Orange Almond Cake

Stop whatever you are doing and head to your kitchen right now. Don't even bother reading the rest of this post. Just skip down to the ingredients and instructions and get baking. 

I lied in my last post when I told you that if you were only going to be baking one thing, bake the lemon blueberry yogurt loaf. I was wrong. So wrong. This is the cake to make. I'm am very serious. This is no light-hearted matter. Trust me. This cake will blow your mind when you least expect it. It is out-of-this-world amazing and a cinch to make! The hardest step is boiling oranges...


This cake was gone within two days of baking and requests have already been made for more. You'll look at it, smell it and expect a great orange flavored cake. You'll take one bite and your life will change. Forever. You will be in gastronomical heaven. 

This is not a "healthy" recipe but there's nothing unhealthy either. The almonds have all the fat needed for this cake to be beautiful and there's no added butter or oil.

Apart from the birthday cake I made for my parents last year (it's birthday time again!), this is my favorite baked creation. Just seven ingredients, a few simple steps and fifty minutes of baking time till this cake touches your lips. Behold the best orange almond cake in the universe. Make. It. NOW.

Ingredients
2 whole juicing oranges
4 medium-sized eggs
1 cup unrefined sugar
3 cups almond meal/almond flour/finely ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract 

Instructions
Wash the oranges well, place them in a large saucepan and cover with water. Boil the oranges and water for an hour and a half and drain. Let the oranges cool. Note: I did this step the day before and put the oranges in the fridge overnight.
Preheat the oven to 170 C. Line a 9" round baking pan with baking paper and set aside.
Chop the oranges into large chunks, having cut off the top bit and discarding all seeds beforehand.
Place the oranges in a food processor or blender and process until smooth (skin and everything).
Beat the eggs and sugar until thick and pale. Mix in the almond and vanilla extracts. Add the orange puree, almond meal, baking powder and fold until just combined. Pour into the baking pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let it cool.
Cut into [large] slices and dust with powdered sugar (if you so please for the extra indulgence).
Note: I think this tastes better the next day so I suggest you leave it in the fridge overnight and let it come to room temperature before serving.