While I can never lay claim to House Stark’s House Words ‘Winter is Coming’, grapefruits, at least, have come to the grocery aisles of Singapore. And perfectly in time for the seasonal collaboration that I’ve been participating in on Instagram.
Just a quick FYI on the state of affairs here in Singapore before I get down to the Winter Collaboration recipe that I created (an incredibly moist grapefruit cake!):
- The chance of winter ever making its presence felt here in Singapore is 0% but there is always a 99.99% chance of heat and humidity.
- Consequently, winter fruits (such as grapefruit) rarely make an appearance and if they do, they’ll stay for only a week or so.
- I have never before, tasted a grapefruit in my life, but I imagined it would probably taste like pomelo (it sort of does).
- Game of Thrones: never watched an episode of it nor read a book about it but the motto above ? sounds cool (pun intended).
Great fruit, grapefruit, what fruit?
Grapefruit is a citrus fruit that is somewhat larger than an orange and has a rather pronounced tart taste. It tastes like a tarter, bitterer version of pomelo (shaddock) but looks like an orange on the outside. Grapefruit has a distinctive pinkish pulp. It is a popular superfood — it is 92% water and has fewer calories than most to boot. It is also said to lower bad cholesterol and speed up weight loss.
Like its other citrus cousins, grapefruit can be used for marmalades, candies, flavorings, or be eaten on its own.
Candied grapefruit slices and cakes
I decided to make a simple cake for this collaboration. Nothing too fancy since I’ve never even tasted a grapefruit before, but I figured that something similar to a lemon pound cake would do the trick.
But then I had a brainwave. “Wouldn’t those pinkish grapefruit slices look terrific on top of the cake?” Yes, they would. And making candied citrus slices is easy anyway.
I started with a basic lemon pound cake recipe but I replaced the lemon juice with grapefruit juice. You can add some grapefruit zest too, if you like, but I already used up all of my grapefruits for making the candied slices.
A little bit of vanilla and a dash of cardamom (mad props to cardamom, it truly enhances the taste and smell of desserts) and you get an amazing, incredibly moist grapefruit cake.
I was not prepared for how moist this cake would turn out to be. The crumbs weren’t powdery fine, but they were soft and tasty. The cake held up really well too, even after putting it in the fridge and briefly reheating it in the microwave.
A simple icing and a few candied grapefruit slices later and boom! It’s a veritable accompaniment to tea. Or to anything.
Incredibly Moist Grapefruit Cake
Ingredients
For the candied grapefruit:
- 1 grapefruit small
- 480 ml 2 cups water
- 220 grams 1 cup sugar
For the cake:
- 200 grams 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 113 grams 1 stick butter, softened
- 165 grams 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs large
- 120 ml 1/2 cup milk
- 60 ml 1/4 cup grapefruit juice
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
For the icing:
- 110 grams 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 30 ml 1/8 cup milk
Instructions
For the candied grapefruit:
- Slice the grapefruit very thinly and remove the seeds.
- In a large enough pan, place the water and bring to a boil.
- Add the grapefruit slices and boil for 1 minute. Remove the slices from the water and cool.
- Add the sugar to the boiling water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the grapefruit slices to the sugar mixture.
- Simmer for 1 hour, or until the grapefruit slices turn translucent. Stir occasionally.
- Carefully remove the slices and dry on a wire rack.
For the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 325F/170C.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, mixing after each addition.
- Alternately add the flour and the milk. Start with 1/3 of the flour, followed by half of the milk. Mix well after each addition.
- Add the grapefruit juice, cardamom, and vanilla. Mix well. The batter will be a bit watery in texture.
- Pour over a greased or lined loaf pan and bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes up clean.
- Let it cool before pouring the icing over it. Add the candied grapefruit slices over the top.
For the icing:
- Combine the icing sugar and just enough milk to form a thick but pourable mixture.
- Pour over the cooled cake.
Notes
The candied grapefruit can be made beforehand. I made mine the night before and let the slices cool overnight.
Keep an eye out when cooking the candied grapefruit. Be sure to stir once in a while to prevent the sugar syrup from boiling over.
Try to cut the grapefruit slices as thinly as you can.
You can use grapefruit juice for the icing as well.
If the icing solidifies, add more milk or juice and mix thoroughly until it is pourable.
How to Make a Grapefruit Cake
If you’ve ever had a slice of grapefruit cake, you know that it is delicious! But how do you make it? This article will tell you how to prepare this fruity treat, along with tips on serving size and preparation. Read on to learn more! I hope you enjoy this delicious fruity dessert! Listed below are the steps you need to follow to make it perfect! Also, check out the video below for helpful tips!
Recipe
A good grapefruit cake recipe will involve real butter, preferably soft. To ensure that the cake has the perfect texture, you should make a glaze using grapefruit juice and powdered sugar. The cake should be poked with a toothpick, fork, or sharp knife. Once the cake is done, you can top it with the glaze. If you like it more sweet, you can add more grapefruit juice. Then, drizzle the glaze over the cake, if desired.
To make a perfect grapefruit cake, sift the dry ingredients together. Do not completely mix the ingredients, just mix them well and then add the zest and juice. You can use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to make this delicious cake. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat the butter until it is smooth. Then, add the grapefruit and vanilla extract and blend everything together. Finally, add the eggs one at a time.
Preparation
To prepare grapefruit cake, you need to begin by preparing the fruit. Start by zesting and juicing the grapefruits, and then sift out the pulp. Save the juice for the cake batter. Meanwhile, mash the eggs and butter together with a fork or silicone spatula. Next, mix in the vanilla sugar. Use the yoghurt pot as a measuring cup when preparing the other ingredients, such as flour.
The cake mixture should contain 150 g of brown sugar, one large egg, and a tablespoon of vanilla extract. Then, sift the remaining ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix the sifted ingredients together and add the grapefruit juice, zest, and oil to the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes until golden brown. Serve immediately, or keep refrigerated for several hours.
Glaze
For a delicious and easy glaze, a grapefruit cake is a must-try this winter. The cake is bursting with citrus flavor, thanks to the simple syrup, infused grapefruit juice and the glazed grapefruit top. It is the perfect way to bring the joy of summer to winter. The glaze can be made ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen for up to three months. After the cake has cooled, it should be covered with plastic food wrap or a tin foil to keep it from drying out.
The glaze should be made by mixing the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth. Pour the mixture over the cake and let it set for 30 minutes. It should be smooth and not too runny. Alternatively, the glaze can be made thicker or thinner by adding more confectioners’ sugar or juice. Once set, it can be topped with fresh grapefruits and served immediately. Here are some tips for making a grapefruit cake:
Serving size
If you are looking for a healthier dessert, make a Grapefruit Cake. It’s a delicious treat that you can serve as a dessert or even a light breakfast. A serving size of this cake is around 1 cup. The cake can be made with real butter, if possible. Instead of using powdered sugar, use grapefruit juice. In addition, add some whipped cream and sprinkle with vanilla ice cream. Alternatively, you can freeze grapefruit slices and use them in smoothies.
To make this delicious dessert, you’ll need 1/2 cup of juice, 1 Tablespoon zest, and a 10-inch springform pan. Grease and line a Bundt type pan with parchment paper. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Pour into prepared springform pan. Mix together ingredients until smooth and evenly mixed. Place the cake pan in the oven and bake for 1 hour. Then, remove the springform pan and cover with plastic wrap or foil.
