19cm / 8 inch round cake tin with a loose base greased and lined
Ingredients
125gbuttersoftened
140gcaster sugar
100galmond meal
40gcornflourmake sure it is made from corn not from wheat
¾teaspoonbaking powder
pinchsalt
3eggssize large
1blood orangezested
Icing
150gicing sugar
1blood orangejuice
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180℃ fan / 200℃ / 392℉.
Grease and line a loose-based 19cm / 8 inch round cake tin with baking paper.
Cream the butter, caster sugar and orange zest in a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment, or use electric beaters, until light and fluffy.
In a small bowl, mix together the almond meal / ground almonds, cornflour / starch, baking powder and a pinch of salt.
Add the eggs to the butter-sugar mixture 1 at a time, alternating with the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined.
Spoon the batter into the lined tin, place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes, then turn out to a wire rack and leave to cool completely before icing.
Blood Orange Icing
Sieve the icing sugar into a bowl.
Add the blood orange juice a little at a time, stirring, until you get a thick but pourable consistency.
Spread the icing over the cake.
Leave to set, then serve.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
Notes
INGREDIENTS NOTES
Almond meal – known as ground almonds if you are in the UK. Finer almond flour can be used in this recipe too.
Cornflour – or cornstarch if you are in the US. If you are in Australia and are wanting to make this a gluten-free cake, make sure you use a cornflour that isn’t made from wheat.
Icing sugar – use pure icing sugar if you are in Australia, and make sure it is gluten-free.
TIPS
Natural pink icing: For the most vibrant coloured icing, make sure to use the darkest blood orange you can find, or start adding the juice from the darker end of the blood orange.
Baking powder: don’t be tempted to add more baking powder! I tested the cake with a teaspoon and it ended up sinking in the middle. It still tasted ok, so I turned it upside down to ice it!