Finnish Buttermilk Cake

My mother sent this recipe to me more than 20 years ago, when I was living in the United States, and since then whenever I have needed to make a cake quickly, this is the recipe I turn to.  If you have been following the blogs lately, and have some leftover Buttermilk this recipe will help to use it up.  There are really only a couple of ingredients that you may not have on hand, but once you see how easy this recipe is to prepare, you will keep them stocked in the pantry and you will be able to prepare this cake anytime you need a sweet treat fix!!

Finnish Buttermilk Cake

2 1/2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons bicarb soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
the grated rind of one orange
125g butter, melted
1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.  Grease a 23cm deep ring tin, or bundt tin.  The bundt tin certainly helps to make this cake seem more impressive!!!  Dust with approximately one tablespoon of sugar (this gives the cake a lovely crunchy sweet topping).

Sift the flour and other dry ingredients into a large bowl.  Make a well in the centre.  Pour in the orange rind, butter and buttermilk.  Stir the liquid in gradually, drawing in the flour until the batter is combined and smooth.

Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour, or until a fine skewer comes out clean.  Turn the cake out onto a wire rack and leave to cool.

Dust with icing sugar.  Great served with whipped cream or ice cream as a dessert, or simply by itself, depends on wicked you are feeling!!

I'm feeling "saintly" - no ice cream this time!!  Perhaps tomorrow night!!

I guarantee you, that once you try this recipe it will become one of your firm favourites.  It is always a hit whenever I take it anywhere.  Just don't tell anyone how easy it is to make - let them be suitably impressed with your baking skills!!!