Thai Basil + Citrus Cake

cake · citrus · lemon · orange · sponge cake ·

Prep 8-10 slices

I have spent many winter mornings in my balcony, where I have successfully grown two pots of Thai basil. This was not intentional. I thought I bought Italian basil, but of course, one only knows after they’ve sprouted! But now I do realise this was a far better deal, since I seem to be using Thai basil a lot more than I would have Italian. Guess everything works out well after all!

So, with flourishing pots I felt it was time to do more justice – and for me justice usually comes in the form of a cake. Finely chopped Thai basil, paired with lot’s of lemon and orange zest ( I would have added grapefruit too, but I didn’t have any on hand) rubbed into sugar – and voila, a delightful summer cake is borne!

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat the oven at 200C

2 Grease and flour a 9” cake tin

3 In a medium bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt

4 In a larger bowl stir together the sugar, Thai basil and the zests

5 Then add the butter and cream with an electric whisk until light and fluffy

6 Then add the eggs one at a time whilst beating

7 Then add the vanilla extract, lemon juice and whisk

8 Then gently stir in the dry ingredient and fold with a wooden spoon

9 Add the milk and fold

10 Pour into the cake tin

11 Bake for 20 minutes

12 Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely

13 Meanwhile whisk together the icing ingredients and then pour over when the cake has cooled completely.

ingredients

1 ¼ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¾ cup castor sugar
¼ cup finely chopped Thai basil
1 tbsp orange and lemon zest
¼ cup lemon juice
½ cup butter, soft
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup milk (preferable full fat)

Icing:
1 cup icing sugar
2 tbsp orange juice

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