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Mandarin Orange Almond Cake

Name: Mandarin Orange Almond Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups all purpose flour; 3 tablespoons corn starch; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; 3 large eggs (room temperature); 1 large egg yolk (room temperature); ¾ cup + 2½ tablespoons sugar (granulated) ((181 grams total, if you double the recipe double this amount)); ½ cup greek yogurt; ⅓ cup finely chopped almonds (not almond flour); ¼ cup vegetable oil ( I use either sunflower or corn oil); ⅔ cup mandarin juice (approximately 5-7) ((fresh mandarins)); ½ tablespoon lemon zest; ½ tablespoon mandarin orange zest; 1¼ cups icing / powdered sugar; 1-2 tablespoons Mandarin Orange juice ((fresh)); 1-2 tablespoon cream or milk

ByRosemary Molloy February 19, 2024February 26, 2024 February 26, 2024

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This Mandarin Orange Almond Cake, is the perfect Italian cake to serve any time during the day. Fresh Mandarin Oranges and a simple glaze will make this cake a delicious dessert.

Mandarin cake with two slices cut on black plates.

This is a popular cake that is made during the colder months and the holiday months, from Christmas to Easter. With the Easter Season just around the corner, we will be celebrating with such dishes as Lasagna, Homemade Crepe Cannelloni, Roast Lamb, Roasted Potatoes and Roasted Onions. We would eat a Rollè, tossed salads, fennel salads or even Baked Fennel and Peas.

Just when you didn’t think you good eat anymore, out would come the Italian Playing Cards and the Tombola Board (Italian Bingo). And of course somebody would ask “who wants coffee”? And here comes the Colomba, Panettone, Torrone or chocolate eggs depending on the season.

Recipe Ingredients

Flour – all purpose
Corn starch
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt
Eggs – large eggs room temperature)
Egg yolk – room temperature
Sugar – granulate sugar
Yogurt – greek yogurt
Almonds – finely chopped almonds, not almond flour
Oil – vegetable oil I use sunflower or corn oil you could also use melted butter or a light olive oil
Mandarin juice –
Lemon zest
Mandarin orange zest
Powdered sugar
Cream – or milk

Why Add Yogurt In A Cake

Yogurt makes cakes moist and give it a delicious flavour, because of the acidity in yogurt it helps to activate the baking soda which will make your cake light and fluffy.

Why Use Room Temperature Ingredients?

When at room temperature, eggs, butter, and other dairy ingredients form an emulsion which traps air. While baking in the oven, that trapped air expands and produces a fluffy baked good. So be sure to remove the ingredients from the fridge 45-60 minutes before baking.

Mandarin orange cake on a black wire rack.

How to make a Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe

In a medium bowl whisk the flour, corn starch, baking powder and baking soda and salt.

Whisking the dry ingredients in a silver bowl.

In a large bowl or stand mixer beat until fluffy the eggs and sugar, gently stir in the yogurt, then fold in the flour mixture, add the almonds, oil, juice and then zest and gently combine.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake until a tooth pick comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached.

Let cake sit approximately 15 – 20 minutes, then remove from pan. When completely cool drizzle with the glaze or dust with powdered sugar.

What Makes A Cake Fall?

There are a lot a reasons a cake may fall, but the most common ones are, your oven temperature is off, you can always check it with an oven thermometer to check this. You open the oven door too early.
Once the batter is mixed it should be baked, letting a cake batter sit too long can cause it to fall. The baking powder or baking soda usually start acting immediately and will only last for a very short period of time, therefore if the cake batter is left to stand before baking then there is always a risk that the baking powder or soda will have expired by the time that the cake goes into the oven.
Your baking powder or soda has expired and is no long active.
The pan size might not be the correct size, sometimes using a bundt pan will help.

How to store the Orange Almond cake

Most covered cakes, including this cake either frosted or unfrosted, cut or uncut, are perfectly fine at room temperature for about 2-3 days. It can also be refrigerated for up to 4 days. The cake can also be frozen. Wrap the completely cooled unglazed cake tightly in plastic and place in a freezer safe bag or container. It will keep for up to three months in the freezer.

Fast and easy to make, this Mandarin Orange Almond Cake is perfect anytime and any celebration, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Enjoy.

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