Fiori di Sicilia Loaf with Citrus Glaze

This cake is SO.GOOD. Imagine the most delicious blend of lemon, vanilla, grapefruit, and orange; that is exactly what this tastes like, plus with the addition of the tart, sweet glaze, it is truly to die for. The best part? It’s gluten-free! And I know what you might be thinking - aren’t gluten-free cakes usually dry and crumbly? And if that is what you were thinking, then I am here to tell you that simply is not true.

There are so many ingredients and ways to make incredible gluten-free baked goods that are just as good (if not better) than gluten-filled bakes. By using sour cream in this cake, I have created a recipe that is sure to be perfectly moist every time. Plus, it uses a simple gluten-free flour blend (not a crazy mix of hard-to-find flours) which makes it easy and attainable for anyone to make. I can assure you that once you try this, you will want to make it again and again. And what is baking if you can’t share your masterpieces with everyone? This gluten-free loaf cake is perfectly shareable with gluten lovers and gluten sensitive alike.

When making this cake, I find that incorporating the lemon and orange zest with the sugar first really helps to ensure that the citrusy flavor is carried throughout the loaf. You can skip this step and combine the two ingredients as normal if you would like, but I recommend doing it if you want a flavorful cake. The secret to the extra citrusy goodness in this cake is the Fiori di Sicilia, an Italian extract with citrus, vanilla, and herbal notes. The Fiori di Sicilia I have is by King Arthur, but specialty food stores may carry other brands as well. I highly recommend adding this extract to your pantry, as it imparts a unique flavor to baked goods and dishes that is unlike a simple lemon or orange extract.

I also have noted in the recipe that if you do not have vanilla bean paste, that is okay; you can also use vanilla extract. I love baking with vanilla bean paste, but I understand it may not be something that everyone has on hand. If you are looking for it, however, Trader Joe’s has a great and affordable one that I would highly recommend. Whatever you use, I know this cake will turn out beautifully, and everyone is sure to love it - especially as the warmer weather comes and brings the new flavors of spring and summer along with it. So bake, share, and enjoy!