Flourless Almond & Orange Cake

With just 7 ingredients, this Flourless Orange and Almond Cake is incredibly simple but packed with delicious nutty flavor from your almond flour and pistachios and a citrus zing from the fresh orange. So what’s the secret? Simmering the oranges in a pot of water before pureeing and adding them to the batter results in a super moist whole orange cake with a deep citrus flavor in every bite.

 

When it comes to an almond cake recipe, this one “takes the cake”. It is a quick and easy moist cake that will leave everyone wanting more of this tender cake for those special occasions or just for one of those Wednesdays when you or your family members have a sweet tooth craving. This moist orange cake is made with the entire orange, and because of that orange zest, it has so much flavor! The first time you make this, you may question your life decisions when pureeing the whole orange, but it’s so worth the risk. To really maximize the orange flavor and for an added hint of bitterness to mix with the sweetness, I topped the grain-free Orange & Almond Cake with slices of dried orange, which are super simple to make in the oven. I also brush the top of the cake before serving with a sweet honey and orange glaze, which gives this flourless orange cake a nice glistening sheen. You can easily skip one or both of these components, and you will still have a delicious cake.

Whether it’s time for your afternoon cup of tea or coffee or an evening dessert while entertaining guests, this simple orange and almond flour cake recipe is delicious with ice cream or a dollop of cream to top it off, and it’s even delicious to make ahead and to serve the next day. 

Why You Will Love This Flourless Almond And Orange Cake

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• Thanks to the simple process of boiling oranges in a pot of water until tender and then blending them into a puree, this cake is absolutely bursting with bold citrus flavor. 
• This delicious whole orange cake freezes well, so double the recipe and store one in the freezer for an easy dessert or sweet treat to pull out when you are in need of a quick cake. 
• Unlike some flourless Cakes that taste a little too healthy, this delicious grain free orange cake is Paleo, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Specific Carbohydrate Diet Legal, but you would never know! It tastes just like the flourless cakes you find at any bakery.
• A delicious recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and uses 7 simple ingredients.

 

What You Need To Make This Flourless Almond And Orange Cake 

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• Oranges: Although there are many delicious types of fresh oranges, I would stick with naval oranges for this unique orange cake batter. 
• Eggs: Large eggs are preferable, but if eggs aren’t part of your diet, you can substitute flaxseed meal. Mix a tablespoon of flaxseed meal and 3 tablespoons of water for each egg and let it sit for a few minutes to become gelatinous. 
• Honey: Honey blends really well with almond flour and oranges, but maple syrup or agave would work just fine, too. 
• Pistachios: If you need to substitute the pistachios, you could use pecans, pine nuts, hazelnuts, or cashews.
• Almond flour: I don’t recommend replacing almond flour with all-purpose flour. Almond flour is a key ingredient in this recipe that results in a cake with a dense consistency and moist texture that cannot be replicated with another type of flour. 
• Vanilla extract: If possible, use pure vanilla extract, but imitation vanilla will also work. You could also add almond extract if you want the cake to have more almond flavor. 
• Baking soda: Baking soda will not only act as your leavening agent but also help balance the acidity to ensure this recipe turns out perfect!

You can find a full list of ingredients in the recipe card below. 

 

How To Make Ground Pistachios

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To grind the pistachios, put them in a coffee grinder or a food processor and grind until all chunks are gone and they become a fine powder. Don’t grind too much, though, or it will start to stick together and get to the beginning stages of nut butter. 

 

 

Almond Flour vs Ground Almonds

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Almond Flour is finely ground blanched almonds without the skins, and it yields a smoother texture in baked goods. Ground almonds may include almonds with skins, resulting in a coarser texture, and are best suited for a more textured muffin or cake. In this Flourless Almond & Orange Cake, the use of almond flour contributes to a softer and more refined texture. Most grocery stores sell almond flour, but if you aren’t able to find any, then you can make your own almond meal by blending unsalted almonds in a high-speed food processor or high-powered blender until they are broken down into a powdery consistency. Don’t overblend the almonds, or they can quickly turn from almond flour to almond butter.  

 

Can I Use Orange Juice Instead Of Boiling The Orange?

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Unfortunately, you cannot. This is a whole orange cake recipe. The orange pulp adds density to the cake batter and helps to hold it all together. 

 

How To Make This Flourless Almond And Orange Cake

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1. Place the navel oranges in a large pot and fill with enough water to cover them. Cover the pot with a lid and leave it to simmer on low heat for 1 hour. Grind the pistachios in a coffee grinder or food processor and set aside. Drain the oranges and transfer them to a high-powered blender. Blend until the oranges form a puree (yes, the whole orange—it will be great, trust me!). 
2. In a large bowl, combine the orange puree, eggs, honey, ground pistachios, almond flour, vanilla extract, and baking soda with a hand mixer or while using a paddle attachment with your stand mixer, mix at medium speed. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. If the top begins to brown too quickly, cover with tinfoil. The cake will be done once it is golden brown and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the top comes out clean.
3. While the cake is baking, you will want to make the orange syrup. In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup orange juice with 2 tbsp honey and allow to reach boiling point before reducing the heat to simmer. Allow to simmer until the liquid has reduced by approximately half. Remove from the heat and set aside until the cake has come out of the oven.
4. Once the cake is out of the oven, brush the orange and honey mixture over the entire cake. Top with the dried orange slices. Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen before unclasping the outer ring. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool cake completely before serving. 

 

What Type Of Pan Should I Use

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If you have a springform pan, I highly recommend it for the ease of removing the cake from the pan. If not, a deep 9-inch cake pan will work, but there is no need to go out and buy a special pan; a square pan would work just fine, too. You can use what you have. Simply grease the sides well and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper for easy removal. 

 

How To Serve This Almond And Orange Cake 

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This Grain-Free Orange and Almond Cake is a great recipe served with afternoon tea or as a simple dessert topped with a scoop of ice cream or coconut whipped cream. You will get rave reviews however you choose to serve it. 

 

 

Can I Make This Flourless Cake In Advance

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Absolutely! The flavor of this whole orange cake only gets better with time. It can be made before an event and either stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or wrapped well and stored in the freezer for 2-3 months. Just be sure to let the cake cool completely before storing it.

 

 

How To Store This Flourless Almond And Orange Cake

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Any leftover cake can be stored in an airtight container, wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature on the counter for a couple of days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. I find that the best way for this cake to stay moist for longer is if it’s stored in the fridge. This cake also freezes well and can be frozen for up to 3 months for the next time you have a craving. I would recommend aluminum foil to cover it in the freezer. 

 

 

Here are a few more dessert recipes that you might enjoy:

• Lemon Layered Cake with Strawberry Filling and Ombre Icing
• Pumpkin Mug Cake
• Carrot Cake Mug Cake
• Upside Down Banana Bread in a Skillet
• Lemon & Mixed Berry Cupcakes

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If you make this Whole Orange Cake recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!

This post was originally published on March 14, 2017 and updated with new copy and photos on August 5, 2024.