Valencia orange and almond cake

If you’re hosting a summer event, like a barbecue or summer party, it can sometimes be quite daunting to cater for other people’s dietary requirements, such as being gluten-free or lactose intolerant. But fear not! This delicious cake makes a perfect centrepiece for any summer event, and it has the added benefit of being naturally gluten and dairy-free. This means that everyone can enjoy it, regardless of their dietary needs.

Valencia orange and almond cake

Makes 12 slices

Ingredients

• 3 medium Valencia oranges
• 6 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
• 150g honey
• 265g ground almonds
• 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder
• ½ tsp ground cardamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 - 6 tbs flaked almonds
• Pinch of salt

To serve:

• Coconut yoghurt or crème fraiche

Method

• Grease and line a 23 cm springform cake tin.
• Wash the oranges and pop them in a pan. Cover fully with water and bring to the boil, then simmer gently for two hours or until very soft. Watch the water level.
• Drain the oranges and leave to cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius for a fan oven, or 180 degrees for a conventional oven.
• Chop up the oranges (skin and all), remove any seeds, and put the rest into the blender. Blitz to a puree and put to one side.
• In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
• In another bowl, beat the egg yolks with the honey and vanilla until fully combined. Stir in the pureed oranges.
• Fold in the ground almonds, ground cardamon, a pinch of salt, and baking powder.
• Gently fold in a couple of spoonfuls of the whisked egg whites before folding in the rest of the egg whites. Try not to overmix it.
• Pour the batter into the prepared tin. Sprinkle the top with the flaked almonds.
  Bake for 60 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. If the cake starts to brown too quickly, then cover with foil for the remaining time.
• Allow the cake to cool in the tin for at least 30 minutes, as it will otherwise be too fragile to remove at this point. 
• Leave to completely cool on a wire rack. Serve in slices with coconut yoghurt or crème fraiche.
• Enjoy!

The healthy bit

Using ground almonds is an excellent alternative to gluten-containing flours, whilst keeping the cake moist and delicious. Plus, the addition of 265g of ground almonds in this recipe gives nearly 60g of protein, helping to balance the sugars of the oranges and honey, which will in turn help you to balance your blood sugar and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Almonds are also a great source of healthy fats as well as essential nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium and calcium. 

Valencia oranges are available in the summer in the UK, but Blood Oranges make an excellent alternative when they are in season (over the winter). Oranges are a great source of vitamin C, which humans need to get daily from their diet, as we are not able to store it. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, which helps to support the immune system, protect cells from free radicals, and also helps the body to absorb iron. So, this would be the perfect dessert after your BBQ meat! 

BBQ meat can be high in free radicals due to the high heat involved in the grilling process, which leads to the formation of various compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These PAHs, along with other compounds formed during grilling, can contribute to oxidative stress and potential health concerns. Having a dessert high in antioxidants, such as those provided by the oranges, can help to quench those free radicals, limiting any damage done. And the vitamin C will aid your absorption of all the lovely iron!

Finally, honey offers several benefits when used in cakes compared to sugar, primarily due to its moisture-retaining properties and unique flavour profile. It keeps cakes moist for longer, enhances their texture, and contributes to a richer, deeper flavour. Additionally, honey is a natural sweetener with a slightly lower glycaemic index than sugar. Anecdotally, if you use locally produced honey, it may help relieve some of the hay fever symptoms in the summer months! There is no scientific evidence to support this, but anecdotally, many people report relief from hay fever symptoms after consuming local honey.

This article was published in Happiful Magazine (Issue 99). You can order print copies online, or read the e-magazine for free on the Happiful app. 

Looking for more inspiration? Visit our Recipe hub.