I love when a recipe that starts out as a substitute for a guiltier pleasure ends up tasting decadent! We wanted a cake that would taste amazing, but without overloading us with carbohydrates and sugar. We’ve been working really hard at my house to eliminate empty carbs and added sugar. I can tell you, we’ve never felt better! Even so, everyone needs a slice of cake sometimes, right?
My favorite secret to reduced carb baking is almond flour. Almond flour is a great source of Vitamin E and even adds a bit of protein to your recipes.
The combination of nutty almond and mandarin oranges is really heavenly. The last bit of mandarin juice tops things off to create a really moist cake. As great as this cake is for pleasing the low sugar crowd, it really is special enough to serve guests.
- 2 cups almond flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- zest of one mandarin orange
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
- ⅓ cup coconut palm sugar or honey
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted
- ¼ cup mandarin orange juice (about 1½ mandarin oranges)
- Top with:
- 1½ tablespoons mandarin orange juice (about ½ mandarin orange)
- 1 teaspoon coconut palm sugar or honey
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Butter the sides of a 9 inch round baking pan and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, salt and orange zest. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, beat the eggs, then add the almond extract, coconut palm sugar or honey, butter or coconut oil and orange juice. Whisk to combine. Pour the egg mixture over the flour mixture. Using a spoon, stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into your prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 28 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove and cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Turn onto a plate and drizzle the top with the orange juice, coconut sugar or honey and the toasted almond slices.
- Serve once cooled. Store remaining cake in the refrigerator.
Some more recipes using almond meal/flour that you may love:
This looks fantastic, I love almond cakes!!
Thank you, Sarah! I do too!
Beautiful, Caroline. I just made an almond cake too yesterday, but mine isn’t nearly as healthy as yours! Love the combination of ingredients- I bet the cardamom adds such a lovely touch!
Thanks so much, Emily! I can’t wait to see your almond cake…I know it must be gorgeous!