Description
This rustic Sicilian orange cake is made with whole eggs, honey, extra virgin olive oil, and unrefined flour. Lightly sweetened with citrus and dense without being heavy, it’s the kind of cake that feels appropriate at any hour.
Ingredients
3 large organic eggs
Pinch of sea salt
5 tablespoons honey (orange blossom, lemon, or acacia)
Zest and juice of 1 untreated orange (about 5 tablespoons juice)
5 tablespoons (75 ml) mild extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups (300 g) brown rice flour (or Kamut flour or other unrefined flour)
1 tablespoon (15 g) baking powder, aluminum-free
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven.
Set your oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9-inch cake pan. You can also line the bottom with parchment paper instead of flouring.
2. Whip the eggs.
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and a pinch of sea salt with a hand mixer or whisk until light and frothy, about 3 minutes.
3. Add liquids.
Pour in the honey, olive oil, orange zest, and orange juice. Whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
4. Add dry ingredients.
Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl. Stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the batter.
5. Pour and bake.
Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan. Tap lightly to remove any air bubbles. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the center springs back lightly and a tester comes out clean.
6. Cool and dust.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Once fully cooled, dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Use mild-tasting olive oil so it doesn’t overpower the orange.
Brown rice flour gives a tender crumb and nutty undertone, but you can substitute spelt or Kamut for variation.
This cake is naturally dairy-free and made without refined sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Baking, Dessert, Dolci
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Sicilian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg