Take advantage of the flavor of mandarins to give your kitchen the taste of the season with this delicious dessert; a simple recipe full of the aroma of this citrus fruit.
With the last months of the year also comes the perfect season to enjoy mandarins. Best of all, you can use their flavor and aroma to create different preparations, such as homemade desserts and refreshing drinks. One of the simplest options to incorporate this citrus into your recipes is this delicious mandarin pound cake, a soft and aromatic loaf cake that makes the most of the fruit whole to achieve an intense seasonal flavor.
In addition to being a loaf cake that’s very easy to make, this pound cake is a perfect option to accompany afternoon coffee or tea. The mandarin provides a citrus flavor that pairs very well with the cake’s fluffy texture, while the simple glaze gives it a sweet finish and a slight crunch in every bite. Want to learn how to make it? Here we provide the complete tutorial so you can prepare it in just a few steps.
How to Prepare the Fluffy Mandarin Pound Cake
To make the pound cake, you will use whole mandarins, so it’s important to give them a brief pre-treatment before incorporating them into the batter to avoid the bitter flavor they can impart. The pulp provides moisture and flavor, and the peel provides an intense aroma and characteristic acidity. It’s advisable to briefly blanch the whole mandarins for a few minutes before making the batter. With this step you also soften the peel and make processing it easier. After boiling, you should cut them into segments and take the opportunity to remove the seeds before blending.
For presentation, you can enjoy the pound cake as it comes out of the oven or add a mandarin glaze on top. Making it is just as easy: you only need a mixture of powdered sugar with mandarin juice, adding the latter gradually until you reach a consistency that is liquid and slightly thick. When you place it on the pound cake, let it dry for a few hours and the glaze will form a very sweet coating with a slight crunch.
Mandarin Pound Cake
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3 medium mandarins
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2 eggs
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1 cup sugar
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1/4 cup oil
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3 cups flour
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1 tablespoon baking powder
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1 cup powdered sugar
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1/4 cup mandarin juice
Steps
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Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
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In a large pot, place enough water and bring to medium heat.
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When the water reaches a boil, submerge the mandarins and cook them for 5 minutes.
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Remove the mandarins from the water, cut them into segments and remove the seeds.
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Blend the mandarins with the peel and the eggs until you obtain a uniform mixture.
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Add the sugar and the oil to the mandarin-egg mixture.
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Finally, incorporate the baking powder and the previously sifted flour, mixing until integrated.
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Pour the batter into a loaf pan that has been greased and floured.
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Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Remove from the oven, unmold, and set aside.
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For the glaze, mix the powdered sugar with the mandarin juice until you achieve a slightly thick consistency.
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Pour the glaze over the pound cake and let it dry before slicing and enjoying.
It’s important to let the loaf cool a little inside the pan before removing it from the mold. This way, the loaf gains firmness and you can handle it comfortably without it breaking. Nevertheless, the final cooling stage should be outside the pan; this way, the exterior of the pound cake will stay fluffy and no sticky layer will form. When serving, you can use the mandarin glaze we suggested in the recipe or even try other presentations. For example, you can drizzle melted chocolate on top or simply dust with powdered sugar.
