• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Bread
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot & Slow Cooker
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks & Drinks
    • Soup & Chili
    • Sunday Dinners
    • Tips & Tutorials
  • About Us
  • Contact

Borrowed Bites

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Sliced pork tenderloin on a white plate coated in sauce and sprinkled with fresh thyme.
      Easy Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin with Honey Butter Sauce
    • Easy smothered burritos in baking pan.
      Super Easy Smothered Burritos w/ Shredded Beef (Family Favorite!)
    • Turkey breast brine in large pot ready for smoker or roaster.
      Quick & Easy Smoked Turkey Breast Brine (FLAVORFUL!)
    • Loaf of banana but bread on cutting board sliced and leaning.
      Amazing Banana Nut Bread (Easy & Moist)
    • Finished pan of easy mac and cheese with wooden spoon.
      Easy Mac and Cheese (20 Minutes + One Pot!)
    • Slices of lemon loaf cake leaning on each other with lemon slices and mint in the background.
      MOIST Lemon Loaf
    • Mozzarella bruschetta served on a white tray with extra basil pieces in the scene.
      Easy Bruschetta with Mozzarella
    • Chocolate cookie with melting mint on top
      Andes Mint Cookies
    • Cheesy baked mac and cheese sauce on serving spoon after baked in the oven.
      Make-Ahead Mac and Cheese (Baked!)
    • Piece of chocolate peanut butter pie on a plate with a bite taken out with oreo crumbs.
      Heavenly Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
    • Overhead of assorted Christmas brownies on parchment paper with sprinkles scattered around the scene.
      Festive Christmas Brownies (4 Decorating Ideas)
    • Chicken in electric skillet with maple mustard sauce and fresh thyme sprigs.
      Easy Maple Chicken (with Dijon Mustard)

    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Published: May 24, 2023 by Misty · This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.

    Easy Clementine Cake Recipe (with Step by Step Pictures)

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe
    Slice of clementine cake on a white plate with a green towel underneath and text overlay on the top of the photo.
    Clementine cake on a white platter with clementine slices on the top and text overlay on the photo.
    Slice of clementine cake on a white plate with a green towel underneath and text overlay on the top of the photo.

    This from-scratch Clementine Cake recipe is incredibly moist, extra tender, and absolutely packed with fresh clementine flavor. It uses the whole clementine - peel included - with a secret (easy!) tip to ensure the cake isn’t bitter. Made completely in the food processor, this simple dessert will be ready to bake in under 20 minutes. Top it with a creamy glaze for a cake that is sure to impress! 

    Slice of clementine cake on white plate with a bite removed on a fork.
    This clementine cake is perfectly moist, vibrantly flavorful, and so easy to make!
    Skip to:
    • 🏅 Why this recipe is great
    • ❓ What are clementines? 
    • 🍊Cake ingredients 
    • 🍊 Glaze ingredients
    • 🔑 Secret to making clementine cake not bitter
    • 🔪 How to make clementine cake
    • 🍰 How to make clementine glaze 
    • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd
    • 🙋 Questions and answers
    • 👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & tricks
    • 📖 Other great recipes 
    • 👋🏻 Connect with us!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Boy oh boy am I excited to share this Clementine Cake recipe! The beauty of this recipe is that it uses whole clementines - peel, pith, and seeds. The end result is a deliciously sweet cake that boasts tons of clementine flavor through and through. SO good!

    Of all our dessert recipes, we borrowed inspiration from our own Orange Loaf Cake and Moist Lemon Loaf for this one. Don’t fix it if ain’t broke, right? 

    🏅 Why this recipe is great

    • Tons of flavor since it uses the whole fruit. It's like using clementine zest on steroids.
    • The cake isn’t bitter from the peel because we use a secret tip - microwave them first! No boiling, no soaking in cold water, no hassel.
    • Super soft, tender, and moist cake.
    • Made completely in the food processor, which means limited dishes and clean up.
    • Ready to bake in under 20 minutes. Simple!
    • No ground almonds, almond flour or candied fruit (just not our thing…)
    • Stores well and actually gets better with time!
    • You can really feel like you're a part of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 😉

    ❓ What are clementines? 

    Clementines are the smallest variety of mandarin oranges and have a very smooth, thin peel and juicy flesh. They have a vibrant orange color and are often seedless. 

    Clementines are similar to tangerines, but are smaller and have a thinner peel - perfect for this recipe! In the store, clementines are also called Cuties or Sweeties.

    🍊Cake ingredients 

    Ingredients for clementine cake on white counter top.
    It may be unconventional, but this recipe uses the WHOLE clementine, and the flavor sure comes through!
    • Clementines: Choose clementines with a healthy peel and vibrant orange color. You’ll need about 7 clementines - yup, the entire fruit.
    • Oil: Use a neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil. Although some people like clementine olive oil cake, we do not prefer that flavor.
    • Yogurt: Use whole-milk, plain yogurt. None of that low-fat stuff - you’re making cake after all. The extra fat keeps the cake moist and fluffy.
    • Sugar: Just granulated sugar (no brown sugar in this one).
    • Eggs: You can pull them out a bit early to come to room temperature, but it shouldn’t be an issue to use cold eggs either. 
    • Vanilla: Just a bit rounds out the flavor. 
    • All-purpose flour: I don’t spoon and level my flour… just being honest. But I do highly recommend fluffing the flour in the container and then measuring with a light hand, shaking off the excess until it’s level. You don’t want to pack the flour in. 
    • Baking powder: Double check that it isn’t expired for best results.

    🍊 Glaze ingredients

    • Butter: Just a tiny bit of butter cuts the sugary taste of a basic icing. Make sure it is super soft. 
    • Powdered sugar: Just like flour, measure icing sugar with a light hand to avoid packing in too much. 
    • Heavy cream: I find that cream is best, but you could use half-n-half if needed. You may need slightly less in that case. 
    • Clementine juice: This adds that pop of clementine flavor. 
    • Vanilla: This is my favorite way to round out the flavor of a glaze.

    🔑 Secret to making clementine cake not bitter

    Many a clementine cake recipe calls for you to boil the clementines to soften them and remove the bitter taste in the peel, sometimes even having you switch out the boiling water once or twice during cooking. 

    Uhhh, no way! That is too much work. Instead we microwave our clementines in a covered bowl for 3 minutes until they’re softened slightly and all sweet. Works like a charm!

    🔪 How to make clementine cake

    The first step is to microwave the clementines in a covered, microwave-safe bowl for 3 minutes. They will sizzle and pop a lot. This is the key to keeping the cake from being bitter. 

    While the clementines cool slightly, preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9-inch circle cake pan (affiliate) or springform pan with a layer of parchment paper on the bottom and non-stick baking spray (affiliate). Make sure your spray has flour as an ingredient.

    Overhead of food processor after zooming clementines smooth.

    In a 10 cup food processor (affiliate), zoom the microwaved clementines for 1 minute until the clementine puree is as smooth as possible.

    Overhead of food processor with yogurt added to cake batter.

    Now we'll start adding wet ingredients. Add the oil and yogurt and zoom for 1 more minute. Scrape the bowl of your food processor.

    Overhead of food processor with sugar added to cake batter.

    Add the sugar and pulse for 10 seconds. Scrape again. 

    Overhead of food processor with eggs added to cake batter.

    Add eggs and vanilla. Pulse for another 10 seconds. Scrape again. 

    Overhead of food processor with flour added to cake batter.

    Add the dry ingredients. Pulse until just combined. Scrape one final time. 

    Overhead of food processor with final clementine cake batter.

    The final cake batter should be smooth, slightly thick, and deliciously fragrant. 

    Pour the cake mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean. While it’s baking, microwave the sugar and clementine juice in 30 second increments, stirring in between until the sugar is fully dissolved. 

    Poking holes in a cake with a wooden skewer.

    Allow the baked cake to cool for 10 minutes. Then use a skewer to poke holes about ⅔ way through the cake.

    Pouring simple syrup on top of baked cake.

    Slowly pour the syrup across the cake, allowing it to evenly soak in. Cool completely in pan. 

    🍰 How to make clementine glaze 

    Ingredients for orange icing in a glass bowl.

    Combine the glaze ingredients in a bowl. It should be thick and creamy.

    Smooth orange icing combined in a clear glass bowl.

    Invert the cooled cake on a serving plate or wire rack, then pour the glaze on top of the cake, gently pushing it to the edges with an offset spatula.

    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd

    This cake yields 8-10 slices. If you’re serving a larger crowd, you can make multiple batches. However, I recommend only one batch at a time in a standard 10-cup food processor.

    Whole clementine cake with white icing and slices of fresh clementines decorating the top.
    This whole cake is made in the food processor for a fast, easy dessert with minimal dishes.

    🙋 Questions and answers

    What is the origin of clementine cake? 

    Clementine cake originated in the Mediterranean region from Sephardic Jewish cuisine, likely in the 15th century. I was first introduced to it through a very different context - the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. 😂

    Can you substitute mandarins for clementines? Can you substitute oranges? 

    Clementines are a specific variety of mandarin. You can use other mandarins, on the condition that they have very smooth skin, sweet flesh, and are small. Do not substitute oranges, tangerines, or other oranges with thick skin. 

    How do I store leftovers? 

    This is the perfect cake because it actually gets better with time! Leftovers can be stored for 2-3 days in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. You can also wrap un-glazed cake in layers of plastic wrap and freeze them.

    What if I don’t have a food processor? 

    If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a high-powered blender instead. A regular blender or hand mixer will not be strong enough to zoom up the clementines thoroughly. 

    Why is my cake tough and dense?

    Cakes become dense when you add too much flour or overmix the flour into the batter. Always measure your flour with a light hand and mix until just combined after adding it to the batter. 

    Why did my cake sink?

    Cakes may sink if they are undercooked or if there was a drastic temperature change during baking. Don’t open the oven door until it’s near the end of the baking range. Test the cake with a toothpick and remove it from the oven once it comes out clean. 

    What are topping alternatives?

    Instead of a thick glaze, you can opt to top the cake with fresh whipped cream or dust it with powdered sugar. Some recipes even use a chocolate glaze. Slice clementines for a simple decoration on top.

    Up close view of a slice of clementine cake with a bite removed on a fork.
    This cake stores well and actually gets better over time!

    👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & tricks

    • To avoid a tough cake, be very careful not to overmix once you add the flour. 
    • Pour the syrup over the cake very slowly to help it soak in evenly. 
    • If you plan on decorating the cake with clementine slices, add them right before serving. The juices will leak and ruin the icing eventually.

    📖 Other great recipes 

    • Creamy Lemon Pie
    • Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
    • Blackberry Cheesecake
    • Easy Raspberry Glaze
    • Frozen Lemonade Recipe
    • Triple Berry Sauce or Dessert Filling

    👋🏻 Connect with us!

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food!

    📋 Recipe

    Slice of clementine cake on white plate with a bite removed on a fork.

    Easy Clementine Cake Recipe (with Step by Step Pictures)

    This from-scratch Clementine Cake recipe is incredibly moist, extra tender, and absolutely packed with fresh clementine flavor. It uses the whole clementine - peel included - with a secret (easy!) tip to ensure the cake isn’t bitter. Made completely in the food processor, this simple dessert will be ready to bake in under 20 minutes. Top it with a creamy glaze for a cake that is sure to impress! 
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 459kcal
    Author: Borrowed Bites

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 3 clementines
    • ½ cup canola or vegetable oil
    • ½ cup whole-milk yogurt
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 3 eggs
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

    Simple Syrup

    • ⅓ cup sugar
    • ⅓ cup clementine juice from 3-4 clementines

    Glaze

    • 1 tablespoon butter very soft
    • ¾ cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoon heavy cream
    • 1 tablespoon clementine juice
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave 3 clementines for 3 minutes on high. They will sizzle and pop a lot. Set aside and allow to cool in the bowl for a few minutes.
      3 clementines
    • While the clementines cool a bit, preheat oven to 350°F. Prep a 9-inch circle cake pan with a layer of parchment on the bottom, then spray well with baking spray.
    • In a 10 cup food processor, zoom the microwaved clementines for 1 minute, scraping the bowl halfway through. The mixture should be pureed, but won't be perfectly smooth.
    • Add the oil and yogurt, then zoom for 1 minute. Scrape the bowl.
      ½ cup canola or vegetable oil, ½ cup whole-milk yogurt
    • Add the sugar, then pulse for 10 seconds. Scrape the bowl.
      1 cup sugar
    • Add the eggs and vanilla, then pulse for 10 seconds. Scrape the bowl.
      3 eggs, ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Pulse until just combined.
      1½ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

    Simple Syrup

    • While the cake bakes, combine the sugar and clementine juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring well every 30 seconds until the sugar is dissolved.
      ⅓ cup sugar, ⅓ cup clementine juice
    • Once the cake is finished baking, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Using a wooden skewer, poke holes evenly across the warm cake. Slowly pour the simple syrup over the top, allowing it to sink into the holes. Set aside to cool fully in the pan.

    Glaze

    • Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl until fully combined. You want it to be just loose enough to spread to the edges, but thick enough to hold up on the cake.
      1 tablespoon butter, ¾ cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoon heavy cream, 1 tablespoon clementine juice, ¼ teaspoon vanilla
    • Once the cake is fully cooled, invert it onto a cake plate or cooling rack. Pour the glaze into the center of the cake, then use an offset spatula to spread it gently to the edges of the cake. Right before serving, decorate with fresh clementine slices.

    Notes

    Tips & Tricks
      • To avoid a tough cake, be very careful not to overmix once you add the flour. 
      • Pour the syrup over the cake very slowly to help it soak in evenly. 
      • If you plan on decorating the cake with clementine slices, add them right before serving. The juices will leak and ruin the icing eventually.
     
    Storage
    Leftovers can be stored for 2-3 days in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. You can also wrap un-glazed cake in layers of plastic wrap and freeze it.

    Add Your Own Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes. They will only be visible to you. If you clear your browser's cache, they will be lost.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 296mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 234IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 2mg

    All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating or pin it for later!

    More Dessert Recipes

    • Slice of key lemon pie with bite removed on fork.
      Creamy Key Lemon Pie (w/ raspberry sauce)
    • Individual molten chocolate lava cake with oozy center with scoop of ice cream and raspberries on a plate.
      Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes (In Muffin Tins)
    • Spoon in jar of maple glaze.
      Heavenly Maple Glaze
    • White plate piled with apple and blueberry crumble and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
      Apple and Blueberry Crumble
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    circle profile picture of Danielle and Misty

    Hi! We are Danielle and Misty: a mom and daughter with a serious passion for seeking out the best recipes to serve again and again to those we love. With a mix of everyday favorites and indulgent weekend fare there is something here for you and yours as you develop your own family traditions.

    More about us →

    Summer Recipes

    • Mozzarella bruschetta served on a white tray with extra basil pieces in the scene.
      Easy Bruschetta with Mozzarella
    • Pan of Skillet Apple Pie Dessert Biscuits drizzled with icing.
      The BEST Skillet Apple Pie Dessert Biscuits
    • Close view of grilled chunks of marinated chicken next to grilled veggies and pineapple.
      Grilled Honey Chicken (un)Kabobs
    • White jar pouring fruit salad dressing into bowl of tangerines, berries, grapes, and pineapple.
      Delicious Fruit Salad Dressing (3 minutes!)
    • Overhead of chicken breasts on plate with honey mustard sauce drizzled on top.
      Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts
    • Whole pizza sprinkled with basil.
      The Best Cast Iron Pan Pizza Recipe
    • Up close tri-tip roast that's been smoked on a charcoal grill.
      Smoked Tri-Tip (Amazingly Delicious!)
    • Slices of lemon loaf cake leaning on each other with lemon slices and mint in the background.
      MOIST Lemon Loaf

    Budget Friendly Meals

    • Three pieces of taco quesadillas made layered on a plate with fresh salsa and limes.
      Easy Corn Tortilla Quesadilla (Taco Quesadilla)
    • Lemon broccoli pasta in a white bowl with a gray towel underneath.
      Easy Lemon Broccoli Pasta
    • Corn tortillas filled with easy tinga sauce and chicken.
      EASY Tinga de Pollo (Chicken Tinga Tacos with Rotisserie Chicken)
    • Overhead view of honey mustard chicken breasts, green beans, and potatoes cooked on a sheet pan.
      Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables
    • Whole pizza sprinkled with basil.
      The Best Cast Iron Pan Pizza Recipe
    • Marinated and grilled chicken on a white serving platter with limes in the background.
      Easy 4-Ingredient Chicken Marinade

    Trending on Pinterest

    • Slice of The Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake on plate with fork
      The Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake, Every Single Time
    • Lemon cream scone with lemon icing dripping around it and fresh lemon wedges in background.
      Soft Lemon Scones (w/ lemon glaze!)
    • Jar of grilled taco marinade with oranges, limes, and cilantro on the counter
      The Ultimate Mexican Marinade for Chicken (or Skirt Steak)
    • Overhead view of honey mustard chicken breasts, green beans, and potatoes cooked on a sheet pan.
      Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables
    • Bowl of mashed potatoes with butter on top.
      PERFECT Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
    • Peanut butter drizzled on cookie.
      Ultimate Crumbl Peanut Butter Cookie Copycat

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Social Media

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    About

    • Contact
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © Borrowed Bites 2021