
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter softened for the pan
- 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar for the pan
Cake
- 3/4 pound (360g) mandarins about 5
- 1/2 cup (120ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. Fiori di Sicilia or vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup (100g) pistachio flour* finely ground
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour or 1 cup (120g) 00 flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃). Grease a 10-inch (25cm) tube pan, bundt or ring mold with butter and sprinkle with sugar to coat.
- To make the cake, cut the mandarins into quarters, peels and all. Remove and discard the stem nubbin and seeds. Puree until smooth in a food processor or blender, then set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, Fiori di Sicilia, and salt. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking as you go; then stir in the pureed mandarins and pistachio flour. In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda and add this slowly to the large bowl, continuing to mix until all the flour is incorporated.
- Now scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45** to 55 minutes (this will depend on the pan you used), or until the cake is nicely browned and fragrant and the top is firm when you touch it lightly.
- Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and transfer to a serving plate. The cake will keep, covered, at cool room temperature for up to a week.
Notes
Zoë's Baking Notes:
I made my own pistachio flour by blending the raw nuts with 1/3 cup of the sugar and a few tablespoons of the all-purpose flour and pulverizing in a food processor. Be sure to pulverize it into a fine powder or the cake will come out dense. I made the cake a second time with commercially ground pistachio flour and liked the texture of the cake better.
I baked the cake in a Bundt pan and it baked faster than the directions called for. I took it out at 35 minutes and it was perfect. The size pan will make all the difference in timing.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


