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    Home » Popular » Italian baking

    January 14, 2012 Baking

    Torta di Marzapane e Marmellata-Orange Marzipan Cake

    torta-di-marzipana-e-marmellata-di-arance-orange-marzipan-cake-1
    It’s funny to think that during the holidays I do the same thing every, single year. I get so psyched up about wanting to be the perfect planner and holiday baker. I carefully make my plans only to realize, plans change.


    Like this cake! I had every good intention to post it before Christmas. It was totally forgotten with my mess of holiday baking photos. I think it’s not too late to enjoy it.

    Spontaneity is cool. I like that I spontaneously baked this cake and everyone liked it. Well, mostly the adults. There is rum in it. The kids had other sweets to eat so don’t feel too sorry for them.

    It reminds me of Christmas in Italy. It makes me want to spontaneously reserve tickets on the next flight to Italy and surprise my in-laws.

    Some images from this past summer in Italy. I’m dreaming a little.
    DSCN1040

    DSCN0598
    DSCN9898
    torta-di-marzapane-e-marmellata-orange-marzipan-cake-1
    Since that isn’t really going to happen, I’ll bake some more Italian sweets and dream a little more of Italy and my mother-in-law spoiling us.

    torta-di-marzapane-e-marmellata-orange-marzipan-cake-2
    This cake is delicious with it’s buttery shortbread crust, thin layering of marzipan and jam. The moist cake is filled with juicy rum soaked raisins and topped with pinoli. If you aren’t a marzipan fan, you could leave it out.

    Orange Marzipan Cake
    Source: Gorgeous Cakes by Annie Bell
    Makes 1×8-inch cake

    Shortbread

    1/3 cup (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cubed
    2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
    1/2 cup all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup ground almonds
    Cake
    1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cubed
    1 cup sugar
    4 medium eggs, plus 1 yolk
    1/3 cup dark rum
    1/3 cup golden raisins
    1/3 cup raisins
    1 2/3 cup self-rising flour
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    7 ounces marzipan
    Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
    1/3 cup orange jam
    3 tablespoons slivered almonds
    3 tablespoons pine nuts

    Put all the ingredients for the shortbread in a food processor and reduce to crumbs, then keep the motor running until the mixture comes together into a ball.
    DSCN9753
    It will be very soft and sticky at this point, but press it into the bottom of an 8-inch springform cake pan.
    Chill for 1 hour.

    Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. To make the cake, put the butter and sugar in the food processor and cream for several minutes until very pale and fluffy. Add the eggs and the yolk one at a time, scraping down the bowl if necessary. Incorporate the rum. Pour this batter into a large bowl. Toss both types of raisins with a little flour to coat them.
    DSCN9750
    Sift the remaining flour and baking powder over the batter and fold it in, then fold in the dried fruit.
    Thinly roll out the marzipan on a counter dusted with confectioners’ sugar until it is transparently thin, barely thicker than a quarter. Cut out an 8-inch circle (the size of your cake pan).

    DSCN9754
    Spread the jam over the top with a spatula evenly over the marzipan.
    DSCN9755
    Spread the batter on top.
    DSCN9756
    Scatter the nuts over it and bake for 60-70 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
    Run a knife around the edge of the cake and let it cool. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving. The cake keeps well in a covered container for several days.

    Thanks for stopping by to say CIAO! Hope you had a fabulous week. 🙂

    « Vegan Black Sticky Gingerbread
    Rustic Apple Cake with Yogurt-Torta di Mele allo Yogurt »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. anniebakes says

      January 14, 2012 at 4:16 am

      this is one of the most interesting combos i've seen, it sure looks great! anne

      Reply
    2. S.V. says

      January 14, 2012 at 4:17 am

      The pictures are beautiful the cake looks amazing.

      Reply
    3. Lisa says

      January 14, 2012 at 5:41 am

      I was just debating making a swiss almond raspberry layer cake that has lots of almond paste in the batter, and then I see this, and this is all I want! Marzipan and almond paste in baked goods (like olive oil) lifts them up to a whole new dimension - at least for me. It looks beautiful, as do your photos from Italy. The photo of your husband's grandmother making eggplant with the kids is priceless. 🙂

      Reply
      • Savoring Italy says

        January 14, 2012 at 9:25 pm

        Thanks Lisa. I hope you still make the Swiss almond raspberry layer cake. Sounds incredible:)I know. Nonna Antonia is so fabulous. She's too far away:)

    4. Sandra says

      January 14, 2012 at 7:01 am

      Beautiful post Lora! Amazing photos, and recipe is so tasty!
      Have an amazing weekend!!!!xoxo

      Reply
    5. Lizzy says

      January 14, 2012 at 2:08 pm

      I want to surprise your in-laws, too! Fabulous photos of Italy...especially your wee ones helping out their great grandmother. And fabulous cake, too....mmmmmm. Have a great weekend, Lora!

      Reply
    6. Jamie says

      January 14, 2012 at 2:47 pm

      Oh Lora I love this recipe! The cake is stunning, so pretty and it looks delicious! And love anything orange. Perfect! And love the photo of the great-grandma with her nipotini. Adorable! And I love the Italians!

      Reply
    7. Jamie says

      January 14, 2012 at 2:48 pm

      Oh, and one day I want to meet you in Italy!

      Reply
    8. Paula says

      January 14, 2012 at 2:50 pm

      I so enjoyed all your posts from when you were in Italy this year and I love seeing the pictures of the kid's grandmother baking and cooking. This cake looks marvelous and I'm glad that you remembered to post it. Hope you get another visit back to Italy soon 🙂

      Reply
    9. The Mom Chef says

      January 14, 2012 at 3:25 pm

      If you ever need a spontaneous partner when you buy those spontaneous tickets, I'm in. I love and adore that country. I'm not a marzipan fan, so yeah, I'll be omitting that, but the cake looks amazing. So, so gorgeous.

      Reply
      • Savoring Italy says

        January 14, 2012 at 9:20 pm

        Thanks and yes...I will be spontaneous with you:)Are you a quick packer?;)

    10. Claudia says

      January 14, 2012 at 3:48 pm

      It lives up to the name "gorgeous cakes." I love the combination - and prefer this over heavy-laden cream filled stuff (although I would happily eat those). The photos make me want to spontaneously buy a ticket and go back. But the most endearing was that of Grandma with the kids.

      Reply
      • Savoring Italy says

        January 14, 2012 at 9:20 pm

        I prefer it to heavy-laden cream filled but would also not pass up a nice cannoli;)

    11. Kiri W. says

      January 14, 2012 at 4:28 pm

      Anything with marzipan I can never, ever resist, and this looks fantastic 🙂 Beautiful, beautiful torta!

      Reply
    12. EA-The Spicy RD says

      January 14, 2012 at 4:48 pm

      If your kids are like mine, I won't feel sorry for them at all 🙂 Lovely cake, and pretty pictures from Italy too. Only 14 days in to 2012 and I think I'm ready for a vacation!

      Reply
      • Savoring Italy says

        January 14, 2012 at 9:19 pm

        Thanks EA:)So am I;)

    13. Eliotseats says

      January 14, 2012 at 8:01 pm

      Thanks for sharing your pics from Italy and great flavors in this Italian inspired cake! I, like you, usually do a lot of planning during the holidays only to have my expectations unmet. This year, I just went with the flow and it was much better. Great post.

      Reply
      • Savoring Italy says

        January 14, 2012 at 9:19 pm

        It is much better to just go with the flow:)thank you:)

    14. A Thought For Food says

      January 14, 2012 at 9:48 pm

      Didn't want to give the kids a taste of rum? 🙂 This looks marvelous darling!

      Reply
    15. Kim Bee says

      January 15, 2012 at 12:01 am

      This is such a sweet post. Love all the pics, particularly the one of the kids grandmother. The cake is gorgeous. I bet it tastes crazy good.

      Reply
    16. Maureen says

      January 15, 2012 at 12:19 am

      My goodness this cake looks fantastic! I want a piece right now. I'm salivating over the photos!

      Reply
    17. Mari says

      January 15, 2012 at 1:20 am

      Great cake recipe! Love the fact that it is an orange flavor cake. It looks wonderful Lora 🙂

      Have a great week.

      Reply
    18. Baking Serendipity says

      January 15, 2012 at 3:32 am

      I love the photos of your dreaming 🙂 Italy is a place that is definitely on my travel bucket list. I was so envious of your trip last summer! I also love that you went ahead and made this cake even though it didn't line up with your original holiday baking plans. I love the spontaneity of it 🙂 PS: I have a giveaway going on now that I think you might be in to!

      Reply
    19. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

      January 15, 2012 at 3:33 am

      Love this cake...I never got to make my one absolute; some cookies from my grandmother. I don't know why I ONLY make them for Christmas Eve but seems we all get into a rut of traditions sometimes. This looks fabulous to me...yummmmeeee. 🙂

      Reply
    20. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says

      January 15, 2012 at 2:05 pm

      Oh yum! Now I know how to change up recipes to keep them away from the kids ha! Rum. Love it. 🙂

      Reply
    21. Shulie says

      January 15, 2012 at 3:45 pm

      When I think of marzipan I think of old world artisans. This cake invokes those feeling of family and traditions. Love your photos of Italy and the kids with their great grandmother.

      Reply
    22. Jen says

      January 16, 2012 at 12:04 am

      This cake looks delicious!!! Great photos!!

      : ))
      Jen

      Reply
    23. Reeni says

      January 16, 2012 at 1:49 am

      I wouldn't dream of leaving the marzipan out! So delectable - the cake is dreamy. Your photos are priceless - love the one of Great Grandma! xoxo

      Reply
    24. Anonymous says

      January 16, 2012 at 5:12 am

      This is stunning! Thanks, also, for sharing your photos of Italy....such a lovely place! Grazie - tutto buono!

      Reply
    25. vianney says

      January 16, 2012 at 7:13 am

      I love marzipan.. so glad you shared this. I know my mom would love this fab sweet!

      Reply
    26. Ilke says

      January 16, 2012 at 12:37 pm

      Ah wouldn't it be so good if we could be little more spontaneous (and have the means to be such)? We went to Italy last year and want to go back again so bad.
      This looks so inviting, I have to try some Italian desserts to scratch that itch I guess 🙂

      Reply
    27. CulinaryCache says

      January 16, 2012 at 5:11 pm

      Oh, this looks amazing! I love the orange and pine nuts to top such a great combination. Great job!

      Reply
    28. Happy When Not Hungry says

      January 17, 2012 at 12:56 am

      This cake looks beautiful! I absolutely love marzipan. Your photos of Italy are beautiful too.

      Reply
    29. Amber | Bluebonnets and Brownies says

      January 17, 2012 at 4:01 am

      Such a gorgeous post! It's hard when you've got family all over the world. I can relate, my inlaws are in the UK, and it's a constant goal to stay connected. Love the photo of the kids with great grandma!

      Reply
    30. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

      January 18, 2012 at 2:46 am

      Magical Italy and drool worthy torta 🙂 thanks for sharing the photos...

      Reply
    31. Magic of Spice says

      January 18, 2012 at 3:14 am

      Beautiful photos! I would not mind joining you on a spontaneous trip to Italy, or for that matter a slice of this wonderful cake 🙂

      Reply
    32. Hanna says

      January 19, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      Everythign is gorgfeous. I am so glad to have found you. Than you for the lovely comment on Kelly's interview. I am a new follower here. so nice to meet you my friend:)xoxoxoxo Hanna

      Reply
    33. Grace says

      February 06, 2012 at 2:03 pm

      Lora you always have me wanting to jump on a plane and visit all my relatives in Italy. Cake looks delish!

      Reply

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    lora and gabby

    Welcome to our Italian kitchen! We are Lora and Gabriella, the mother-daughter team behind Savoring Italy. With more than 30+ years of experience in the kitchen, Lora has had a great advantage – receiving guidance from both her husband who is an executive chef/restaurant owner and her mother who is a renowned private chef. 

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