Chai Spiced Orange and Almond Cake

1 orange
125g unsalted butter, softened
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground clove
¼ teaspoon ground fennel seeds
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup Eastcoast orange juice
1 1/3 cups self raising flour
¾ cup almond meal

½ cup caster sugar
1 ½ cups Eastcoast orange juice300g coconut yoghurt
1 tablespoon desiccated coconut
½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
300mL Eastcoast mango nectar juice

Preheat the oven to 170°C and line a 20cm cake pan with non-stick paper.

To prepare the orange, first finely grate the zest. Next, remove all of the remaining skin and pith, and slice the flesh into rounds.

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating between additions. Add the vanilla, spices and orange zest, and stir through. Add the orange juice, flour and almond meal, and mix until just combined.

Lay the sliced orange on the bottom of the cake pan, and top with the cake batter. Place in the oven for 40-45 minutes, or until cooked through.

Whilst the cake is cooking, make the syrup by combining the sugar and orange juice in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes, or until the amount of liquid has halved.

When the cake is cooked, pierce the top with a skewer many times, and pour the hot syrup over the cake. Allow the syrup to soak through for 10 minutes, before flipping the cake onto a serving plate. Serves 10-12.