Almond & orange cake

Almond & orange cake

Try this deliciously moist cake with its zesty syrup poured over as a pudding or an afternoon tea treat

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Cuts into 12

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 1 hour

Method

  1. To make the syrup put all the syrup ingredients in a pan with 500ml water and bring slowly to a simmer, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat and simmer until syrupy, about 10 minutes.
  2. Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Butter and base line a 20cm springform cake tin. Cream the butter, sugar and orange zest until pale and fluffy. Beat the eggs then whisk in one at a time.
  3. Sift in the flour and baking powder and fold through along with the orange zest, semolina and almonds. Add the orange juice and yogurt and stir gently. Pour into the prepared tin and cook for about 1 hour or until firm to the touch and a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the centre.
  4. Remove the cake from the oven and pierce all over with a skewer. Pour half the hot syrup over the warm cake. Leave to cool.
  5. Drizzle the cake with the remaining syrup and serve with a large spoonful of crème fraîche if you like.

Per serving

550 kcalories, protein 9.6g, carbohydrate 64.4g, fat 30 g, saturated fat 12.8g, fibre 1.8g, salt 0.68 g

Recipe from olive magazine, February 2009.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 25 January 2009

    Olivier rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    The syrup complements perfectly this moist, zesty cake. However, please be aware that the syrup requires much longer than the quoted 10 mins... Also, the wording, as my friend Sue (a seasoned cook) can testify, is inaccurate and misleading when it comes to the timing of adding the orange zest. Still, we had fun making it and eating it.

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  • 25 January 2009

    leanneky commented on this recipe

    Absolutely lovely! I agree with Olivier, the syrup probably needs a bit more time. I wasn't sure when to add the orange zest either! Despite this, it was delicious and I will definitely be making it again.

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  • 25 January 2009

    leanneky rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 28 January 2009

    Liana's best commented on this recipe

    Would like to try this recipe. When would it the best to add the orange zest? At step 2 or 3?

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  • 28 January 2009

    Chris commented on this recipe

    I wouldn't think it would matter when you add the zest as it gets no more cooking if you add it at step 2. Take your pick.

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  • 29 January 2009

    Carol rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I have to agree with most of the comments from above. I don't think that it matters when the zest is added when making the cake but it would have been good to have the right instructions. Making the syrup took longer to sort out, but I eventually solved the problem by adding more sugar. I also found that the size of the baking tin quoted was too small....I'll use a slightly bigger one next time. It's an unusual cake.......but enjoyable!

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  • 30 January 2009

    priszcilla rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I baked this cake yesterday. It is very sweet and sticky, its taste reminding me of baklava. Semolina adds a special touch to its moist but crumby texture. The syrup keeps it moist so it did not get dry and is still enjoyable today. As for the syrup, next time I would use only around 250 ml water. On the whole, I loved it.

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  • 30 January 2009

    ibilola commented on this recipe

    i baked this cake and my husband love it. You dont just read but try it at home and you will love it. i try nutmeg,hhhhhhh so lovely.Thank you BBC

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  • 18 February 2009

    mitrajam commented on this recipe

    I have made this recipe twice now and both times my friends and family have not stop complimenting me on this wonderful dessert.As suggested used half the amount of liquid. Thank-you I will be making this again and again, until I get bored of hearing the positive feedback.

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  • 11 March 2009

    Sapna commented on this recipe

    Hi, Can any of you who has tried this recipe suggest the right method & timing for syrup.

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  • 02 May 2009

    miniminx commented on this recipe

    i make a cake very similar to this one - marmalade quinoa teacake. quinoa instead of semolina (so you can feel REALLY virtuous) and marmalade....saves having to mess about with making syrup. It's a member recipe on this site. Have a try and let me know what you think!

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  • 02 May 2009

    miniminx commented on this recipe

    the link to the Marmalade Quinoa Teacake: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10318/marmalade-quinoa-teacake

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  • 07 May 2009

    Agent Orange commented on this recipe

    Can you use corse polenta?

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  • 18 July 2009

    Sandra commented on this recipe

    I made this cake yesterday, gave it to my husband whilst still warm with a dollop of ice cream, whereupon he told me it tasted just like a suet pudding!! It is a nice cake I agree, BUT rather expensive and the instructions are a bit iffy. The syrup definitely took much longer to thicken, I think that half the amount would have been adequate.

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  • 25 August 2009

    Mimi rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Lovely cake, very moist. Not sure why some have not had good results, this worked perfectly for me. I made the syrup in a wide pan which reduced it quite quickly. Lovely end to a spicy meal.

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  • 11 December 2009

    vercha rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Absolutely lovely and very moist cake.

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  • 29 April 2010

    globaholic rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I'd read all the other recipes for similar cakes and all the reviews and this one came out the best so I thought I'd try it. It didn't disappoint and was delicious. It made a great dinner party dessert and I served it with an orange buttermilk sorbet.

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  • 02 May 2010

    colandrina rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Very moist cake. I used a toothpick to make holes into the cake before pouring over the syrup, which made the syrup moisten the cake even more. I had no problems with the syrup, either. I served it with a mix of ricotta, orange juice and - zest while still warm, and it was very well received by my husband and our guests.

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  • 12 May 2010

    Lime commented on this recipe

    12 May 2010 I think zest should be added in step 2, as is the case with most other cakes of this sort where lemon or orange zest is added. It wouldn't make any difference though if not added until step 3.

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  • 15 July 2010

    Swirlgirl rated this recipe

    5 stars

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Cuts into 12

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 250g butter
  • 200g golden caster sugar
  • 2 oranges , finely grated zest and juice
  • 4 eggs
  • 50g plain flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 250g semolina
  • 200g ground almonds
  • 120g Greek yogurt
  • crème fraîche to serve (optional)

ORANGE SYRUP

  • 2 oranges , zested and juiced
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 275g sugar (caster or granulated)
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Per serving

550 kcalories, protein 9.6g, carbohydrate 64.4g, fat 30 g, saturated fat 12.8g, fibre 1.8g, salt 0.68 g

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