Marmalade Cake

A luxurious citrus cake featuring homemade candied orange peel, dried currants soaked in Grand Marnier, and orange marmalade. This elegant dessert is topped with a beautiful arrangement of candied orange peel for a professional finish.

8 servings
2 hr 35 min

Ingredients

  • 2 whole navel oranges
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 whole star anise
  • ½ whole vanilla bean
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup dried currants
  • ½ cup Grand Marnier
  • cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • 2 whole large eggs
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 1 whole springform pan

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Using a sharp knife, cut all rind and white pith from oranges in wide strips. Trim off any flesh still clinging to the white pith. Place peel in a small heavy saucepan. Add cold water to cover; bring to a boil. Drain. Repeat with cold water. Drain; reserve peel.

    15 min

  2. 2.

    Combine sugar and 2 cups water in same saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add the orange peel, star anise, and vanilla bean. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, until peel is soft and syrup has thickened, 50-60 minutes. Let cool slightly. Transfer peel to a cutting board and thinly slice. Return peel to syrup. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Place in a jar, cover, and chill.

    60 min

  3. 3.

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter pan. Line with a parchment-paper round; butter paper. Bring currants and Grand Marnier to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and let steep.

    10 min

  4. 4.

    Meanwhile, sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat 10 tablespoons butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in orange juice, marmalade, and orange zest. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending well between additions (mixture may look curdled).

    10 min

  5. 5.

    Add dry ingredients in 3 additions and milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients and beating to blend between additions. Beat in any Grand Marnier not absorbed by the currants. Fold in currants. Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth the top.

    10 min

  6. 6.

    Bake cake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden, 40-45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

    45 min

  7. 7.

    Remove pan sides from cake. Invert onto a serving plate. Arrange candied orange peel over and brush with some of syrup, if desired.

    5 min

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