Baking for Beginners: Sticky Orange Clove Cake

I know it's still only October, but I'm already feeling Christmassy. I was inspired to make a lovely wintery cake with flavours of orange and clove like one of those pomanders you make at Christmas.This is a super sticky syrupy sponge that's perfect with a cup of tea. It couldn't be easier to make either. There's a little bit of lemon in the recipe, which somehow makes the orange taste all the more orangey.

I like to cut mine into squares and put each one in a cupcake case. It means if I'm eating one for elevenses while typing away I don't end up with syrupy crumbs in my keyboard. Of course you might be much more civilised than me and eat off a plate, in which case there's no need.

Sticky Orange Clove Cake

You'll need:
For the cake

• 170g unsalted butter
• 170g caster sugar
• 170g self-raising flour, sieved
• 2 medium eggs
• Splash of milk
• Zest of 2 oranges
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4tsp ground cloves
• Pinch of salt

For the glaze

• Juice of 2 oranges
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 80g icing sugar, sieved

Make it!

• Preheat the oven to 170c / Gas 3.
• Grease and line an 8 x 8 inch square tin or a 6 inch round tin.
• Put all the cake ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. 
• Put the batter in the tin and bake for about 40 minutes.
• While the cake is baking, put the glaze ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Set aside.
• As soon as the cake is cooked through, bring it out of the oven, prick the top all over with a fork and pour over the glaze.
• Leave to cool in the tin.