If you're looking for a fun and festive dessert, you have to try this Gluten-Free Gingerbread Orange Cake! It's soft, moist, and has an irresistible flavor combination. Plus it's made with good for you ingredients like orange puree, almond flour, and blackstrap molasses!
Start by adding the almond flour, cassava flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices into a mixing bowl. Blend with a whisk until combined.
Next, add eggs, orange puree, coconut sugar, molasses, and vanilla extract into a separate bowl. Whip together with a whisk until smooth.
Fold the flour mixture and wet mixture together until all of the flour is absorbed.
Baking
Add the cake batter into a greased 9 inch cake pan. Smooth out the top with the back of a spoon and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. (Or until a toothpick comes out clean!)
Let the cake cool to room temperature before removing. Serve as is, or with fresh coconut cream frosting!
Coconut Cream Frosting
For the frosting, make sure your coconut cream has been refrigerated for at least 6 hours. (Ideally overnight.) The colder it is, the thicker it will get. I also pop my mixing bowl in the freezer for a few minutes before I add the coconut cream into the bowl.
Add the thick part of the coconut cream from the top of the can into your chilled mixing bowl. Do NOT add the liquid part at the bottom or it will not thicken up into a whipped cream. Whip the mixture on high with an electric hand or stand mixer for a few minutes until it becomes thicker.
Next, add in the powdered sugar and about 2 tablespoons of fresh orange zest. Whip for a few more minutes until it becomes thick and fluffy. (Don't over mix or it will fall flat.) Place in refrigerator until you're ready to frost the cakes.
Notes
Note - the nutrition facts do not reflect the frosting on top. They are for the cake only!
Baking Tips
Before grating the orange, I like to wash it with soap and water! Also, you'll want to grate the orange before peeling it to puree.
When measuring flours, use a spoon to fill the measuring cup and take a butter knife to push off the excess flour. Do NOT pack the flour.
Grease the cake pan! I like using coconut oil, but any non-stick spray will work. I also like to line the bottom of the cake with parchment paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size cake pan should I use? For this recipe I used a 9 inch cake pan. Any pan around this size will work!Do you have any pre-made frosting suggestions? If you're not interested in making your own, the brand Simple Mills makes a delicious dairy-free vanilla frosting that you can find at most grocery stores! Just add some fresh orange zest!