Christmas orange cake

Speculoos are much more than the decoration on our Christmas cake with mandarins. We also put the nut brittles under the sponge dough, it gives a great crunch!

Serves ; 16 pieces 

Ingredients

100 g Almond speculoos 

3  Eggs 

100 g sugar 

125 g Flour 

1 level tsp baking powder 

6 sheets or 3 tsp gelatine powder

2 can (s) (314 ml each; weight: 175 g) Mandarin oranges or use homemade mandarins in syrup

900 g Whipped cream 

2 tsp vanilla sugar 

100 ml Orange liqueur (e.g. Cointreau) 

100 g Hazelnut brittle 

60 g Almond flakes 

1 tbsp powdered sugar 

 Parchment paper 

Preparation

Chop 50 g speculoos. 

Separate eggs. Beat egg whites with 3 tablespoons of water until stiff, sprinkle with sugar.

 Stir in egg yolks one at a time. Mix the flour and baking powder, sieve over the egg cream, fold in with the chopped speculoos.

 Line the bottom of a springform pan (26 cm Ø) with baking paper. Pour in the mixture and smooth it out.

 Bake in a preheated oven (electric stove: 175 ° C / convection: 150 ° C / gas: level 2) for about 20 minutes. Let cool down.

Remove the bottom from the mold and cut in half horizontally. Place a cake ring around the bottom. Soak the gelatine in cold water. 

Drain the mandarins in a colander. Whip 700 g whipped cream until stiff, sprinkle with vanilla sugar. 

Squeeze out the gelatine and put it in a small saucepan with the orange liqueur. Heat gently until the gelatin has dissolved. Stir 2 tablespoons of whipped cream into the gelatin mixture, stir into the rest of the whipped cream.

Fold the oranges, except for a few to garnish, and 60 g brittle into the cream. 

Put the cream on the base of the cake ring and smooth it out. Place the second floor on top, press down a little Approx. Chill for 4 hours.

Roast the almond flakes in a pan until golden brown, leave to cool. Whip 200 g cream until stiff.

 Remove the cake from the ring and brush with the cream. Halve 50 g speculoos each once diagonally.

 Decorate the cake with speculoos and oranges. Sprinkle with flaked almonds and 40 g brittle. Dust with powdered sugar.