Flourless Whole Orange Cake

This delicious Whole Orange Cake boasts a nutty flavor, a moist and sticky texture, and a delightful orange aroma. The unique method involves blending whole oranges, almond meal, sugar, and eggs without using any oil or butter.

INGREDIENTS:

2 medium oranges (about 600g/1.4 lb total, roughly 300g/10 oz each, approximately 8cm/3″ diameter)
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 3/4 cups almond meal (ground almonds)

DIRECTIONS:

Boil Oranges:
Initial Boil: Place oranges in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, boil for 10 minutes, and then drain.
Repeat Boiling: Return the oranges to the pot, cover with fresh cold water, and boil again for 10 minutes. Drain and repeat once more (three boils of 10 minutes each). Alternatively, you can boil the oranges for 40 minutes continuously, monitoring the water level.
Prepare Oranges:
Chop: After the final boil, rinse and cool the oranges slightly. Slice them into 1cm/1/4″ slices, dice, and remove any seeds. Let the oranges cool completely.
Make Batter:
Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 160°C/320°F (140°C with a fan). Grease and line a 23cm/9″ cake pan with baking paper.
Blend Oranges: Place the chopped oranges in a food processor. Pulse four times for 10 seconds each, scraping down the sides between pulses, until they reach a marmalade consistency with a few visible bits of rind remaining.
Add Remaining Ingredients: To the food processor, add the almond meal, eggs, baking powder, and sugar. Blitz for 5-10 seconds on high until everything is well combined.
Bake:
Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 60 minutes, or until the surface is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serve:
Cool: Allow the cake to cool fully in the pan. If not using a loose-base pan, cover the surface with baking paper before turning it out to avoid the cake sticking to your hands.
Decorating: Decorate with fresh orange slices, rind strips, and sprigs of flowers. A light dusting of icing sugar adds a beautiful touch.
Enjoy: Slice and serve. The cake pairs wonderfully with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
This flourless cake is perfect for those who appreciate the intense, natural sweetness of oranges combined with the richness of almonds. Enjoy this delightful treat with your family and friends!