$25,000 Orange Kiss-Me Cake

No frosting--just sugar, cinnamon and walnuts

Hi, everyone! I've been busy with family things for the last couple days, and I tried out a new cake recipe for Mom's birthday yesterday, which I thought was so good, I would pass it along to you all! This cake was the $25,000 first prize-winning entry in the 1950 2nd Annual $100,000 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest.  (Do they even still have those??)  I figured it had to be good, and it is...and I think if you try it, you will be pleasantly surprised, even if you're not big on "fruit" cakes.  The orange flavor is mild and refreshing, and the cake itself is extremely light, especially in comparison to, say, a carrot cake which is also very moist but tends to be on the heavy side. This cake is so moist and perfectly sweet already, you don't even frost it; instead, you drizzle fresh orange juice over the hot cake and sprinkle a sugar, cinnamon and nut mixture over the top.  Perfection!

$25,000 Orange Kiss-Me Cake

1 large orange
1 c. seedless raisins
3/4 c. walnuts
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. milk
2 eggs
1/3 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Zest and juice the orange. (Reserve juice.) Grind together zest, pulp, raisins and 1/2 c. of walnuts. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, soda, salt and sugar. To this mixture add shortening and 3/4 c. milk. Beat for 2 minutes.  Add remaining 1/4 c. milk and eggs, one at time, beating for 2 more minutes. Fold in ground zest, pulp, raisins and nuts. Pour into prepared 13 x 9 x 2" pan, and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until sides begin to pull away from pan and toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.  Remove from oven, and drizzle reserved orange juice over top of cake.  Chop remaining 1/4 c. walnuts and sprinkle onto cake, then mix together powdered sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it over top as well. Cut and serve.

Very moist, light and refreshing: perfect for Spring or Summer!