Dessert · Middle Eastern ·

Moroccan Meskouta Cake with Orange Zest and Almond Cream

Name: Moroccan Meskouta Cake with Orange Zest and Almond Cream
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, 2 cups; Granulated sugar, 1 cup; Plain yogurt, 1 cup; Vegetable oil, ½ cup; Eggs, 3 large; Baking powder, 1 tbsp; Orange zest, Zest of 2 oranges; Vanilla extract, 1 tsp; Heavy cream, ½ cup; Almond paste, ¼ cup; Powdered sugar, 2 tbsp; Almond extract, 1 tsp; Sliced almonds; Orange slices

Moroccan Meskouta Cake is a simple yet flavorful dessert, infused with the zest of fresh oranges and topped with a luscious almond cream. Perfect with a cup of mint tea or as a delightful conclusion t

4.9(262 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 22, 2025

Moroccan Meskouta Cake with Orange Zest and Almond Cream — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Cake Batter

For the Almond Cream

Optional Garnishes

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 496 kcal
Protein: 8 g
Carbs: 60 g
Fat: 25 g
Fiber: 2 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3967 kcal
Protein: 64 g
Carbs: 479 g
Fat: 203 g
Fiber: 17 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
All-purpose flour 2 cups	910	24	190	2	8
Granulated sugar 1 cup	774	0	200	0	0
Plain yogurt 1 cup	150	8	12	8	0
Vegetable oil ½ cup	960	0	0	110	0
Eggs 3 large	234	20	2	16	0
Baking powder 1 tbsp	6	0	2	0	0
Orange zest Zest of 2 oranges	12	0	4	0	1
Vanilla extract 1 tsp	12	0	1	0	0
Heavy cream ½ cup	410	3	3	44	0
Almond paste ¼ cup	235	4	30	12	3
Powdered sugar 2 tbsp	60	0	15	0	0
Almond extract 1 tsp	12	0	0	0	0
Sliced almonds	120	4	5	11	2
Orange slices	62	1	15	0	3

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Cake Batter

1
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
Combine Sugar and Zest
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and orange zest and rub together to release the oils.
3
Add Wet Ingredients
Add the yogurt, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until thoroughly combined.

Mixing the Dry Ingredients

1
Sift Dry Ingredients
In another bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.
2
Combine with Wet Mixture
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until smooth.
Tip: ⚠ Important: Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake light and fluffy. 💡 Pro Tip: Allow the batter to rest for 10 minutes to absorb the flavors better.

How to Make Moroccan Meskouta Cake with Orange Zest and Almond Cream

Total time: 2 h · Yields 8 servings

1
Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9-inch cake pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
2
Prepare Almond Cream
In a medium bowl, beat together the heavy cream and almond paste until smooth. Add powdered sugar and almond extract, mixing until well combined.
3
Cool the Cake
Once the cake is baked, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.