I figured it was finally time to talk about my new cookbook since it’s busy rolling into stores around South Africa as I type. It’s very exciting. Less frightening than the first time I will admit, and I’m feeling proud and happy that I have put this body of work out there. Its called Sweet and is loaded with delectable vanilla, caramel, chocolate and fruit treats. It’s also very close to my heart. I’m sharing this orange cake with orange buttercream as a way to celebrate.
Sweet is a collection of recipes that swings the pendulum from desserts and puddings, across confectionary, to baked treats at the other end. I’ve tried to include a little bit of everything I love; to cover them all I would need a second (and probably a third) book! I have a chronic sweet tooth that has steered me towards my passion for baking and dessert making, both of which are a source of comfort and great pleasure in my life.
In fact, while working on Sweet I realised I could probably write an entire book around fruit-based or boozy desserts because I am drawn to both. Mother Nature provides such a magnificent bounty of fruit and there is so much you can do with it, whether you keep it simple and close to its natural form, or change it considerably yet maintain its essence.
I’m also passionate about vanilla, my favourite spice. I find it intoxicating and it, too, has magical powers. As Heston Blumenthal pointed out, our brain registers its aroma as sweet, but the flavour on its own is not. It is almost inedible and only when infused into ingredients such as milk, eggs and cream does it become exotic and delicious, while also enhancing and adding depth to other flavours such as chocolate and coffee.
When sugar is heated to 170 °C, the molecules break down and a new compound forms, with a dark golden colour and deep flavour. Caramel. It’s the binding agent for many sugary treats and to make it, sugar is transformed to either softball or hard crack stage. I love everything about it and have included a collection of some of my favourite caramel recipes.
And chocolate – well everybody loves it. From white to milk to dark, it has become so sophisticated over the years. From single bean bars to understanding its origin as you would a fine wine, it must be one of the most wondrous foods in the world. I have included a selection of recipes using white, dark and milk chocolate
Sweet is divided into chapters according to my favourite sweet flavours: vanilla, caramel, chocolate and fruit. It’s impossible to isolate them entirely so there is also some overlap, and then there’s a chapter for other flavours that don’t quite fit into these. Of course, sugar is something to be enjoyed in moderation, but what would a party or any special gathering be without a little something sweet?
I made Sweet with much love, so I hope you find an abundance of delicious pleasure in it.
And in other VERY exciting news, I have a new look blog. What do you think?
It’s long overdue but I needed to make sure I had the right person doing it and I’m beyond thrilled that Diana Moss from the utterly exquisite website miss moss designed my new look and feel. They may be a tweak here and there but I will be popping the bubbly tonight.
Orange cake with orange buttercream
Orange cake has to be one of my all-time favourite cakes and is one of the first cakes I started making as a child. I love the simplicity of the flavours. This sponge is deliciously moist and fluffy and the icing is sweet and creamy; perfect as a tea-time treat. Conveniently, the cake can be made in advance and, as with most flavoured cakes, improves a little over a day or two.
Recipe ~ makes 1 cake
PrintOrange cake with orange buttercream
A light and moist perfect orange sponge cake with orange buttercream.
- Yield: 1 cake
Ingredients
Cake
250 g butter
250 g castor sugar
4 large free-range eggs
zest of 2 oranges
5 ml vanilla extract
280 g self-raising flour
a pinch of salt
150 ml milk
Buttercream icing
390 g icing sugar
100 g butter, room temperature
5 ml orange zest
45 ml fresh orange juice
freshly peeled orange zest, for decorating (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190 °C. Grease and line 2 x 22–23-cm cake tins with baking paper.
Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and castor sugar for 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, ensuring that each is fully incorporated before the next addition. Add the orange zest and vanilla extract. Continue to whip until the mixture is light and fluffy.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and salt.
Add the flour and milk to the creamed butter and sugar in 3 parts. Be careful not to overmix. Divide the cake mixture evenly between the 2 tins, then bake for 30–35 minutes. The cakes should be springy to the touch, and a knife inserted into the centre should come out clean. Leave to cool in the tins.
Put all the buttercream icing ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until pale and fluffy. Use a third of the icing to sandwich the two cake layers together, and the remainder to ice the top and sides. Decorate with zested orange peel if desired.
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108 Comments
yay!
Thanks for my incredible new site x
Congrats again on the new look , new book and the new cake looks yummy.
It’s your book , like I need another reason “hello?”
Stunning and well done.
x Heath
Thanks Heather – exciting times 🙂
So exciting! Congrats! That cake looks amazing. My birthday’s coming up, I found my cake! Would love a copy. If I don’t win, hope I can find it here in the US. 🙂
Congrats & celebrations on both the new look blog + the second recipe book–well done Same you truely are an inspiration
Wow, Sam, it looks amazing! You are such an incredible artist!Congrats!
Thanks so much Nina, Im so thrilled with the long overdue new look and feel.
Thanks so much Usha – I feel quite thrilled with it all xx
Hi Meeling – thats great. Its lovely and fluffy.
Look fabulous Sam, congratulations, hope it goes really well…I am definitaly getting one……
I think you read my mind! I was thinking of making an orange cake for a braai that we are going to tomorrow evening! I also have a very sweet tooth and would love to win a copy of your book!
Congratulations Sam! This is so beautiful – my favourite has to be the font of the heading. Stunning!
Oh Sam, I would really really really love to have this book. Apart from ice cream, dessert is not my strong suit and some help in that department would be fantastic. I really like how you categorized it, I’ll be starting with the vanilla section – it makes me weak in the knees. 🙂
The very good reason I want your book is the title “Sweet”! We have very sweet teeth in this house and hubby is always asking me to make tarts and puddings and cakes. Shared on Twitter @NicolaLMeyer The cover is amazing!!
Love your recipes, your styling and photography. An aspiring foodie like myself would love to own your new cookbook and attempt more of your amazing recipes. You have changed the way I make roast chicken. Love Love Love 🙂
Looks amazing, congratulations
Soooo badly need to work on my “Sweet” technique. This book would be the perfect nudge to get me going! 🙂
Hi Sam, I absolutely love your blog & especially all the lovely recipes. This orange cake is going to be a firm favourite as we love oranges & cannot wait for the orange season to begin.
I would absolutely love your recipes books as I have followed your blog & we also have a sweet tooth & love having cake & tea. The recipes are nice & easy and easy to follow.
I also only buy SA recipe books as I like to support our local chefs & all the great food they make. I have quite a collection, some of which I inherited from my late Grandmother, who loved to bake. Every weekend she would come visit with either a Lemon Cake or Granadella Cake or some creation, which I might add, were always absolutely delicious. My Dad again, absolutely loves Banana Loaf.
Kind regards
Renee
I love baking, especially since moving to California with all the great local fruit and nuts. The cookbook looks fantastic. Would love to have one.
As you know win or lose I am first in line for this book. All of my favourite flavours in one book. Fabulous Sam! That Orange Cake will go down perfectly with my coffee addicted family. ????????????
Congratulations SAM, and yes the blog looks amazing!
Absolutely beautiful Sam! Wow!
The cake looks absolutely dreamy, as do all of your creations. I am an aspiring food and photography blogger; it is my goal for 2015. I recently left the the corporate world, relocating to a new state here in the US. I’m exploring new places, new recipes, and new techniques to improve my photography! I am a photography hobbyist, and relative amateur. I have always loved cooking and sharing food; it is how I show my love for friends and family. I am so drawn to your food by your styling and photography. Your photos, your recipes, and the story of your journey inspire me. Your book is a piece of Art that I would love and feel honored, to have.
Gave my daughter your 1st book for her 21st on Christmas Day and made the Hummingbird Cake as her birthday Cake. We all loved it!
Oh wow.. Congratulations on your new book.. vanilla, caramel, chocolate and fruit… don’t you know how to get our attention!! 🙂 I love vanilla not only on my baked goods but also in my beauty products!! Does one ever need to explain why we love chocolate and caramel!!
I agree with you.. fruit and booze need a separate book.. along the line of seasonal changes!!
Could you send me a link where I can buy it from in India? else the shipping is exorbitant!!
And oh the new blog layout is just fabulous!!
lovely blog
love baking and collecting recipe books
delicious cake recipe
This cake is gorgeous! Congrats on your book!
Will your book be available in the US? Not as digital, but as an actual book? I bet it is BEYOND gorgeous!! So glad I found your site half-a-world away!! xx
Oh, and this orange cake looks amazing!!!
Going to be dreaming of caramel and that divine orange cake tonight 🙂
The pics look too yummy and delish for words . . 🙂
Would so love the book to try out in real ..!
This is fantastic. Congratulations Sam!!!!
The new look blog looks great! Your pictures are great too.
Sam i am super impresses WOW. Where do i buy a copy
All my favourites… what’s not to love! In my Moedertaal… my hart word sommer warm om so ‘n lieflike resepteboek te sien. I see… and I think I’m smelling and tasting the sweetness already! 🙂
And the reason I need your book is..,, I can cook – BOY can I cook – Thai, indian,French,Mexican,pacific-creole, Pacific fusion – plus of course western normal stuff but I am sooooooo bad at sweet stuff. SO I need your book! ????
Would be a worthy addition to the sweet/baking shelf of my collection 🙂
I would love to have your book, because Im a huge collector of books about cooking and baking; so it will be a great addition to my collection and it will help me in creating new ideas for my future cooking and baking activity.
Wow, CONGRATS!! So much gorgeousness going on in this post!
Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of your recipe book – love orange cake! Am a fan of your blog too.
Why I need this book: Well, to be honest, I don’t “need” it as I will live without it, but I do “want” it! Whenever we entertain, my sister and I both want to do the dessert as that’s the most interesting and fun part of a meal to prepare. She makes the most amazing doughnuts (among other things) and I love making ice-cream. It would be awesome to have this book to refer to when the occasion arrives and I might just let my sister look at it 😉 Great blog – I really enjoy reading the recipes. It’s also nice to hear things are going well for you with your blog and even better that you are based in South Africa so if you can get the ingredients, so can I!
Love the new look, I need to win your book because every recipe on your blog that I have tried I have loved and I need a new feature cookbook in my kitchen…
@drizzleanddip Totally loving the new look, I would really love to win this book, so my daughter & I can enjoy mother & daughter time, experimenting & creating beautiful scrumptious desserts….(liked n shared on FB / tweeted on twitter)..:-)
So exciting! I need your cook book because I have a slight obsession with baking and cookbooks in general-but can’t afford to buy new! ????Preset give me one? Lol ????
To be honest I have never been interested in baking. Well i love to eat baked goods but making them…. As a cook I find it really hard to follow recipes. My baking flops because I struggle with the sticking to the laws of baking. I am a rebel and add stuff that is not in the recipe. You can get away with it in cooking not when you are baking. My 3 hour long burnt carrot cake and absolutely raw in the middle is a classic example. Sigh!! I suppose to motivate me my wonderful hubby has bought me a KMix this week as an anniversary (10 years) present. Suppose a subtle hint to get me to bake??. Well, I am now super eager to bake, only to realize i don’t own a single baking recipe book. It would be really wonderful to have a baking book in my collection and very eager to use my kmixer!! Wink Wink nudge nudge!! LOL. If not… will be so happy to go and buy one as well!! This is definately a HUGE MUST have ITEM in my Recipe Collection!!!
Beautiful! Those pics of the sweet caramel are making me drool! I need this cookbook because I have a food processor now which means I can actually make new delicious things. I’m also no longer scared of messing up things in my gas oven. I’m ready for experiments!
I need (*NEED*) to win the book because I have a raging sweet tooth and those photos make me want to lick the computer screen. I’m going to get electrocuted if I don’t get my hands on the real thing soon!
I’m a dreadful cake maker and seriously need some help! (shared on twitter)
Baking is therapy for me and i am in dire need of new inspiration and therapy!!!
Congrats. What an achievement. I love trying new recipes and am a cookbook holic.
I have your first book and it has pride of place in my kitchen! But I have a feeling the second one is going to be even better 🙂 I absolutely adore baking and sweet treats that I can make, so I know it will be just Awesome! I love that there is recipes on fruit puddings! Shared on Twitter (@anitasteenkamp1) and facebook.
Your new book looks absolutely gorgeous – I’d be really thrilled to win a copy! Holding thumbs 🙂
Looks stunning & delicious Sam, I will look out for it and grab a copy!
Hi Sam.
I’m so delighted with the news about your new book and I’m already dying to have it so, can you tell me where can I get it? Will it be on amazon or do I need to buy it directly from South Afruca?
I love that cake and the combination of flavours and the blog looks amazing and the new look fits you perfectly well.
Cheers,
Lia
New look blog looks amazing – so does the book! Congratulations!
I just love the new look of your blog, Sam; plain but sophisticated! You know how grazy I am about your pics, so therefore I think I deserve to win a copy! 🙂
Hi Sam! This is a first visit for me and I am so happy to have found you! What a beautiful site… and how exciting! Sweet is done! It’s a beautiful book and one I will love to bake from again and again. Love how it’s organized and the photography is divine. What a treat! This orange cake is just in time for my 5lb bag or mandarins! Thank you for this Sam!
Congratulations on the new book!! I really like the new look of the blog too.
If I don’t win this giveaway I am going straight to my nearest book shop to buy it and copies for birthday gifts.
You are such an inspiration for having a thriving passion for good food, boozy drinks and sweet things.
Love your work – I can’t wait to attend the workshop you are hosting with Breville later this month!
Swooning pictures of scrumptious deserts! Please, let it be me! 😉
Your new look is just gorgeous! Congratulations on your new cookbook!!! So exciting : )
Why would I not want this delicious book, to mess the pages up so they stick with goopy love making of cakes carmel and chocolate
Love it. Yummy will definetily tell my friends abt your book
This is just the sort of book I need. I’m a real sweet tooth and also love baking. I’ll definitely going to use the full potential of a book like this!
I’d love this book for my sister, Alexandra Arabella Norrish?, who generously cooks me delicious things most evenings for supper after a long day at work because she just loves loves loves cooking, baking and all things food. Would be an amazing way to say thank you before she flies back to England after 3 months in SA.
I just love cooking and baking this is amazing.
Congratulations on your beautiful new cookbook, it looks really wonderful and full of gorgeous pictures! 🙂
Congratulations on your book, what stunning images! And your design is beautiful!
I would love this book, maybe then I can treat my Husband to be! He always cooks for me & he has a really sweet tooth so I could repay him for all he has done for me over the 9 years we’ve been together! <3
Your book looks incredible! Would love to have it to play in the kitchen with 🙂
Shared on Twitter and Facebook.
Would love to get your book. Your brownies are a favourite in my house
Congratulation Sam –
I am so exited – How can we buy it on line ?
I’ve been an avid baker since I was about 8 – around the time I topped my first cake with icing made from granular sugar and water (*dies*). Things have improved since then and today I make-do in my gnome-sized kitchen top oven! I’d love to have some inspiring recipes to make, and the flavours you’ve selected sound heavenly. Shared on twitter.
Congrats Sam!!! Your new cookbook launch must be thrilling and your blog new look lovely, so you must be proud! Al the best for the book´s sales and hope to get it in Europe soon!!!
Love from Spain!!!
Good morning from Stockton NJ USA. I entered to win a book which I would love, but if I am not so lucky, how can I purchase SWEET? I have tried Amazon UK with no luck. thanks dawn
Your orange cake looks absolutely divine and a cake I will definitely be trying…and soon. Your recipes are just so captivating, thank you. Congratulations on your new book, it looks amazing and what a great concept ! I love beautiful cookbooks and yours will be one treasured.
Being a very enthusiastic baker myself, this makes my fingers itch and my mouth water – can not wait to get my hands full of flour! Yum!!
Oh my, what a beautiful book…reason enough to covet a copy.
OMG, I can not wait to get my grubby little paws on your new book. Definitely making this cake for my birthday as its in winter and have been looking everywhere for a killer orange cake. NOM NOM. I would love to win this as I am a huge fan and love all your recipes that I have used. I retweeted @Sinder7
So excited that your new book has come out. I love Drizzle and Dip and have bought copies for so many friends as they have all enjoyed the food I have cooked from D and D. Everything I have tried has been amazing. I would love to get a copy of your new book. I have shared your link through Facebook.
Congrats on the new book! All your dishes look delectably delicious and it would be an honour to own one of these books and try out the amazing drizzle and dip recipes. I’m sure my family and my palate will be blown away 🙂
Congrats on the new blog design and the new book! Your 45 second microwave salted caramel choc pudding is a hit in our house and I can’t wait to see what other deliciousness is in that book!! I love your recipes and I try to never look at your website between meals: the photos always make me hungry. 😀
Thanks Hildergarde 🙂
I would love your book so I can give it to my sister who is a big fan! 🙂 (and then buy one for myself when its available)
My family is always looking for chocolates, biscuits, cakes etc in my kitchen and I like baking and experimenting with new recipes. In fact I am trying your exquisite caramel one soon for them so I would love your new book, please ??
I want this book because it’s awesome! I’m probably the only one in my family who’s not banting and I have no problem baking my own cake and eating it too!
Hi Amy – it is available now 🙂
Hi Yolika – you sound like my kind a person 🙂
I like Yolika’s way of thinking, thankfully no one in my house is banting! I can never have enough cookbooks, it’s an obsession and yours would do me well in my collection…..pick me!
Well done Sam! It looks amazing! Congrats ?
P.S: I’m not actually entering the competition, since I won your last book, but I did want to say congrats regardless ?
I’m getting married this year and would love to have a dessert cookbook. Can’t be making dinners without dessert!
Gail March 16, 2015 at 21:55#
Well done Sam, the book looks amazing! Would like to win a copy but I don’t think I stand a chance. The family love orange cake and I can’t wait till the season starts to give the cake a try! Love baking and will hold thumbs that I may be lucky. All the best.
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Oh dear lord. I NEEEED this book because everything in here will give me diabetes in a good way!
Wow!!! Beautiful book!!!
Your site has long been a bookmark for food inspiration, and I love the new look (of course not surprising given your choice of designer!) Fingers crossed for the giveaway!
Hi Renee – congrats you have won a copy of my book.
WEll done Sune – you have won a copy of my book. 🙂
Hi Sam, what a wonderful surprise!! Thank you sooo much can’t wait!!! 🙂 🙂
Oh My God! This is the most amazing cook book ever. Definitely want it on my bookshelf!
Thanks Melissa 🙂
You have inspired me , can’t wait to get baking.
Hi Lulu, excellent, that makes me happy. let me know how it turns out.
Great site. Looking forward to availability of “sweet” in the u.k.
HI Maureen. Thanks so much, but sadly I dont hink it ever will be 🙁
Sam, can I substitute the orange with lemon?
Hi Naomi, I haven’t tested it with lemon and not sure if you would sub the exact quantities, I think it should be fine though.
Best ever orange cake recipe. Delicious!!
Hi Elna
I’m so glad you loved this recipe as much as I do.
sam