Mar 19, 2012

Chocolate orange almond cakes


You may recall me talking about our regular card nights here. We take turns hosting these evenings amongst the neighbours. While I enjoy the card games, I am really enjoying the social aspect of these regular events. And I am also loving the food! What I like is that each person will have their own style or twist to the evening unlike anybody else.



One set of neighbours is more traditional in what they serve up. So we know when we go to their place it will simply be good food and lots of it. Another neighbour is great at desserts and is renound for her cheesecakes....the most impressive looking one to date is a massive mirangue cheesecake! And yet another does delicious Asian inspired fare. So it's been really interesting as these evenings have become as much about getting together for a great meal and chat as well as the card game.


The last card evening was hosted by our lovely neighbours who put together a delicious Malaysian inspired menu with lots of tasty spiced chicken and beef skewers and fried rice. I brought along these little individual chocolate almond cakes with a side of orange segments. These are best served while warm or slightly reheated in the microwave with a side of orange segments. Add a scoop of ice cream or dollop of cream for something even more luscious!

Chocolate orange almond cakes with orange segments
Makes about 8 individual cakes


Ingredients:
1 cup almond meal
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
½ cup plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarb soda
125g unsalted butter, melted
5 eggwhites, beaten to soft peaks
¼ cup Dutch cocoa
1 Tbs Cointreau
Zest of 1 orange
Oranges in Cointreau syrup:
3 oranges, segmented
2 Tbs Cointreau
4 Tbs sugar



1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Grease muffin tin.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine almond meal, flour, icing sugar, baking powder, bicarb, cocoa and orange zest.
4. Fold in the eggwhites into the flour mixture. Add the Cointreau and mix.
5. Pour the batter into the muffin tin and bake for about 30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle of a cake. Leave to cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a cake rack.
6. For the orange segments, place the orange segments and sugar into a small pan over low heat. Simmer for a few minutes. Add the Cointreau and light with a match if you dare to flambé the oranges.
7. Serve cakes warm with cream or ice cream if desired.

14 comments:

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

What a fun time you guys have! I don't know any of my neighbours although if I did, I'd want to have these sorts of parties!

Hotly Spiced said...

How lovely to have good neighbours. I love the look of your cakes. They look so moist and I agree, they would be amazing if eaten straight from the oven while still warm. xx

yummychunklet said...

I'm somewhat anti-fruit & chocolate, but you've separated the two quite nicely. Great post!

Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy said...

What a lovely neighbourhood you live in! Your cakes look divine- the perfect individual size to enjoy during a game of cards :)

tania@mykitchenstories said...

What a great idea. These evenings sound fantastic .... and you dont have to drive. Your chocolate and orange cakes sound perfect

sarah @ from vegie patch to plate said...

These look just divine.. I have a girls afternoon tea coming up and these look perfect. Thanks again for another great recipe!

The Hungry Navigatrix said...

Bet your cards get sticky - haha! They look delish.

marthameetslucy said...

I wish I could do something like that with my neighbors, but most of them are in their 80s. So...no. Not going to happen. The cakes look fabulous though.

Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen said...

Almond and orange are a flavour match made in heaven - throw in the bonus of chocolate flavour and I´m there!

Anne@FromMySweetHeart said...

Anna..those card nights sound really fun and a great excuse for enjoying some fabulous food! I just love these little cakes. I am a huge fan of the chocolate-orange combo! And I just love the shape of these! : )

Stephanie said...

This sounds delicious. I love desserts with a citrus component in them, and if the other is chocolate, I think you have a match made in heaven!

Asmita said...

Hi Anna,
It's nice to know you have such lovely neighbors. The cakes look awesome! Love the citrus and almond in it.

Jennifer (Delicieux) said...

Wow, it sounds like you have lovely neighbours. I have to admit I don't know any of mine other than to wave too.

As for your cake, well, it looks and sounds amazing. I especially love the sound of the Cointreau oranges. Yum!

Gary McCourt said...

Its nice to know community spirit is not dead!