Claudia Roden’s Orange and Almond Cake

By Moira Hodgson

Updated October 10, 2023

  • Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
3 hours
Prep Time
2 hours
Cook Time
1 hour
Rating
5(3,654)
Comments
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Moira Hodgson rooted this classic out of Claudia Roden’s terrific cookbook, “Everything Tastes Better Outdoors,” and brought it to The Times in 1987: a flourless orange and almond cake that goes beautifully with blueberries or peaches, and is the perfect thing to carry along on a picnic. Extremely moist, it consists of two seeded oranges (peel and all), ground almonds, sugar and eggs – and no flour. Baked in a hot oven, it will be done in just about an hour or so, longer if the orange pulp is extremely wet. Opening the oven door to check will not harm it.

Featured in: FOOD; COOKIES OR CAKE WHEN BERRIES AREN'T ENOUGH

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Ingredients

Yield:10 servings

  • 2 large oranges

  • 6 eggs

  • ½ pound ground almonds

  • ½ pound sugar

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

32 grams carbs; 96 milligrams cholesterol; 274 calories; 8 grams monosaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 14 grams fat; 4 grams fiber; 73 milligrams sodium; 8 grams protein; 27 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Wash the oranges and simmer them, unpeeled, in water to cover for 2 hours. Cool, cut them open and remove the seeds. Puree the oranges, including the peel, in a food processor.

  2. Step 2

    Heat oven to 400 degrees. Beat the eggs in a food processor or large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, including the orange puree, and mix thoroughly. Pour into a buttered and floured cake tin, with a removable base if possible.

  3. Step 3

    Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan before turning out.

Tip

  • This is a very moist cake and goes especially well with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
3,654 user ratings
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Comments

Myokyo

Twice in three weeks, I've made this fail-proof cake, the second time with 3 Meyer lemons instead of the two oranges called for. Both times I used only 5 large eggs, 1 cup of sugar and 1 1/2 cups of ground almonds.

Mary O

I appreciate the comments standardizing this recipe, and will add mine:

• preheated oven to 375 degrees, not 400.
• 9" springform pan
• 5 extra-large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups ground almond meal -- from Trader Joe's (easy & fast!)
• added 1/2 tsp salt, otherwise following the recipe w the oranges and baking powder
• Baked 55 min.

A simple, excellent cake. Sprinkled powdered sugar, rasperries and strawberries on top of slices. Will make again!

Judy

A little known secret.. Zap the two oranges in water on high in your microwave. 15 minutes would do it. This marvellous cake is awesome!!?

Cece M

Made this as a smash cake for my 1 year old's birthday (she has a wheat allergy). We both thought it was delicious! I ended up eating more of it than she did!

Greg McNeil

It’s better with lemon

oregonian

Forgot to say I love this recipe and it is better at least a day later. I buy a bag of Little Cuties and I make the orange puree part ahead and freeze it for later.

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