Helene's Whole Orange Cake

[meganjane]

Has anyone made this? I made it today and was very disappointed. 6 eggs, and it was heavy and dry. I followed directions exactly. I made 8 small cakes and 1 round cake.

They looked like they rose and then deflated. I've never had that happen with a cake before. It even tastes 'floury', yet has no flour in it. I was concerned that there's no fat other than that from the almond meal and egg yolks.

Won't be trying again using that many eggs!

[Cornish Cream]

Sorry MJ haven't made this cake.

[CreamPuff63]

I've made this one before an its very moist, also good for cupcakes. Stephanie Alexanders is also lovely.

[meganjane]

Thanks CP, but I'm looking for an almond one as I love the ones from Dome, but they're too sweet.

I'll try again with this recipe, converting to the Thermomix, of course:


   * 2 Valencia oranges
   * 3 eggs
   * 1 cup caster sugar
   * 300g almond meal
   * 1 tsp baking powder
   * Orange Syrup
   * 1 Valencia orange, extra
   * 3/4 cup caster sugar, extra

Method:

   * Preheat oven to 170 degrees celcius. Grease a 22cm cake pan. Place whole oranges into a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 mins until tender. Drain. Repeat. Refresh under cold water and drain.
   * Coarsely chop warm oranges and remove and discard and pips. Place into food processor and process until smooth.
   * Using electric beaters, whisk eggs and sugar until thick and creamy. Add processed orange mixture, almond meal and baking powder and gently fold until combined. Pour into pan and bake for 1 hr. Cool.
   * For syrup, remove peel from orange and cut peel into thin strips. Place into a saucepan, cover with water and boil for 5 mins. Drain, returning water to pan and set aside peel. Squeeze juice from the peeled orange, and add to pan with sugar. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves and syrup thickens. Spoon over cake. Sprinkle with orange strips and serve.

At least, I'll only waste 3 eggs and at best will have a nice dessert tomorrow night. I won't make the syrup, but will top with a cream cheese icing flavoured with orange zest and top with some candied orange rind.

[Cuilidh]

It is a shame that yours failed.  I make one regularly that I got off SBS's food programme a couple of years ago - it's a Jewish cake and incredibly easy and quick.  I cook the oranges in the microwave and they take about 5-6 minutes.  Make the almond meal first, set aside, then the eggs and sugar go into the TMX for a couple of seconds, add the oranges and turbo to break them up for about 4 seconds, add everything else and blend for about 3 seconds and it's done.  Really, really simple and quick and tastes great.

[meganjane]

I've seen that recipe, Marina. Maybe I'll try again and microwave the oranges.

[Cuilidh]

Good luck.  I use raw almonds, not blanched, so the appearance of the cake is a little darker than the lovely golden colour you get with blanched almonds.