Baking · serves 2

Orange Almond Cake

No flour at all. Boiled whole oranges and ground almonds do everything.

90 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 whole oranges
  • 2.5 cups ground almonds
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • Icing sugar to dust

Method

  1. Boil the whole oranges — skin, pith and all — in water for 1 hour until completely soft. This removes the bitterness from the pith.
  2. Cool, quarter, remove any pips, then blend the whole thing to a puree.
  3. Beat the eggs with sugar for 4 minutes until pale and thick.
  4. Fold in the orange puree, ground almonds, baking powder and salt.
  5. 180°C for 50 minutes. Foil it at 35 minutes if it browns too fast.
  6. Cool completely in the tin — it's very fragile warm. Icing sugar over the top.

Questions people ask about Orange Almond Cake

How long does Orange Almond Cake take?

About 90 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of eggs in Orange Almond Cake?

Use for binding, 1 tbsp besan whisked with 2 tbsp water per egg. For scrambles, crumbled firm tofu with a pinch of kala namak.

Can I make Orange Almond Cake ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Orange Almond Cake vegetarian?

Yes, and as written it is vegan too. Check your specific brands if that matters to you.

Do I need an oven for Orange Almond Cake?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Orange Almond Cake?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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