Pain d'epices with orange syrup

Name: Pain d'epices with orange syrup
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 4 small loaf cakes
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 100g rye flour; 400g plain flour; 1½ tsp baking powder; 1 tsp bicarb soda; 2 tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; ½ tsp ground star anise; ½ cup hazelnut meal; pinch salt; 1 cup (250ml) honey; 1 cup (250ml) milk; ½ cup castor sugar; zest 1 lemon; 2 eggs; Orange syrup (optional); 1 cup castor sugar; ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice; zest of 1 orange

Caroline Velik

May 28, 2021

Mini pain d'epice cakes with orange syrup.Marina Oliphant

Time:1-2 hoursMakes:4 small loaf cakes

This pain d'epice is a festive spiced cake with French origins. I like to drizzle orange syrup over the top, but it is equally delicious served warm from the oven, spread with some butter.

Ingredients

100g rye flour
400g plain flour
1½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb soda
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground star anise
½ cup hazelnut meal
pinch salt
1 cup (250ml) honey
1 cup (250ml) milk
½ cup castor sugar
zest 1 lemon
2 eggs
Orange syrup (optional)
1 cup castor sugar
¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
zest of 1 orange

Method

Preheat oven to 180C fan-forced. Line 4 loaf tins (15cm x 9cm) with baking paper. Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
In a small saucepan, gently heat the honey and milk until just warmed and combined. Add sugar and lemon zest. Remove from heat and cool.
Whisk eggs and add to the honey mixture. Add honey mixture to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Pour batter into tins and cook in oven for 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
To make orange syrup, gently heat juice and sugar in a small saucepan with zest until sugar dissolves and forms a light syrup. Pour over the orange syrup while the cakes are still warm.