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Almond cake in spiced citrus syrup

Name: Almond cake in spiced citrus syrup
Yield: Serves 8
Cuisine: British recipes
Ingredients: Butter, for greasing; 6 medium eggs, separated; 225g caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp extra; 230g ground almonds; Finely grated zest of 2 oranges; Finely grated zest of 1 lemon; For the syrup; 50g caster sugar; Juice of 1 orange; Juice of 1 large lemon; 1 star anise; 1 large cinnamon stick; 2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed; For the orange fruit salad; 4 oranges; 2 tbsp icing sugar; 2 tbsp orange blossom water (from major supermarkets); 1 pomegranate (optional); Few fresh mint leaves, to decorate

Published: 30 Jun 07
Updated: 18 Mar 24

Try this moreish almond cake recipe, made with oranges and lemons to give it a citrus kick, and added spices for additional flavour.

Easy
July 2007

Test kitchen approved

Serves 8
Hands-on time 45 min, oven time 45 min, plus cooling

Try this moreish almond cake recipe, made with oranges and lemons to give it a citrus kick, and added spices for additional flavour.

Gluten-free recipes

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 439kcals
Fat: 21.2g (2.6g saturated)
Protein: 12.9g
Carbohydrates: 53.2g (49.9g sugars)
Salt: 0.2g

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Ingredients

Butter, for greasing
6 medium eggs, separated
225g caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp extra
230g ground almonds
Finely grated zest of 2 oranges
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

For the syrup

50g caster sugar
Juice of 1 orange
Juice of 1 large lemon
1 star anise
1 large cinnamon stick
2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

For the orange fruit salad

4 oranges
2 tbsp icing sugar
2 tbsp orange blossom water (from major supermarkets)
1 pomegranate (optional)
Few fresh mint leaves, to decorate

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Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/ fan160°C/gas 4. Grease and line a 23cm round, deep springform cake tin with baking paper. Put the egg yolks and 225g sugar in a large bowl. Using an electric hand whisk, beat for a few minutes until pale and thick. Fold in the almonds and zests. It will be quite stiff at this stage.
In a separate large bowl, whisk the egg whites with the extra sugar to soft peaks. Mix a little into the almond mixture to loosen, then gently fold in the rest until combined. Pour into the tin and bake for 45 min or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tin on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, make the syrup. Put the sugar and fruit juices into a small pan with the spices and leave over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 min, until syrupy. Strain into a bowl and cool slightly.

For the orange salad, slice the top and bottom off each orange, then slice away the skin and pith. Cut horizontally into thin slices and overlap on a serving plate. Sprinkle over the sugar and orange water.
Cut the pomegranate in half and, working over a bowl, tap the base of each half with a rolling pin to knock out the seeds. Set aside.
Invert the cake onto a plate and pierce the base all over with a fine skewer. Spoon over the syrup, giving it time to soak in.
Just before serving, scatter the pomegranate seeds and mint over the salad, and serve with slices of cake.