Orange Almond Winter Spice Cake (Printable Version)

Fragrant moist cake with fresh oranges, ground almonds, and warming winter spices for cozy gatherings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Citrus & Fruit

01 - 2 large oranges (organic, unwaxed)
02 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Dry Ingredients

03 - 1.75 cups ground almonds
04 - 0.75 cup caster sugar
05 - 1 tsp baking powder (gluten-free, if needed)
06 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
07 - 0.5 tsp ground ginger
08 - 0.25 tsp ground cloves
09 - Pinch of salt

→ Wet Ingredients

10 - 4 large eggs
11 - 0.25 cup olive oil (or neutral oil)
12 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Optional Topping

13 - 2 tbsp flaked almonds
14 - Icing sugar, for dusting

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-inch round springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - Place whole unpeeled oranges in a saucepan, cover with water, and simmer for 30 minutes until very soft. Drain, cool, halve, remove seeds, then blend oranges (peel included) into a smooth purée.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla until light and frothy.
04 - Stir in the orange purée and lemon zest until fully incorporated.
05 - In a separate bowl, mix ground almonds, baking powder, spices, and salt. Fold into wet ingredients until just combined.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with flaked almonds if using. Bake for 45–50 minutes until a skewer inserted into center comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
07 - Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The ground almonds create a texture unlike any flour cake, incredibly moist and tender
  • Using whole oranges means nothing goes to waste and the flavor penetrates every crumb
  • This cake somehow tastes better on day two, making it perfect for make ahead moments
02 -
  • The boiled orange step cannot be rushed or skipped, this is what transforms bitter peel into sweet marmalade magic
  • Overmixing after adding the almonds can make the cake tough, fold gently and stop as soon as combined
  • The cake is done when a skewer comes out clean but still moist, do not wait for dry crumbs
03 -
  • Use a scale to measure your ground almonds, volume measuring can be inaccurate and affect the texture
  • Let the orange purée cool completely before adding it to the eggs to prevent cooking them

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