A Taste of Home: Rhubarb, Orange & Almond Cake

Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

There’s been quite a few chocolate cake posts recently but you might be surprised to hear that I’m not really a huge chocolate fan! Instead I love fruity, zesty cakes and tarts out of the oven filled with seasonal fruit.

I think rhubarb has to be a favourite seasonal treat for me – it just reminds me of growing up and how our neighbours all seemed to have monster rhubarb patches. Our next door neighbour would regularly throw a big bunch of stalks over the wall to be turned into stewed rhubarb (served wth custard always!) or delicious rhubarb tarts. I have a weird addiction to stewed rhubarb on brown bread for breakfast – I think I take after my Dad who loved it too.

This Monday’s cake is a really delicious combination, based on similar ingredients and the simplicity of our Dunowen Apple Cake. I’ve just added in the grated zest of an orange and layered the sliced rhubarb on top instead of in the middle of the sponge.

A good dusting of brown sugar before it goes into the oven, gives the fruit a lovely caramelised finish when baked.

I like to serve this with some Greek Yoghurt or cream and a spoonful of rhubarb compote. I make the compote by gently poaching rhubarb in the juice of the orange we zested then adding in enough sugar to taste.

It’s good enough to have for dessert and breakfast!! YUM

Rhubarb, Orange and Almond Cake in a cake tin.
Rhubarb, Orange and Almond Cake on a wooden plate.
Ingredients:
  • 220g caster sugar
  • 110g ground almonds
  • 110g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3 free range eggs, lightly beaten
  • 140g melted butter
  • Grated zest of one orange
  • Bunch rhubarb (approx 6-8 stalks), chopped
  • Brown sugar for sprinkling
Method:
  1. Preheat the oven to 160C or 140C fan. Butter the base & sides of a 20cm springform or loose bottom tin then line the base with parchment paper.
  2. Sift flour & baking powder into large bowl, then mix in the sugar & ground almonds.
  3. Make a well in the centre and add the melted butter, beaten eggs and grated zest. Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until combined.
  4. Spread the mix into the base of the tin, then top with the rhubarb pieces (see image above). Sprinkle the top with brown / demerara sugar.
  5. Pop the cake in the oven for 50-55 minutes until golden brown & a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  6. Dust with icing sugar and serve warm with cream, greek yoghurt or custard. It’s also lovely eaten cold the following day.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

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"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

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Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up