Flourless Orange and Polenta Cake
Flourless Orange and Polenta Cake is a moist, fragrant cake made with ground almonds (almond meal), polenta (coarse cornmeal), and whole oranges—usually simmered until soft and then blended into the batter.Since it’s flourless, it’s naturally gluten-free, and the combination of fruit, nuts, and cornmeal gives it a lovely rich texture with a slight crunch and a bright citrus flavor.Here’s what makes it special:Oranges: Typically two whole oranges are boiled and pureed, rind and all, which gives a deep marmalade-like taste.Polenta: Adds a rustic grainy texture and golden color.Almond meal: Keeps it moist and dense.Eggs and sugar: Help it rise and give structure since there’s no flour.It’s often served with a little dusting of powdered sugar, a spoon of mascarpone or yogurt, or even a drizzle of orange syrup.
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Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 large orange
- 1 cup almond meal (ground almonds)
- 1/3 cup fine polenta (cornmeal)
- 1/2 cup caster sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Optional: or a few drops of orange blossom water
Instructions
Method
- Place the whole orange (unpeeled) in a saucepan, cover with water, and simmer gently for about 45 minutes, until very soft. Drain, discard any seeds, and let it cool a bit. Then blend the whole orange (yes, peel and all!) into a smooth puree.
- Heat to 170°C / 340°F (fan 160°C / 320°F). Grease and line a small round cake tin (about 18 cm / 7 inches).
- In a bowl, whisk together the almond meal, polenta, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until pale and slightly fluffy. Add the orange puree and vanilla (if using), and mix until smooth.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the orange mixture until just combined.
- Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden and a skewer comes out clean. If it starts browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil halfway through.
- Let it cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. It’s lovely warm or at room temperature.
Serving ideas
Dust with powdered sugar and serve with Greek yogurt or mascarpone.Add a drizzle of honey or orange syrup for extra sheen and sweetness.Disclaimer
Some parts of recipe maybe AI-generated.
Nutrition
Calories: 363kcal (18%)Carbohydrates: 47g (16%)Protein: 11g (22%)Fat: 17g (26%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 93mg (31%)Sodium: 152mg (7%)Potassium: 137mg (4%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 30g (33%)Vitamin A: 267IU (5%)Vitamin C: 24mg (29%)Calcium: 151mg (15%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Disclaimer
Nutritional information for this recipe is an approximation and is not to be construed as medical advice.
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