By Sara McCleary Updated - This post may contain affiliate links
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Oh blood oranges, how I love thee, let me cook the ways. Actually my favourite way to enjoy blood oranges are in salads. Sliced segments of ruby glory scattered amongst salad greens. It appeals to all my senses.
I think by the end of the season my tribe is probably sick of seeing slices through salads that accompany dinner. Therefore I do tend to use them in other ways as well. Blood orange marmalade is a seasonal favourite. Most other uses are experimental to see what I can create.
Originally the oranges in this cake were purchased and destined to be transformed into marmalade. That was until I had a craving for cake. I rummaged through the pantry to discover what forgotten ingredients were lurking. Dived into my recipes and pulled out some tried and tested ones. Taking ideas and elements from a few, my flourless blood orange and chocolate cake was born.
The cake is fragrant, rich and moist. Moist from the oranges, rich due to the chocolate. I used a combination of almond meal and ground almonds. I love the texture that this created (plus it is what I had in the cupboard). You could just use almond meal if you prefer.
It did seem a slight shame to use the blood oranges in this manner, as you don't appreciate their ruby red glory. Even though the main ingredient of the cake is blood oranges, I still wanted to show off this beautiful citrus. The decision was made to top the cake with syrupy orange slices. Making sure to showcase the fruit.
Printable Recipe
Flourless Blood Orange & Chocolate Cake Recipe
Recipe Author: Sara McCleary
A rich and moist flourless orange and chocolate cake. A large cake that is a wonderful crowd pleaser.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 hours hrs
Total Time 3 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Course Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Morning Tea
Cuisine Australian
Servings 12
Calories 629 kcal
Ingredients
- 5 blood oranges
- 300 grams almond meal
- 200 grams ground almonds
- 12 eggs
- 500 grams caster sugar
- 4 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) baking powder
- 200 grams 70% dark chocolate
- 2 blood oranges extra, thinly sliced
- 240 grams caster sugar
- 190 ml (¾ cup) water
Instructions
Place oranges in a heavy based saucepan (with a lid). Add enough water to cover the oranges and bring to the boil. Simmer for around 2 hours. Remove oranges from water and set aside to cool.
Pre-heat oven at 180degC/350degF.
Grease and line a 10cm deep 23cm round cake tin.
Chop up oranges and remove seeds. Place oranges in a food processor and blitz until smooth.
Melt chocolate, either in microwave or over a double boiler, use your preferred method.
In a large bowl mix orange puree, eggs, sugar and baking powder. Mix in melted dark chocolate, then fold through almond meal and ground almonds.
Bake for approximately 1 hour or until firm to touch and when tested with a skewer it comes out clean.
Remove from tin and cool on a cake rack.
While cake is cooling make the syrupy orange slices. In a medium heavy based saucepan place water and sugar. Over medium heat, stir until sugar has dissolved. Add orange sliced and bring to a simmer. Simmer for around 20 minutes until orange slices are tender and liquid has become a thick syrup.
Top cake with orange slices and some of the syrup before serving.
Measurement Notes
All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
Recipe Notes
GENERAL COOK’S NOTES
All oven temperatures are fan-forced, increase the temperature by 20°C (70°F) for convection ovens.
All measurements are Australian tablespoons and cups. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified.
1 teaspoon equals 5ml
1 tablespoon equals 20 ml (Nth America, NZ & UK use 15ml tablespoons)
1 cup equals 250ml (Nth America use 237ml)
4 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon
I use the below unless specified in my recipes.
Herbs are fresh |Vegetables are of a medium size |Eggs are roughly 60 grams in weight (large).
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW IS A GUIDE ONLY
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.
Serving: 1gramsCalories: 629kcalCarbohydrates: 81gProtein: 16gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 82mgPotassium: 181mgFiber: 5gSugar: 70gVitamin A: 256IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 167mgIron: 3mg
Keyword flourless orange cake
Did You Make This Recipe?I do a happy dance when people share how they went. Tag me on Instagram or Twitter @bellyrumbles & #bellyrumbles
Do tell dear Belly Rumbles' reader, do you look forward to a particular fruit season?
Sara xxx
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Francesca
What a gorgeous cake. We have lots of blood oranges here in Sicily, I must try this.ù
Reply
john | heneedsfood
What a beautiful combination. Sadly I missed the blood orange season in Oz, but there's always next time!
Reply
Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul
I adore blood oranges and especially in this cake! Love the chocolate and orange combo!Reply
Liz @ I Spy Plum Pie
That looks incredible. I love citrus and no one turns down chocolate cake!
I love summer fruits - berries, stone fruits, pineapples the lot. It reminds me of being a kid and eating fruit in the sunshineReply
YaYa
Such a beautiful cake!Reply
Gaby
Gorgeous cake Sara! I don't eat much fruit but I do get excited when I start seeing stone fruit at the markets.
Reply
Amanda@ChewTown
Having tasted said cake - I can attest to its spectacular flavour... I say "tasted" as the slice I had was commandeered by Scotty and eaten with great love. Only near the end of the slice of cake's life did I get an "Oh, would you like to try it?".
OF COURSE I WOULD!!
Reply
Maureen | org*smic Chef
Wow, flourless AND fruity. It looks terrific, Sara!Reply
Tina @ bitemeshowme
This cake looks absolutely divine, Sara! I adore the look of blood oranges, they're such a beauty!
Reply
The Hungry Mum
This looks just too, too perfect. Choc orange is my favourite food combo and blood orange is so rich & lush - yum.
Reply
Jason
Oh Sara i can so relate to your blood orange love! I have been making cordial, such a great colour. The cake looks delicious I'll have to try it.
Cheers
JasonReply
