This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Clementine Blender Cake

Makes one 9-inch loaf

1¼ hours 30 minutes active, plus cooling

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This unusual cake is made by blending whole clementines, then using the puree to make a batter. Baked in a loaf pan until golden brown with a charmingly fissured surface, the dessert has the fine, plush crumb of a pound cake, a vivid saffron-orange hue and a moistness that keeps it fresh for a few days. Similar recipes call for oranges or lemons, but we found that clementines work especially well because of their small size, sweet-tart balance and the intense flavor and color of their peel. The fruit does need to be cooked prior to blending, but instead of the typical method of simmering, we employ the microwave, which gets the job done in a matter of a few minutes and leaves little to clean up. The cake can be served as soon as it has cooled, but we’ve found the flavor and texture improve after an overnight rest.

Makes one

9-inch loaf

Tip

Don’t microwave the clementines with the stems. Be sure to trim off enough of the stem end to expose the flesh. If not vented, the fruits may burst when heated. Also, after transferring the clementines to the blender, allow them to cool for 15 to 20 minutes so the heat doesn’t curdle the eggs.

1¼ hours

30 minutes active, plus cooling

Ingredients

  • 12

    ounces (2 large or 3 small) clementines, stem ends sliced off to expose the flesh

  • 2

    tablespoons plus 268 grams (1¼ cups) white sugar, divided

Directions

Reviews
Mary K.
January 26, 2026
Burst of sunshine on a wintry day!
Easy, fast, efficient and delicious! What more can you ask for? Alway rave review when I present this to friends as gifts, or to just enjoy with a cup of Earl Gray after shoveling snow!
JUDITH Y.
December 15, 2025
Great cake for a non-baker
How can I not love a recipe that is basically, put some stuff in the blender, pour it into a pan, and VOILA! I am not precise enough to be a good baker, but even I could make this cake. It's so lovely - delicious, not overly sweet, gorgeous presentation, and for me, most importantly, EASY!!
Cheryl L.
August 17, 2025
Tasty and can be made with less steps
I followed all the ingredients in this recipe except used 2 cuties and the cake was fantastic! I did simplify the instructions based on a different recipe for an orange cake though, and it worked out incredibly well. I put all the ingredients into my blender except the flour and baking powder and blended them on high for thirty seconds. Then added the flour and baking powder and pulsed just to combine. Poured it straight into the loaf pan and baked. Super simple, very little cleanup and my whole family loved it! Oh, and no need to cook the oranges. Just cut in quarters and throw them in there.
Marybeth R.
June 26, 2025
Try this one!
We have made this several times and love the result! No need to get out the mixer and when you have a big bag of clementines that are starting to dry out, this is a perfect way to use them up.
Mary K.
June 25, 2025
Clementine Blender Cake
I had lost track of this recipe, and boy was I happy to finally track it down again. I am also thrilled it's a Christopher Kimball's Milk Street recipe! I've cooked my way through half of the recipes in Tuesday Nights Mediterranean and cannot wait to make this cake again. Brought a Clementine Blender Cake it to my Physical Therapist after knee surgery and she loved it! Made more for my family, and they too loved it.

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