Description
A moist and flavorful flourless cake featuring whole oranges, ground almonds, and pistachios. This gluten-free cake combines the bright citrus notes of orange with the rich nuttiness of pistachios and almonds, enhanced by aromatic cardamom. Perfect for a light dessert or special occasion treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 2 medium oranges (seedless, preferably organic)
Wet Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups almond meal (ground almonds)
- 1/2 cup finely ground pistachios (unsalted, shelled)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (gluten-free if needed)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
- Pinch of salt
Optional Garnishes
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Chopped pistachios or orange zest
Instructions
- Boil the Oranges: Place the whole seedless oranges with peel in a saucepan and cover with water. Boil for 1 hour, adding more water as needed to keep oranges submerged. Drain and let cool completely.
- Prepare Orange Puree: Cut the cooled oranges into chunks, remove any seeds, and blend until smooth, including the peel, to create a creamy orange puree.
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Whisk Eggs and Sugar: In a large bowl, whisk together the 6 large eggs and 1 cup granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and slightly pale in color.
- Combine Ingredients: Gently fold the orange puree, almond meal, ground pistachios, baking powder, optional cardamom, and pinch of salt into the egg and sugar mixture until well combined.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, testing doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.
- Cool and Garnish: Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, remove from the pan, dust with powdered sugar if desired, and garnish with chopped pistachios or freshly zested orange peel.
Notes
- This cake is naturally gluten-free thanks to the use of almond meal instead of flour.
- The cardamom is optional but adds a wonderful warm spice to complement the citrus and nuts.
- Ensure oranges are seedless or remove all seeds to avoid bitterness.
- Allow the cake to cool fully before removing from the pan to prevent breaking.
- For a more intense orange flavor, use organic oranges since the peel is blended in.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
