Bom Jesus-Inspired Portuguese Almond and Orange Cake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-23 · Updated 2026-06-23

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A moist and fragrant almond cake with bright orange zest and juice, inspired by traditional Portuguese flavors from Braga’s Bom Jesus. This Portuguese-inspired recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers whole almonds, finely ground, granulated sugar, large eggs into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 45 min Serves 8 Portuguese cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 cups (about 200 g) whole almonds, finely ground
1 1/4 cups (250 g) granulated sugar
5 large eggs
2 tbsp orange zest (from 2 oranges)
1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh orange juice
1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 tbsp powdered sugar for dusting

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan, tapping out excess flour.
Step 2: In a large bowl, beat 5 large eggs with 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar using a hand mixer on high speed for 5 minutes until pale and thick.
Step 3: Gently fold in 2 cups finely ground almonds, 2 tbsp orange zest, 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, and 1 tsp baking powder until just combined.
Step 4: Fold in 3 tbsp melted and cooled unsalted butter until batter is smooth.
Step 5: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden.
Step 6: Cool cake completely in the pan on a wire rack, then invert onto a plate and dust with 2 tbsp powdered sugar before serving.