Skip to main content

Orange-Almond Polenta Cake

Making cake batter in the blender? What could be easier? This cake is elegant enough for a dinner party and easy enough for a weekday.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 8

Ingredients

1/3 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup unbleached white flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups almonds
3/4 cup sugar
1 orange
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly oil and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.

    Step 2

    Sift the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. In a blender or food processor, whirl the almonds and sugar until the almonds are finely ground. Add to the flour mixture.

    Step 3

    Grate the orange peel (see page 290) and juice the orange (about 1/3 cup). Add the orange juice, orange zest, oil, eggs, and 1/3 cup of water to the blender or food processor and whirl for about 15 seconds. Add the dry ingredients and blend until well mixed, using a spatula to scrape down the sides if necessary. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

    Step 4

    Cool on a rack for 10 minutes; then carefully remove the cake from the pan. When thoroughly cool, dust with confectioners’ sugar.

  2. Ingredient Note

    Step 5

    If you don’t have a fresh orange, this cake will be just fine with 1/3 cup prepared orange juice.

  3. Serving & menu ideas

    Step 6

    Serve with berries or sliced fruit such as peaches or nectarines.

Cover of the cookbook Moosewood Simple Suppers with a red floral motif.
From Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table. Copyright © 2017 by Moosewood Collective. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Buy the full book from ThriftBooks or Amazon.
Read More
Like lemony baked salmon and strawberry shortcake roll.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like spicy carrot rigatoni and weeknight-fancy ravioli with peas.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
A birthday favorite in the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen.
This broiled hot honey salmon recipe results in sweet, spicy, glossy fish coated in a homemade hot honey glaze for an easy weeknight dinner or make-ahead lunch.
Like lemony risotto and tandoori-style cauliflower.
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.