One Birthday, Two Cakes

Miranda had her first birthday this past Thursday and we had a small family celebration with Papa, Jove, Abuela Tati and a close family friend. I made the simple cake pictured here, an Orange-Yogurt Cake that was yummy and simple to make (recipe to follow). When Jove turned one I didn't let him have any cake because I was way too uptight. Oh, how a second child has forced me to relax. Needless to say, Miranda ate it and loved it.

On Easter Sunday, we had a bigger family celebration with Jove and Miranda's Cousins (five of them), Jupiter's cousins, mom, sisters and dad who was visiting from the Dominican Republic. We got an amazing cake from a Greek bakery in Queens. I was too scared to make a big frosted cake for so many people. The party was more of an Easter party for kids with a birthday cake cutting thrown in for Miranda. It was really a great day of playing, egg hunting (hilarious!) and decorating, talking and letting many loving arms hold Miranda.

I got this cake recipe from a blog called Orangette and modified it slightly to make it an orange cake instead of lemon.

Orange-Yogurt Cake

1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup white sugar
3 large eggs
1 and 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. grated orange zest
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tbsp. orange extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the first three ingredients and stir until well blended. Add the flour, baking powder and zest and mix only to combine. Add the oil and extract and stir to incorporate. Pour the batter into a round, buttered 9 inch cake pan. I also put buttered parchment paper in the bottom of the pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the cake is firm in the middle and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a rack for at least twenty minutes. Turn it out of the pan onto a cake plate.

Optional glaze:

I made a simple glaze/sauce out of orange juice, sugar and some orange extract that I reduced over medium heat for about ten minutes and then I slowly poured about a cup of the liquid over the cake. Punching a few holes with a fork will allow the mixture to soak in and not run off the cake.

This cake is easy and tastes delicious.