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 Orange Cake
Mandarin Orange CakeChristmas Day in Italy is pretty well a 24 hour eating feast. When my mother-in-law was healthy we would start at one with lunch. Naturally the wood burning stove would be lit.
In the oven would go the pans of Lasagna, Homemade Crepe Cannelloni, Roast Lamb, Roasted Potatoes and Roasted Onions. We would eat a Rollè, tossed salads, fennel salads, Baked Fennel and Peas.
Mixed ingredients.
Ready for Baking.
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 Pandoro, Panettone and Torrone! Nuts and my favourite Lupin Beans.
Which I have soaking as I update this post.
Italian Glazed Mandarin Orange Almond Cake
But don’t despair we never stopped there, my mother-in-law would decide that since the stove was burning she would have to make Pizza, and the dough making would begin.
If you were lucky and she made too much dough, she would take pieces of the dough fry them and when they were still warm, sprinkle them with sugar. Sometimes the simple things are the best!
Dinner would consist of the left overs, Pastas, the Meat dishes, fresh salads and of course 2 or 3 slices of her delicious Pizza.
Unfortunately those Christmases are over and everyone is with their own family. Sad for us, our daughter has to work and won’t be back for Christmas this year. But we will see her in a couple of months.
And when we do I will be sure to make her this Mandarin Almond Cake, two of her favourite ingredients. This is a moist cake as far as Italian Cakes go. With a simple Mandarin Glaze it makes the perfect Christmas Morning Treat.
How long can the Mandarin Orange Cake last?
Most covered cakes, including this cake either frosted or unfrosted, cut or uncut, are perfectly fine at room temperature for about 3 days.
How to make a Mandarin Orange Cake
- In a medium bowl whisk the flour, corn starch, baking powder and baking soda and salt.
- In another medium bowl beat until fluffy the eggs and sugar.
- Gently fold in the yogurt, and then fold in the flour mixture.
- Add the almonds, oil, juice and then the zest.
- Pour into the prepared cake pan (I usually use a springform pan, makes life so much easier) and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean. (time could be more or less, depends on your oven).
- Let cake sit approximately 15 minutes, then remove from pan.
- You can either glaze it with a simple icing sugar, mandarin juice and cream or a simple dusting of powdered sugar.
Fast and easy to make, this Italian Glazed Mandarin Orange Almond Cake is made with Greek Yogurt and Oil. A couple of years ago I shared my Italian Fresh Cream Lemon Cake and this year we are going for another citrus cake. Enjoy!
Mandarin Orange Almond Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 3/4 cup + 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar (granulated)
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup finely chopped almonds (not almond flour)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2/3 cup mandarin juice (approximately 5-7) (fresh mandarins)
- zest 1/2 lemon
- zest 1 mandarin orange
MANDARIN GLAZE
- 1 1/4 cups icing / powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons Mandarin Orange juice (fresh)
- 1-2 tablespoon cream or milk
Instructions
FOR THE CAKE
- Pre-heat oven to 340° F (170°C). Grease and flour a 9 inch (22 centimeter) bundt pan.
- In a medium bowl whisk the flour, corn starch, baking powder and baking soda and salt.
- In a medium bowl beat until fluffy eggs and sugar, gently fold in yogurt, and fold in the flour mixture, then add the almonds, oil, juice and then zest. Pour into prepared cake pan and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean.Let cake sit approximately 15 minutes, then remove from pan. When cool drizzle with glaze or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
MADARIN GLAZE
- In a small bowl add icing / powdered sugar, juice and 1 tablespoon cream or milk, stir together until smooth, if too thick then add a little more cream or milk, if too thin add more icing / powdered sugar.
Nutrition
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Reposted from December 19, 2016.
Kathy says
I really would love to make this cake , but I do not have a Bundt pan . Any suggestions.
Rosemary says
Hi Kathy, Im pretty sure a 9 inch round cake pan would work fine. Let me know how it turns out.
Kathy says
Thank you ! Do you use roasted almonds or raw ?
Rosemary says
Hi Kathy, I usually use raw, but if you prefer you can lightly roast them before finely chopping.
susie meyer says
Is it possible to add chopped up pieces of chopped mandarins to the batter? I am wondering if it this would work or change the integrity of the cake too much? Thank you!
Rosemary says
Hi Susie, Im not sure about that, it might make the cake too moist and heavy.
xira says
The cake didn’t last 24 hours. Family loved it and I got to use lots of mandarins from our tree.
Rosemary says
Hi Xira, thanks so glad it was a hit.
Patricia Varley says
Very nice recipes , thank you!
Rosemary says
Hi Patricia, your welcome.
Kaaren Lofgren says
I received fresh mandarins from California and needed to use them. I found your Italian Glazed Mandarin Orange Almond cake recipe. I made it for my husband’s birthday! It was a huge hit! Love the texture and the flavor was amazing! I made it again the next day for an event at my house and again it was a fovorite. Thank you!
Rosemary says
Hi Kaaren, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend.
Rita Coretti says
Hi, so glad I found you. I am no baker but am willing to try my luck with this Italian
bundt cake. This cake looks delightful! My only worry is the almonds .Three if my four grandchildren are allergic to nuts. I’m wondering what I can substitute for the almonds.
Grazieee
Rita
Rosemary says
Hi Rita, thanks so much, how about dark chocolate mini chips (1/4 – 1/3 cup should do)? Toss the chips with a teaspoon of flour first so they don’t sink to the bottom. Let me know how it goes. Merry Christmas.
Bob says
This sounds like a winner to me! Wondering, could chopped walnuts replace the almonds? Do you think it would change the taste very much?
Thanks!
Rosemary says
Hi Bob, thanks, and good question, I think the combination of mandarin and walnut would work, although I have never tried it, almonds are just more popular in Italy. If you do try it let me know.
Maria says
Hi rosemary,
What part of Italy 🇮🇹 are you living in.
My dad was stationed in Gaeta,Italy
Grew up there for 6 years and then left
For two and we came back for 4 more years.
I had a lot of friends and loved eating there
Food and they use to bring food to my mom all the time.
I would love to own your cook books to make
Some of those delicious recipes that I miss from the bottom of my heart ❤️. See my moms friend
Adopt me as her grand daughter even if we
Where no blood related and she came to visit
Ya 27 years ago and I was so happy to see my Nonna
. Sadly she passed away in 95 and I miss her dearly.
But your book I can make some authentic Italian
Food.
I was wondering if Barnes and Nobles would
Carry it.
I saved a couple recipes in my Pinterest but would
Rather have the actual book..
Ciao!!
Maria Mercedes Cromley
Rosemary says
Hi Maria, I live just outside of Rome and thanks so much, my book is available at Barnes and Nobles and even on Amazon. Thanks so much. 🙂
L says
Would it be possible to double this recipe and have it turn out the same?
Rosemary says
Hi L I have never doubled it so to tell the truth I can’t say how it would turn out. If you want to give it a try, let me know. Happy Easter.
Mary Conners says
The instructions failed to mention adding the corn starch, baking powder, soda and salt even though they were on the ingredient list. Unfortunately cake was in the oven before I realized this!
Rosemary says
Hi Mary, so so sorry, thank you for letting me know, I have corrected recipe.
Catherine says
Baked this yesterday and it was so good. Definitely adding this recipe to my collection. I had to make substitutions based on what I had available with great success. Instead of yogurt, I used full fat sour cream and I used almond meal instead of finely chopped almonds. The cake was super tender and delicate and isn’t overly sweet. I am drowning in mandarins right now, so I think I will be making a number of these as Christmas gifts for my co-workers so they can have a fresh baked treat at breakfast or tea time during the holiday madness. Thank you for the recipe!
Rosemary says
Hi Catherine, so glad you enjoyed it. And great gift idea. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Glenda says
Can you use sour cream for the Greek yogurt?
Also can you make this in mini bunt size pans I’m going to take to neighbors as gifts for Christmas. Will be using our fresh picked mandarins.
Rosemary says
Hi Glenda, sour cream should work fine, and yes mini bundt size are good too, just check the baking time sooner, maybe after 20 minutes start to check. Hope that helps. 🙂
Marikyn says
Hi, Can I use the canned mandarins ? This sounds excellent.
Rosemary says
Hi Marikyn, to tell the truth I have never seen canned mandarins. Fresh really are better. But if you do use canned let me know how it is. Hope that helps.
Ellen says
I will have to make this one. The mandarin oranges are so delicious here and we have lots. We will be away from family this year because we are living in Italy for 18 months but next year I will have my family around me.
Rosemary says
Hi Ellen I hope you like it and enjoy your stay in Italy. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Lisa says
This is a gorgeous cake! I have made many of your recipes but I am not convinced that this is EASY. I will have to think this one over. My children cannot be home either & they are keeping my grandchildren as hostages. 🙂 So, I will wait until we are all together to try this cake. (My husband and I don’t need to eat the whole thing!) Enjoy the holidays.
Rosemary says
Hi Lisa, thank you, believe me it isn’t difficult at all. And Happy Holidays to you too! 🙂