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What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / Easy Orange Upside Down Cake Recipe (Paleo, Gluten Free)

Easy Orange Upside Down Cake Recipe (Paleo, Gluten Free)

Last Updated on March 3, 2022 by Jean Choi Leave a Comment

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Grab a copy of my cookbook, Korean Paleo: 80 Bold-Flavored, Gluten- and Grain-Free Recipes!

This paleo orange upside down cake is light, moist, and just so gorgeous with pops of color! Comes together easily and quickly too.

cutting a slice of paleo upside down orange cake

I’ve always been a huge fan of upside down cakes. They are just so gorgeous, with lots of moisture from fruits that go into the topping, and sometimes the cake batter. I’ve made various versions of paleo and gluten free upside down cake, and I really wanted to give a citrus version a try. After a few attempts, I finally made a delicious and wonderful orange almond upside down cake, and I’m so excited to share this delicious dessert with you!

Watch a Short Video of This Recipe

Honey Orange Upside Down Cake Recipe

In this paleo upside down cake, orange slices are laid on top of honey and ghee mixture, and then the light and citrusy batter is poured over them. Everything is then baked to golden perfection until fluffy and set. I just love how gorgeous the end result is, and using a combination of regular oranges and blood oranges really brings out the wonderful colors of this upside down orange almond cake.

Adding orange slices to a springform pan
pouring batter into a pan

Ingredients in this Gluten Free Upside Down Cake Recipe

There are two components to this honey orange upside down cake: the orange topping and the cake itself.

Orange Topping

  • ghee: I personally love the buttery flavor of ghee. You can make your own or purchase it pre-made. If you don’t have ghee on hand, coconut oil or butter works too for this recipe!
  • oranges: I like to use a mix of regular (like cara cara oranges or navel oranges) and blood oranges for that gorgeous pop of color, but any combination of oranges will work.
  • honey

Cake

  • orange: You’ll need both the juice and the orange zest.
  • eggs: Make sure to use eggs at room temperature.
  • maple syrup
  • ghee: Again, coconut oil will work instead of ghee here as well.
  • vanilla extract
  • almond flour
  • baking powder
honey orange upside down cake on a plate

How to Make Upside Down Orange Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
  2. Brush ghee or coconut oil all over the bottom and sides of the pan. Brush honey evenly over the bottom of the pan, on top of the ghee layer.
  3. Use a sharp knife to cut oranges into 1/8-1/4 inch slices.
  4. Place the slices over the honey in a circular pattern, overlapping them, until you cover the whole pan. Set aside.
  5. In large bowl, add orange juice and zest, eggs, maple syrup, ghee, and vanilla extract. Whisk by hand or an electric mixer until well combined.
  6. Add almond flour and baking powder to wet ingredients, and fold until combined.
  7. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pans, then smooth out the top with a spatula.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  9. Cool for 10 minutes, then carefully invert the cake onto a plate. Remove parchment paper. Slice, then enjoy!
a slice cut out of citrus dessert

Frequently Asked Questions About This Paleo Upside Down Cake

Is it okay to leave on the orange peel?

I personally don’t mind the orange peel, especially when it’s baked in honey like in this recipe. It still has a slightly bitter flavor to it, but I enjoy it a lot. Feel free to remove the peel if you like. Removing the peel will also make the cake easier to slice.

What’s the best way to enjoy this easy orange upside down cake recipe?

It’s delicious on its own, but it’s also wonderful with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (whipped coconut cream if you are dairy free)!

How long will this cake last?

Once completely cooled, store covered in the fridge for up to a week.

cake slice on plate with a fork

If you enjoyed this cake, you might also like…

  • Paleo Pear Upside Down Cake
  • Chocolate Dipped Oven Dried Orange Slices (Paleo, Vegan)
  • Paleo & Vegan Pomegranate Orange Scones Recipe
  • Easy Paleo Pound Cake Recipe
  • Orange Creamsicle Paleo N’Oatmeal (Vegan, Whole30)
paleo upside down orange cake

Orange Upside Down Cake

This paleo orange upside down cake is light, moist, and just so gorgeous with pops of color! Comes together easily and quickly too.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gluten free upside down cake, honey orange upside down cake, paleo upside down cake, upside down orange almond cake
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Calories: 215kcal

Ingredients

Orange Topping

  • 1 tbsp ghee or coconut oil
  • 2 oranges navel, cara cara, and/or blood oranges
  • 3 tbsp honey

Cake

  • Juice & zest of 1 orange about 1/4 cup in juice
  • 3 eggs at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup ghee or coconut oil, melted
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1½ cup almond flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and cut out parchment paper in a circle to fit in the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
  • Add ghee over the parchment paper then brush evenly all over the bottom and sides of the pan. Then, brush honey evenly on top of the ghee layer at the bottom of the pan.
  • Slice the bottoms and tops of 2 oranges, then cut with a sharp knife into 1/8-1/4 inch slices. You can cut off the rinds if you like. I prefer to leave them on.
  • Place the orange slices over the honey in a circular pattern, overlapping them, until you cover the whole pan. Set aside.
  • In large bowl, add juice and zest of 1 orange, eggs, maple syrup, ghee, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined.
  • Add almond flour and baking powder to wet ingredients, and fold until combined.
  • Pour the batter over orange slices over the prepared pans, then smooth out the top with a spatula.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Cool for 10 minutes, then carefully flip the cake onto a plate. Remove parchment paper. Slice, then enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Orange Upside Down Cake
Amount Per Serving (1 slice – makes 10)
Calories 215 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 53mg18%
Sodium 20mg1%
Potassium 131mg4%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 143IU3%
Vitamin C 17mg21%
Calcium 76mg8%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Video

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By Jean Choi | March 3, 2022

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Welcome!

headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate I’m Jean and I’m a Nutritional Therapist (NTP) living in Southern California with my husband and 2 dog babies. On WGGA, you’ll find simple and easy gluten-, dairy-, and processed sugar-free recipes that focus on quality nutrients, and of course, never sacrifice on taste. I believe that the food you love should love you back, making you feel amazing inside and out. I apologize in advance for my inappropriate jokes and misunderstood sarcasm! More About Jean

Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
  • AIPAIP
  • EFEgg Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • NFNut Free
  • PPaleo
  • VVegan
  • W3Whole 30

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