Using only a few ingredients this deliciously rich, moist and aromatic flourless cake, has an intense fresh orange flavour, and is an all time classic.
Orange almond cake has a wonderful intense flavour and aroma of fresh oranges.
It is one of our favourite winter cakes, while oranges are in season, and it’s always a hit over the holidays. The fresh citrus flavour and pudding-like texture are a perfect way to end a rich meal or family feast at Christmas.
This recipe is from Claudia Roden’s ‘A Book of Middle Eastern Food’, first published in 1968. Roden explains that it was popular amongst the Sephardic Jews who brought it to the Middle East in the 15th century.
The cake has since become a classic in cuisines from Spain to Iran.
With a dense crumb exterior and a soft centre, Roden describes this cake as ‘somewhere between a cake and a pudding‘.
This wonderful citrus cake is incredibly easy to make but it does take some time.
The recipe calls for 2 large oranges which are boiled till fork tender, then puréed whole. The purée is added to a mixture of eggs and almond meal (flour), then baked slowly.
Boiling whole oranges for 1.5-2 hours softens them and draws out most of the bitterness from the peel and pith. This is a very rewarding process as it gives a far superior flavour rather than using uncooked oranges, only the zest, or an orange extract.
The orange purée has a fresh, sharp, sweet flavour and makes the cake wonderfully aromatic.
This cake uses almond meal (or flour) so it is gluten-free. Make sure to use a gluten-free baking powder.
The almond flour releases oil as it bakes which combines beautifully with the fresh orange flavour, giving a grainy slightly dense texture to the cake.
Six eggs may seem like rather alot but they give the cake a wonderful custard-y richness, not to mention a high protein count of 7g per serving!
The baking time is 45 mins-1 hour, as the cake mixture has a high water content.
The finished cake will have turned golden brown on the edges and in the middle, with a moist and pudding-like or custard-y soft interior.
What you will need
Here is a note on the equipment and a few of the ingredients.
- Springform pan – as the cake is so moist, this pan is essential for removing the cake, to prevent it breaking. This recipe uses a 9-inch pan. For any other size, you will need to adjust cooking times accordingly.
- Large oranges – as whole oranges are used in this recipe, use organic as they are easier to scrub clean. Select the best seasonal oranges for flavour, and the largest for a perfect proportion of zest to pith and pulp.
- Ground almonds – or almond flour/meal. This is easily available in most shops, or you could make your own by grinding almonds in a blender.
- Baking powder – select a gluten-free variety of baking powder for a gluten-free diet.
- Butter – Use oil to grease the pan to make this cake dairy free.
How to make it
- Wash the oranges well and place in a saucepan, and cover with water. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 1 ½ – 2 hours, till the oranges are soft and tender. Remove the oranges from the water and set aside to cool. Slice the oranges in half to remove any pips.
- Blend the oranges (peel, pith and pulp) till it is puréed.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat the eggs and add the sugar, ground almonds, baking powder and orange purée.
- Mix together well.
- Grease an 8 or 9-inch springform pan and pour the mixture into it.
- Bake for around 45 minutes or till the edges are golden brown and a skewer comes out only slightly sticky.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin before removing from the springform tin.
Optional variations
Take it up a notch with a layer of melted chocolate or a glaze of melted apricot jam, spread over the top of the cake once it has cooled.
To make this paleo: Sugar can be substituted with honey. The amount of honey required would depend on the variety used. Use roughly 1.5 cups of a light honey with a mild flavour so that it does not overpower the cake. Then lower the oven temperature by 25℉/20℃ so it doesn’t burn, and you may need to extend the cooking time by a few minutes due to the extra moisture.
❄️ Storing
Cover the cake and store at room temperature on the kitchen counter for up to 5 days. To freeze, cut the cake into slices and wrap well. It will retain its flavour for up to 6 months.
Try these similar cake recipes
Here are a few similar cake recipes which are a real hit with family and friends!
Kladdkaka – for chocolate lovers everywhere! This Swedish chocolate cake has a crispy top, chewy edges and a soft and rich gooey center!
New York Cheesecake – this cheesecake is rich, smooth, fluffy and moist! It is my favourite cheesecake recipe ever!
⭐️ Are you making this Orange & Almond Cake recipe? I’d love to know how it turned out in the comments!
⭐️ And if you like it, please give it a 5 star rating below! ⭐️
Instagram – I love seeing your creations, so post a picture, tag @endofthefork and hashtag #endofthefork
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Orange and Almond Cake
Ingredients
- 2 large oranges
- 6 medium eggs
- 250 grams ground almonds 2½ cups (almond flour/meal)
- 250 grams sugar 1 cup
- 1 teaspoon baking powder * see recipe notes
- butter or oil for greasing
Topping
- ½ cup apricot jam
- 1 tablespoon water
- confectioner’s sugar (optional) for dusting
Instructions
- Wash the oranges and place in a saucepan filled with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 90 to 120 minutes, till the oranges are soft. Remove the oranges and set aside to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 350℉/180℃/160℃ Fan
- Slice the oranges in ½ to remove any pips. Purée the oranges (including the peel, pith and flesh) in a blender.
- Separately, beat eggs in a large bowl. To this, add the ground almonds, sugar, baking powder and orange purée and mix together well.
- Grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter and dust lightly with ground almonds.
- Pour the mixture into the springform pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.
- Allow to cool in the tin before removing from the springform.
Glaze
- In a small saucepan on medium heat, add the jam and water. Stir till the jam melts and the becomes like a thick syrup, coating the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and cool till warm. Brush over cake and allow to cool.
Notes
- This recipe was adapted from Claudia Roden’s recipe.
- This cake tastes even better the next day.
- The glaze and sugar are not a part of Claudia Roden’s recipe, but works beautifully with this cake.
- *For a gluten free cake, select a gluten free baking powder
- Fan assisted ovens, reduce the baking temperature by 50℉/20℃ degrees and you may need to reduce the cooking time. So check the cake in the last 20 minutes, by inserting a clean knife through the middle. If it comes out wet, check again after another 5-10 minutes. If it comes out only slightly sticky, it is done.
- Texture – Claudia Roden states that this cake should have a cake -y exterior and a pudding-like center.
- Store in an air-tight tin at room temperature for 3 days or wrap individual slices and freeze for up to 6 months.
MEASUREMENT NOTES
The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.
Lyn
I have been making the Roden recipe for many, many years and then lost it. I was so happy to find this, have made it, added the jam topping, and everyone loved it. Thank you soooo much’
Nicole Shroff
Hi Lyn, that’s great and I’m so happy everyone loved it!
inca
Hi – Can you freeze this once made?
Nicole Shroff
Yes, you certainly can freeze the whole cake or as separate slices. Allow it to cool completely and wrap in a double layer of clingfilm/plastic wrap, then in a layer of aluminium foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To defrost, unwrap the cake and keep in the fridge overnight or on the counter at room temperature for 3-4 hours.
Maria Phillips
Hi, thank you for this recipe which was very light and delicious. Loving raspberries as we do in my family, do you think this would work with a thawed bag of frozen raspberries instead of the oranges???
Nicole Shroff
I’m so glad you liked it Maria. As the oranges stew, they develop a concentrated flavour which gives the wonderful flavour. I have not tried it with stewed berries.
Cath Mah
Can I boil a big patch of oranges and blend them? Put them th the freezer to use later?
Nicole Shroff
Yes, pureed oranges will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Sky
If I were to grind my own almonds, are they raw and with their skins? Wondering if I have to buy a certain type of almond. I want to try and bring my own almonds instead of buying pre-ground ones. Thank you.
Nicole
Hi Sky, Grinding your own almonds is certainly a lot cheaper than buying ready made almond flour. Raw, unsalted almonds with their skins on (if you don’t mind tiny brown flecks in the flour, otherwise, blanched with the skin removed), can be ground in a food processor in 1 second pulses. Blend 1 cup of almonds at a time, any more and the food processor might not be able to grind them evenly. Also, take care to stop and scrape down the sides of the container every 10 seconds for an even grind. It should take roughly 2-3 minutes to make almond flour. (Be careful, too much blending will release the almond oils and make almond butter.) Store extra almond flour in an air tight container and keep in a cool place.