Tangerine Cake Recipe: Moist Spanish Citrus Sponge Cake 2026

Isabel Gaines
Tangerine Cake Recipe: Moist Spanish Citrus Sponge Cake
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This tangerine cake is a genuine delight, with a very tender and fluffy crumb and an intense flavor of this delicious fruit. In this recipe, we are going to explain how to make it this tasty in a very simple way.

Sliced tangerine cake with a moist, fluffy crumb on a plate


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The preparation of this dessert is similar to that of any other sponge cake since, in addition to tangerines, its batter contains wheat flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, which will give it a delicious taste and the perfect consistency. We prepared it by mixing with electric whisks, although if you prefer, it can be made perfectly with manual whisks.

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Whole homemade tangerine cake ready to serve on a wire rack

This tangerine cake is perfect to brighten up a breakfast or to serve at a snack time accompanied by an infusion or any other drink to taste. If you have any left over, it can be frozen already cut into separate portions, so you can thaw them one by one. That way, any other day you can enjoy a delicious cake as if freshly made by simply taking out a portion and leaving it for a couple of hours at room temperature. We leave you with the recipe!

Ingredients for Tangerine Cake

Serves 12

  • 3 tangerines (or as many as needed to get 150 ml of juice)
  • 170 g sugar
  • 60 g butter at room temperature
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 150 g wheat flour
  • 8 g baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt

Ingredients for making tangerine cake arranged on a counter

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How to Make Tangerine Cake Step by Step

1. Prepare the tangerine zest and preheat the oven

First, we are going to prepare the tangerine zest, which is what will give this cake its delicious flavor. To do this, wash and dry 3 tangerines well. Squeeze them and reserve their juice to use later. Next, dry the peel without the white part for 2 minutes in the microwave at maximum power. We can also dry it in the oven or even in the air fryer at 180 °C for 10 minutes. Once dry, mix the tangerine peel with 170 g of sugar and blend this mixture in a blender or food processor. Preheat the oven to 175 °C.

Mixing sugar with butter and tangerine zest in a bowl

2. Add butter, eggs, flour, baking powder, and salt

Add 60 g of butter to the previous mixture and integrate it well. Then add 2 medium eggs, 150 g of wheat flour sifted with 8 g of baking powder, and 1 pinch of salt. Integrate these ingredients until you get a homogeneous mixture.

Whisking eggs, flour, baking powder, and salt into the batter

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3. Add the tangerine juice

Now we are going to add the tangerine juice reserved at the beginning to the cake mixture. We need 150 ml of juice, so if we have not obtained enough by squeezing 3 tangerines, we will squeeze as many as needed to get this amount.

Pouring fresh tangerine juice into the cake batter

4. Mix in the juice

Beat just enough to integrate the tangerine juice into the cake mixture.

Whisking the tangerine juice into the batter until combined

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5. Pour the batter into the mold

Line a mold with parchment paper and pour the mixture into it.

Pouring tangerine cake batter into a lined loaf pan

6. Bake the tangerine cake

Bake the tangerine cake at 175 °C for 40 minutes. We will know it is ready when inserting a toothpick into the center, it comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes without unmolding on a wire rack.

Tangerine cake baking in the oven until golden brown

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7. Unmold and cool completely

Carefully unmold the tangerine cake and let it cool completely before serving.

Homemade tangerine cake cooling on a wire rack

Tips for the Best Tangerine Cake

Use fresh tangerines for the best flavor

The key to this cake is fresh tangerine zest and juice. Make sure to wash and dry the tangerines well before zesting. If you can't find tangerines, you can substitute with oranges or clementines, but adjust the sugar to taste.

Don't overmix the batter

When adding the flour, mix just until combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten and make the cake dense instead of fluffy. Use a spatula or low speed on your mixer for the best texture.

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Check for doneness with a toothpick

Every oven is different, so start checking the cake at 35 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If it's still wet, bake for a few more minutes.

Prep time 15 minutes
Cook time 40 minutes
Total time 55 minutes (plus cooling time)
Servings 12
Category Baking
Cuisine Spanish
Calories per serving 165 kcal

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

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After years of testing and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on simplicity, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

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And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

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Isabel Gaines

Author

Isabel Gaines

As a former restaurant owner turned reporter, Isabel brings a unique perspective to Grand Goldman. With decades of experience, her articles on cooking and homemaking are both informative and engaging, reflecting her deep knowledge and love for all things culinary.


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