Valencia Orange Cake?

Baking By EZSweetShop Updated 26 Mar 2017 , 8:56pm by msbelle21

EZSweetShop Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
EZSweetShop Posted 4 Aug 2011 , 6:46pm
post #1 of 11

As a child I remember having Valencia Orange cake that was heavy, moist, sweet, bright with orange and even had a bit of a sticky glaze to it. We would buy it on our monthly trip into the city (NY) at Zabar's to buy coffee and croissants. I remember it was made in a rounded Bundt pan and quartered. Each quarter (wedge) was wrapped in plastic wrap and sold individually. As an adult It dawned on me that I NEEDED to find this cake again and try to make it myself. Zabar's (on the upper west side) tells me that they get asked this question often but unfortunately the bakery/company that made the cake is no longer in operation and they have no other supplier. DEVASTATING!!!!

Does anyone have a recipe for this long lost cake from my childhood?

10 replies
AnnieCahill Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
AnnieCahill Posted 5 Aug 2011 , 1:05pm
post #2 of 11

Hmm a while back I had a mandarin orange cake that someone in my husband's family made. It was originally done with a pineapple frosting but maybe you could make the glaze using some orange juice or orange extract?

Do you remember if it was huge pieces of orange? This recipe uses a can of mandarin oranges. It is very moist and sweet and I'm sure it could be made in a bundt.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/mandarin-orange-cake-i/detail.aspx

That's the recipe I taste a while back. You could add orange extract to intensify the flavor.

Here is a scratch recipe I found just doing a Google search:

http://www.sacfoodcoop.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=147:valencia-orange-tea-cake&catid=41:desserts&Itemid=59

EZSweetShop Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
EZSweetShop Posted 8 Aug 2011 , 2:07pm
post #3 of 11

I just saw this! Guess I'm not getting emails for replies like I should be!

Thank you so much. I will try this recipe! It was a smooth cake but heavy like pound cake. I don't remember any chunks or huge pieces of anything. I will try the one you linked.

Thank you!

superwawa Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
superwawa Posted 10 Aug 2011 , 2:49am
post #4 of 11

No luck on the recipe, but I did find a clue that might be of use - check out this article from New York Magazine 1981 - hopefully this link works -- Page 75, the photo of the cakes with the caption "Dough Boys." The caption mentions that the bundt is a Valencia Orange Cake and the cakes' photo credit mentions they were from Bloomingdales, Zabars, etc.

The bakers are mentioned - and their bakery at the time - La Mise en Place. (granted, Googling that is going to lead to a lot of results).

Hope that helps - or at least the photo makes you smile!

http://books.google.com/books?id=-uUCAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA75&ots=EKLCFqo50H&dq=zabar%20valencia%20orange%20cake&pg=PA75#v=onepage&q&f=true

EZSweetShop Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
EZSweetShop Posted 10 Aug 2011 , 12:54pm
post #5 of 11

SWEET JESUS! That's it!!! Thank you so much for finding that image. I was nearly brought to tears just seeing and reading that. Sounds a bit dramatic but it was a very positive and warm childhood memory for me and I miss my mother so much that sometimes thinking of the things we did together bring me to tears. Those trips we took when I was a child were great and I looked forward to them with her.

Now to follow the cake crumb trail to see if I can find them or their recipe or ANYTHING!

Thank you SO much SuperWawa. This fellow-TriStater tips her hat to you! icon_wink.gif

superwawa Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
superwawa Posted 10 Aug 2011 , 1:39pm
post #6 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by EZSweetShop

SWEET JESUS! That's it!!! Thank you so much for finding that image. I was nearly brought to tears just seeing and reading that. Sounds a bit dramatic but it was a very positive and warm childhood memory for me and I miss my mother so much that sometimes thinking of the things we did together bring me to tears. Those trips we took when I was a child were great and I looked forward to them with her.

Now to follow the cake crumb trail to see if I can find them or their recipe or ANYTHING!

Thank you SO much SuperWawa. This fellow-TriStater tips her hat to you! icon_wink.gif




Glad to help - and good luck with the search. I am sure that phone number for the bakery is no good now, but maybe with the name/old location you can uncover more clues!

victoria732 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
victoria732 Posted 25 Mar 2017 , 5:29pm
post #7 of 11

Wondering if EZSweetShop ever found the recipe? I used to get this cake in NYC as well as would love to try to make. I had no luck finding the recipe online.  

remnant3333 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
remnant3333 Posted 26 Mar 2017 , 6:36pm
post #8 of 11

http://comfybelly.com/2009/06/valencia-orange-cake-made-with-almond-flour/#.WNgJrxiZPVo

Here is one recipe for it> Don't know if it would taste same but you could try it.


Jeff_Arnett Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Jeff_Arnett Posted 26 Mar 2017 , 7:45pm
post #9 of 11

I don't know the particular recipe...but given the time period and style of cake, it's likely an orange chiffon cake....very popular throughout the 1950s-1960s.  

Here's a link to Martha Stewart's site for an orange chiffon calling for valencia organe juice....

http://www.marthastewart.com/1099167/orange-chiffon-cake

You could add a simple orange glaze made from powdered sugar and orange juice.

Hope this is something like what you are looking for!



EZSweetShop Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
EZSweetShop Posted 26 Mar 2017 , 8:04pm
post #10 of 11

Thank you all!

The closest I've come so far is Ina Garten's orange pundcake with an orange drizzle. It's fantastic.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/orange-pound-cake-recipe



The 

msbelle21 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
msbelle21 Posted 26 Mar 2017 , 8:56pm
post #11 of 11

I saw this thread this morning and immediately started Googling. It sounds delicious. I came across a blog by Zabar's. This is a recipe for an orange poppy seed cake. Omit the poppy seeds and voila possibly?

http://zabars.typepad.com/recipes/2013/02/orange-poppy-seed-bundt-cake.html

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%