Clementine Cake - Gluten-free, Low-sugar

Clementine Cake - Gluten-free, Low-sugar

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Whether you just want a fun and easy baking project with your kids over spring break or are looking to spoil your family during Passover and Hanukkah - this cake is a magical enigma. It only has a few simple ingredients and the method is easy. Simply boil citrus fruit of your choice - clementines are traditional like in Nigella Lawson’s recipe but we have used small oranges, mandarins, tangerines and meyer lemons (NOT conventional lemons) in our test kitchen and they have worked beautifully. Noticing a theme? Thin-skinned citrus is preferable here. During boiling, fruit gets syrupy inside and makes a vibrant pudding-like puree when you blend it in a food processor or vitamix. This ultra moist and spongy cake also falls under the category of a snacking cake. It’s not super sweet. It keeps for several days on the counter under a dish towel. And a slice with a mug of hot tea is a perfectly indulgent - and healthy! - pick-me-up anytime of day. It’s well paired with our chia berry compote gently warmed with a dollop of cool coconut yogurt for breakfast or iced with our 2 ingredient date sugar frosting.

  • Preparation 100 min
  • Cook 40 min
  • Serves 1 9-inch cake (8-10 servings)

Ingredients

  • 2 small thin-skinned citrus fruits like clementines, oranges, mandarins, tangerines, or meyer lemons (NOT conventional lemons)
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature
  • 0.75 cups Just Date Syrup
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups almond flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and butter a 9 inch cake pan.
  2. Wash fruit well. Add fruit to a pot of cool water and boil for 1-2 hours until very soft.
  3. Remove fruit and cool slightly. Gently pull apart to check for seeds and remove.
  4. Puree whole fruit in food processor or Vitamix until pudding-like consistency.
  5. Add eggs, date syrup, and vanilla to puree. In sifter, combine almond flour, baking soda, and salt. Sift into puree and stir.
  6. Pour batter into cake pan. Using a spoon, smooth batter - texture will show in final bake.
  7. Bake for 35-45 minutes at 375°F until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  8. Cool completely before decorating with fresh edible flowers, mint, or Just Date Sugar frosting.
by Caitlin Heinz