Gluten free Almond & Orange Cake

Its gloomy day in the mountains - perfect weather to do some baking.  Since I went gluten free a few years ago because of health issues  - I am on the hunt for easy, tasty, gluten free recipes. This Almond & Orange Cake ticks all the boxes - perfect with a generous dollop of cream and a cup of tea :)

Almond & Orange Cake

125g butter + grated rind of 1 orange
1/2 cup castor sugar + 2 eggs
125g packet almond meal
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 cup self-raising gluten free flour
1/2 cup milk

Orange syrup
1cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar

Place butter, rind & sugar in a bowl & beat with an electric mixer until light & fluffy
Add eggs, one at a time , beating until combined
Stir through almond meal & poppy seeds
Stir in half flour with half milk, then remaining flour & milk
Spread mixture into a greased and lined 20cm round tin
Bake in a moderate oven, 180c for 40 minutes
Combine Syrup ingredients in saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved, then increase heat & simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove cake from oven, insert a few holes in cake with skewer. Pour hot syrup over hot cake. Cool cake in tin.