Agios Fanourios Cake - Fanouropita (Spiced Raisin Cake No Eggs)

Aghios Fanourios or Saint Fanourios is a byzantine saint who is believed to have lived around the 4th century. It is a Greek Orthodox custom to bake a cake in his honour on August 27th, cut it in small pieces and to share iit with the rest of the church congregation who, in turn, will eat it and say "May God forgive Agios Fanourios' Mother". It is a delicious cake with no eggs or butter. This recipe has been in my family for decades. Hope you like it !

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1  cup  oil (avoid olive oil which has quite a strong taste)
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 1  cup  seedless golden raisin
• 1 1⁄2 cups  freshly squeezed  orange juice
• 1  cup  roughly chopped walnuts
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 -1 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4  cups flour
• 4  teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 cup cognac (or whisky)
•  peel of 2 orange (grinded)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees.
2. Hidrate the raisins in water or cognac (heat water/cognac and soak the raisins til they are tender).
3. Butter and flour a 10-11 inches round cake pan or use silicon lining.
4. Mix the oil and the sugar in a bowl. With a mixer/electric blender beat it for 3-4 minutes.
5. Add the orange juice and beat for 1 more minute.
6. Add to the liquid mix the raisins, walnuts, ground clove, cinnamon, orange peel, cognac.
7. Add to the preparation the flour previously mixed with the baking powder and mix making sure there are no lumps.
8. Pour mixture in baking pan and place in oven for 55 / 60 minutes in 170 degrees.
9. Check if the cake is ready with a toothpick in the middle of the cake. Should come out clean.