Christmas Clementine Cake

Christmas Clementine Cake is a wonderfully fragrant and moist cake that captures the fresh, sweet-tart essence of clementines combined with warming chai spices. This festive cake is made with whole blended clementines, oats, and a blend of flours for a wholesome, textured crumb. Infused with cinnamon, ginger, and aromatic star anise and cloves, it is a perfect centerpiece for holiday celebrations.

You will love how this cake balances bright citrus flavors with comforting spice notes. The rich chocolate frosting enriched with coconut milk and finished with orange zest creates a luscious, elegant cake perfect for sharing with loved ones during the festive season.

Ingredients

For The Cake

• 1.5 cups blended clementines (around 8-10)
• 1 cup oats
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or ghee
• ¼ cup cacao powder
• ¾ cup flour (buckwheat, regular, or spelt work well)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅓ cup unrefined sugar (coconut, rapadura, or cane sugar)
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• ½ cup raisins
• 2 chai tea bags
• Peeling of 1 clementine
• 2 star anise & 2 cloves

For The Frosting

• 100g dark chocolate
• 100ml tinned coconut milk
• Zest of unwaxed orange

How to Create Your Christmas Clementine Cake

Step 1: Prepare Chai Infusion

Steep the chai tea bags, star anise, cloves, and clementine peel in hot water to create a fragrant chai infusion. Set aside to cool.

Step 2: Blend Clementines

Blend whole clementines until smooth to get about 1.5 cups of puree.

Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together oats, cacao powder, flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, and sugar.

Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with the clementine puree, coconut oil or ghee, and chai infusion until well combined.

Step 5: Mix Cake Batter

Gradually add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, folding gently to combine. Stir in raisins.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour batter into a greased and lined loaf pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Step 7: Prepare the Frosting

Heat the coconut milk just until simmering and pour over chopped dark chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Stir in orange zest.

Step 8: Frost and Decorate

Once cake has cooled completely, spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the top. Garnish with extra zest if desired.

My Best Tips for This Clementine Cake

Use Unwaxed Citrus

Make sure the orange zest comes from unwaxed fruit for best flavor and safety.

Steep Spices Well

Allow the chai spices and peel to infuse long enough for deep aromatic notes.

Don’t Overmix Batter

Fold ingredients gently to maintain a tender crumb.

Check Cake Early

Ovens vary check doneness after 40 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Use High-Quality Chocolate

Good dark chocolate makes a rich, smooth frosting that balances the citrus cake.

Delicious Variations to Try

Add Nuts

Fold in toasted almonds or walnuts for crunch and earthiness.

Spice it Up

Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice for extra warmth.

Make Cupcakes

Divide batter into muffin tins for individual servings.

Use Different Extracts

Try adding a splash of vanilla or almond extract to enhance flavor.

Dairy-Free Option

Use ghee or coconut oil in cake and coconut cream in frosting for vegan variation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prepare the cake in advance?

Yes, bake ahead and frost just before serving. Cake keeps well covered for 2-3 days.

Can I freeze this cake?

Freeze unfrosted cake layers tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. Thaw before frosting.

Do chai tea bags affect flavor greatly?

They add subtle warm spice if unavailable, substitute with cinnamon sticks and cloves.

Can I substitute raisins?

Dried cranberries or chopped dates work well as flavorful alternatives.

Is this cake gluten-free?

Use gluten-free flour blend and oats for a gluten-free version.

How can I make frosting less sweet?

Use darker chocolate or reduce powdered sugar slightly.

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