Flourless Orange Cake

Name: Flourless Orange Cake
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 oranges, thinly sliced and seeds removed (keep the peel on); 1 cup water; 2 cups caster sugar, divided; 4 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla essence; 2 cups almond meal; 1 teaspoon baking powder

Published: Jun 16, 2020 · Modified: Nov 30, 2024 by Chloe · 29 Comments

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This flourless orange cake is made with whole oranges, including peel and all! This cake is gluten-free and dairy-free but full of flavour.

The secret to making an orange cake without flour is to use almond meal. This makes the cake moist, light and absolutely delicious! I serve this cake with orange syrup for extra flavour.

Slices of flourless orange cake on serving plate.

What Is Whole Orange Cake?

This whole flourless orange cake is a recipe which uses the entire orange including the peel for baking the cake. Nothing goes to waste!

Is orange cake healthy?

Depending on what you consider healthy, orange cake has some nutritious components. Almond meal is high in fibre and low in carbohydrates, while oranges provide a good source of Vitamin C.

Ingredients in Flourless Orange Cake

Oranges: you can use any type of orange you like. Try to choose medium or large sized oranges. If you're using smaller oranges, you may need to use three instead of two for the same flavour and texture.
Water: to boil the oranges with.
Caster sugar / superfine sugar: You will use this to make both the orange syrup and the batter. Caster sugar dissolves easily, which makes it ideal for most baking recipes.
- Can I use white sugar? Yes, you can. Granulated white sugar may take slightly longer to dissolve.
Eggs: will give the cake structure and hold the ingredients together.
- Can I use an egg alternative? Yes, I recommend store bought powdered egg substitute, made according to packet instructions.
Vanilla extract
Almond meal: this is used to replace flour and give your cake structure. Almond meal is slightly coarser than almond flour.
- Can I use almond flour instead of almond meal? Yes, substitute 1 for 1. It is best if you measure by weight as almond flour is lighter than almond meal.
Baking powder: will help make the batter rise as it cooks. Most brands of baking powder are gluten-free. Make sure to double-check the brand you're using if you need to make the cake entirely gluten-free.

How Do You Make Flourless Orange Cake

The first step of this recipe is to boil the oranges in sugar and water. This softens the oranges and also creates a delicious orange sugar syrup which is perfect to drizzle over the cake.

After boiling the oranges, all you need to do is pop them in a food processor with the remaining ingredients, blitz until combined, and bake. It's that easy!

Is flourless orange cake gluten free?

Yes, it is gluten-free. Make sure your almond meal, baking powder and vanilla don't contain traces of gluten.

Variations and Substitutions

Upside down orange cake: I have a great recipe for upside down orange hazelnut cake here!
Chocolate orange cake: top this cake with a chocolate buttercream or chocolate ganache for a truly delicious flavour combination.
Orange cake without sugar: substitute sugar for an equal amount of 1:1 baking sweetener (like baking Stevia)

Tips When Making Flourless Orange Cake

Wash the oranges really well before placing them on the saucepan for boiling. Some oranges are covered with wax that can be removed by running them in warm water then scrubbing them with a dry, coarse cloth.
Make sure to remove the seeds of the oranges as they are bitter and might affect the flavour of the cake.
Insert a toothpick or skewer in the centre to check if the cake is baked through. It should come out clean and batter-free.
Make sure to let the cake cool in the baking tin first before turning it out onto a cooling rack. This will allow it to set properly, so it does not fall apart on the cooling rack later on.
If you want the cake less sweet, you can skip the orange syrup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my cake bitter?

Make sure to remove the seeds before boiling and blending the oranges. Also remove as much of the pith as possible which can be bitter. If your cake is still bitter, try using juicing oranges like Valencia.

What does almond meal taste like in a cake?

Flourless cakes made with almond meal will always be denser than regular flour-based cakes, but still very moist. I personally very much enjoy the subtle almond flavour in this cake.

Why did my flourless cake deflate?

It can be because it was beaten too fast in the food processor, which created many air bubbles. To prevent this, pulse moderately until combined. Also check that your baking powder is within its expiration date.

How to Store Orange Cake

Orange cake stores well in an airtight container for up to three days if refrigerated.

Can I freeze flourless orange cake?

Yes, you can freeze it for up to six months. Cool it completely (don't use syrup), then wrap with cling wrap and foil before freezing. To thaw, defrost at room temperature for 6 hours or overnight and enjoy.

Baking Envy Instagram pictured on a smartphone.

Have you made this recipe?

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