Gently spiced and with a tender crumb, a slice of this Vegan Ginger Loaf Cake is the ideal treat to serve in autumn and winter. Subtle hints of orange and almonds add to the flavour and a generous splurge of sweet, orange icing complete the package. Who wants seconds?
60ml/ ¼ cupGroundnut oil (or other flavourless oil)
120ml/ ½ cupAlmond milk
100ml/ ⅓ cup + 4tspOrange juice (freshly squeezed)
¾teaspoonAlmond extract
¾teaspoonVanilla extract
2tablespoonSyrup from a jar of stem ginger
Zest from 2 oranges (finely grated)
For the Icing
160g/ 1 ¼ cupIcing sugar
25ml (5 tsp)Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
Garnish
Flaked almonds
Crystalised ginger (chopped fine)
Instructions
Make the Cake
Preheat oven to 170C/ 325F/ GM3 and grease & line a loaf tin with baking parchment
Begin by removing lumps from the brown sugar by crushing with a spoon, rubbing between fingers or pulsing through a food processor
Measure all dry ingredients into a medium sized mixing bowl (sugars, flour, ground almonds, baking powder, baking soda, spices & salt. Stir to combine
Measure all wet ingredients into a jug. (oil, milk, juice, extracts, syrup). Whisk with a balloon whisk until blended. Add the orange zest
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and beat together with the balloon whisk until just combined. Take care not to over-mix as the glutens in the flour will begin to develop and adversely affect the cake texture
Pour the cake batter into the loaf tin and bake for 50-60 minutes. After 50 minutes test with a skewer - if it comes out clean the cake is cooked. If not, return to the oven and bake for a few more minutes before testing again.
Once baked, set aside to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and parchment and let cool completely on a wire rack
Decorating
Mix the icing sugar with 3 tsp of orange juice until smooth. keep adding more orange juice, bit by bit, until a soft-dropping consistency has been obtained. Too thick and the icing will not spread easily over the cake, too runny and it will just fall off the cake
Once ready, spoon the icing over the cake and guide it with a palette knife to cover the top - it will begin to drip down the sides
Sprinkle finely chopped crystallised ginger and almond flakes across the top of the cake