Orange Sponge Cake With Easy Orange Meringue

DIRECTIONS

• Prep:let eggs come to room temperature,or if in a hurry you can let them sit,whole,in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes.Grease and flour a 9" cake pan.Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Zest oranges using a small hand held citrus zester or grater;you want the zest very fine so it disperses evenly in the batter with no large pieces.You should be able to get 1 1/2 teaspoons from 2 oranges.Set aside.
• Separate 3 of the eggs,setting the whites aside,and combining the yolks with the three whole eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer.
• In a small saucepan bring the juice,zest,and butter to a simmer ,just until the butter melts,and remove from heat.
• Beat eggs and sugar on high for 5 minutes or until it forms ribbon strands when the beater is lifted.(The strands should fall in a figure eight pattern and be visible for a few seconds before disappearing.).
• Transfer beaten eggs to a large mixing bowl gently,and fold in butter-orange juice mixture.Sift 1/3 cup of flour over the egg mixture,fold in gently but thoroughly with a rubber spatula,Repeat 2 times until all of the flour is incorporated.
• Pour into prepared cake pan.Bake for 20-25 minutes,or until lightly golden at the edges.
• Let cool 10 minutes,then turn out onto a rack,and let cool completely.
• Meringue: Combine sugar,zest,and juice in a small saucepan,simmer over medium heat,stirring as necessary ,until it reaches 230 F on a candy thermometer.Remove from heat.
• Place egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer,begin to beat on high,as you slowly pour a steady stream of syrup into the bowl.Continue beating until it forms stiff peaks.
• When cake is completely cool cut it in half crosswise and transfer bottom half to a cake stand.Frost bottom half with meringue,top with second half,frost top and sides.
• Serve with slices of fresh orange.