There’s something about oranges, clementines, and mandarins that always me think of winter and the Christmas holidays.
Perhaps it’s remembering mediterranean holidays and city streets lined with fruit trees covered with oranges that resemble vibrant holiday decorations. Sweet memories in lockdown times.
All these thoughts of clementines inspire me to consider an orange cake to start the holiday celebrations. When a friend sends a recipe for Nigella Lawson’s Clementine Cake the culinary decision is easy! It’s a great recipe for anyone watching their gluten intake, as it calls for almond flour. I limit the amount of sugar in any cooking I do and so substitute stevia for the sugar in the recipe. (A quick google check suggests the ratio of 8:1 sugar to stevia.) Another adjustment is to make mini cakes rather than a loaf cake. This makes it so easy to have a just a small taste of something sweet to finish a meal.
These mini cakes are moist and have the flavour of orange. I still want more orange flavour and decide an orange syrup is essential! I combine a couple of recipes to make this syrup which is essentially: juice of 4 oranges and 1 lemon, Agave syrup to taste instead of sugar. I simmer that combination and allow it to reduce in volume and add a tablespoon of Grand Marnier – the aromatic cognac and orange liqueur combination – and some candied orange peel. Result: yummy combination of mini clementine cake and orange syrup!
In wine and food pairing terms, a glass of Sauternes or another late harvest wine would be excellent or to start the celebrations, maybe continue with the taste of Grand Marnier Liqueur!
Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings to all.
elizabethsvines
References: Clementine Cake – Nigella Lawson http://www.nigella.com
Looking forward to sampling these cakes they sound wonderful
Yes, definitely – they will be on the menu! Merry Christmas!
This looks sumptuous!
The mini-cakes look wonderful and you have just helped me decide on my Christmas dessert.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Thank you! Yes, a good Christmas dessert! Thank you for writing. Merry Christmas! xx
Such a lovely inspiration, Liz! I too love clementines in any recipe, as they have a wonderful sweet and aromatic taste (without the seeds.) I am making use of them in a recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi as part of a Christmas Eve meal of chicken, fennel and pernod. How fortunate we are to be able to indulge in delicacies of food and wine during these challenging times. Merry Christmas!xx
Thank you for the lovely comment and glad you are enjoying cooking during these challenging times. I am sure your Christmas Eve meal was delicious! Happy Christmas Day!