Orange Cake Recipe (5 Ingredients) - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

Treat yourself to a slice of flourless orange cake, an easy dessert made with 5 gluten free ingredients. This delicate treat is bursting with vibrant citrus flavors while the warm nuttiness from the almond flour makes every bite completely divine.

One of my favorite ways to transform classic desserts into lighter treats is to cut out the flour. Flourless desserts are naturally gluten free and almost always made with healthier ingredients, but still have a light and fluffy crumb and decadent flavors.

You would never know this orange cake was made without flour. Instead, homemade orange marmalade, eggs, sugar, and almond meal make up the decadent batter before it’s baked until fluffy and rich. Every bite features a flawless balance of bright and vibrant citrus contrasted with a warm and satisfying nuttiness.

Why you’ll love this orange cake recipe

Cooking without traditional baking ingredients, like all purpose flour and vegetable oil, can make it hard to bake cakes with the fluffy texture and moist crumb you already know and love. Not here, though! I’ll show you how to bake this easy orange almond cake using a handful of not-so-traditional ingredients so you can achieve the perfect texture.

• A delicate almond flour cake. Almond flour (or almond meal) is the secret to this cake’s light and fluffy texture.
• Gluten free, dairy free, and oil free. This cake is made with naturally gluten free and dairy free ingredients, and relies solely on eggs for richness and moisture! No oil or butter needed.
• 5 easy ingredients. This is an easy 5-ingredient orange cake recipe you can turn to when you need a sweet treat in a pinch!

Ingredients needed

The ingredients in this short list are all easy to find at well-stocked grocery stores. This is what you need:

• Oranges. Fresh organic oranges (rinds and all!) are boiled, then blended into a tasty homemade marmalade.

• Eggs. A good amount of eggs are needed to help this flourless cake hold together and stay moist.
• Sugar. Use white granulated sugar or cane sugar. For a sugar free alternative, try granulated allulose instead.
• Baking powder. To help the cake rise.
• Almond meal. Almond meal or almond flour gives the cake a nice nutty flavor, which compliments the bright orange beautifully. It’s also key to achieving a light and fluffy cake.

How to make orange cake

Learn how to make an orange cake with almond flour using these simple step-by-step instructions:

Step 1 – Boil the oranges

Place the oranges in a saucepan and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil, boiling the oranges for 10 minutes before draining the water. Repeat this step two more times.

Step 2 – Chop and blend the oranges

Once the oranges are cool enough to handle, roughly chop them into bite-sized pieces. Transfer them to a blender or food processor, then blend until you have a marmalade-like puree.

Step 3 – Beat the eggs and sugar

Add the eggs and sugar to a mixing bowl, and beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Step 4 – Finish the batter

Next, gently stir the orange marmalade, almond meal, and baking powder in with the sugar and eggs until you have a smooth batter.

Step 5 – Bake

Pour the cake batter into your prepared cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Step 6 – Slice and enjoy

Wait for the cake to cool completely before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Tips to make the best recipe

• Don’t peel the oranges. Because most of the orange flavor is in the rinds! If you peel the oranges before boiling and blending, your cake will not be balanced and will miss out on the beautiful orange flavors.
• Don’t overmix! Gently fold the dry and wet ingredients together with a spatula. Only mix until everything is just combined.
• Cool completely. The cake needs to be cooled completely before slicing or else it may fall apart.
• Decorate the cake. A dusting of powdered sugar is a simple, yet elegant decoration. For a more elaborate option, drizzle the cake with vanilla glaze or top with candied orange slices, slivered almonds, and/or whipped cream.
• To make a layer cake, double the recipe and bake the batter in two 9-inch cake pans. Spread a layer of vanilla or cream cheese frosting in the middle, on the sides, and on top, then slice and serve.

Storage instructions

To store: Cover the cake and store it at room temperature for up to 1 week. It will last for a few days longer in the fridge.

To freeze: Wrap the cake in plastic or keep it in an airtight container, then freeze for up to 2 months.

• Saucepan. You need a saucepan big enough to boil 1 pound of oranges.
• Food processor or blender. To puree the boiled oranges.
• Spatula. To incorporate the wet and dry ingredients together.
• 9-inch cake pan. To bake the cake. You can also use an 8-inch square pan or a 9-inch loaf pan.
• Electric mixer. To beat the eggs and sugar together.

More flourless desserts to try

• Chocolate Cake
• Muffins
• Mug Cake
• Banana Bread Cookies
• Protein Brownies
• Brownie cookies

Frequently asked questions