Blood Orange Polenta Cake

Gluten-Free & Vegan

Blood orange cake with polenta and rosemary is a beautiful pound cake with a bewitching pink color. naturally gluten-free and vegan, this is a cake for all occasions.

– 100g brown sugar – 80g coconut oil, melted – 100g olive oil – 100g aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas) – 1 blood orange, zest and juice

– 1 tsp orange blossom water – 1 Tbsp rosemary, chopped finely – 200g almond meal – 50g  polenta or coarse cornmeal

– 80g GF flour mix (or regular flour) – 1 1/2 tsp baking powder – 1 blood orange, sliced (rind and peel included)

Blood orange glaze (optional): – 1 ½ cups icing sugar – 4 TBs blood orange juice

Preheat the oven to 340F. Grease 3 mini cake tins or 1 large loaf pan with coconut oil.

In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients: almond meal, polenta, flour and baking powder.

In a standing mixer set to a high speed (6-8), beat aquafaba until stiff peaks are formed (about 10 mins). Add brown sugar and beat until a meringue texture is achieved, another 5 mins.

In another bowl, mix together olive oil, melted coconut oil, orange zest and juice,  orange blossom water and rosemary. Add oil mixture to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Gently fold in aquafaba until just combined.

Arrange 4 blood orange slices in the bottom of each mini baking tin, or 12-16 orange slices along the bottom of the cake.

Pour batter into the cake tins. Bake cake tins at 340F for 35-45 minutes. Remove, and let cake cool in tins completely before attempting to invert it.

Prepare glaze: Pour icing sugar into a large bowl. Gradually add in blood orange juice, one tablespoon at a time, mixing throughout until a pink glaze is achieved.

Prepare glaze: Pour icing sugar into a large bowl. Gradually add in blood orange juice, one tablespoon at a time, mixing throughout until a pink glaze is achieved.

Prepare glaze: Pour icing sugar into a large bowl. Gradually add in blood orange juice, one tablespoon at a time, mixing throughout until a pink glaze is achieved.

When ready to invert cake, run a knife along the edges of the baking tins. Cover cake pans with a plate or a cutting board, and turn cake over. Tap the bottom of the cake tins a couple of times, and then remove cake pan.

Serve cake drizzled with pink blood orange glaze (optional), and topped with additional rosemary sprigs.

Bon Appetit!