry ingredients to yolk mixture; mix well. , In another bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold a fourth of egg whites into the batter, then fold in remaining whites., Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on the lowest oven rack at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert pan onto a wire rack; cool completely, about 1 hour. , Run a knife around sides of cake and remove to a serving plate. Dust with confectioner's sugar.

ORANGE-CURRANT TEA CAKES

Steps:

• FOR TEA CAKES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray mini-muffin tins with baking spray; set aside.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine currants and 3/4 cup orange juice. Heat on 100% POWER for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Use a mesh strainer to drain juice into a measuring cup, reserving currants. Add enough orange juice (about 1/4 cup) to yield 3/4 cup.
• In a medium bowl, combine pound cake mix, pumpkin pie spice, eggs, orange juice, and orange extract. Use an electric mixer to beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Stir in reserved currants.
• Spoon a generous 1 tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes or until light, just barely golden brown. (NOTE: If necessary, work in batches. Wash muffin cups between baking. Dry and re-spray with baking spray as directed.)
• Remove tea cakes from muffin tins and let cool for 5 minutes.
• FOR GLAZE: In a small bowl, combine all glaze ingredients. Stir until smooth. Dip top of each tea cake in glaze and let cool completely.

ORANGE TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Squeeze oranges for juice, and grate just the orange sides for the rind.
• Make sure not to have any white bits.
• Preheat oven at 350°F.
• Beat butter and sugar till light and creamy.
• Add orange rind, milk, and blend in egg yolks, one at a time.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites till soft peaks form.
• Fold in flour a little at a time, adding orange juice a little at a time in between.
• Fold in egg whites, a little a time, until batter is well mixed.
• Pour into a lined, greased loaf pan and bake in oven for 35-40 minutes, or until cake is cooked in the center.