Zesty Orange Rice Cake

Directions

1. 1
   Bring milk to a simmer in a saucepan; add vanilla bean and stir. Mix rice and white sugar into simmering milk; add lemon peel. Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring constantly, until rice is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer saucepan to the refrigerator and chill, at least 30 minutes.
2. 2
   Whisk egg yolks and orange liqueur together in a bowl. Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until foamy. Continue to beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form sharp peaks.
3. 3
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease or line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper.
4. 4
   Remove vanilla bean and lemon peel from rice. Stir raisins and orange zest into rice; add egg yolk mixture and stir. Softly fold egg whites into rice mixture. Slowly pour rice mixture into the prepared cake pan.
5. 5
   Bake in the preheated oven until set, about 1 hour. Sprinkle confectioners' sugar over rice cake.