Posted on by Deb

Chocolate Cake with Candied Kumquats

Chocolate Kumquat Cake

Discovering Kumquats

Kumquats

“There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

If the classic flavor pairing of orange and chocolate elicits the desire to start baking, this is the cake to make. The cake is moist and chocolatey with thunder showers of orangey kumquat and cloud bursts of creamy white chocolate. Crowned with a powdered sugar glaze and candied kumquats this loaf cake makes for a sublime citrus and chocolate experience.

I had questions about kumquats. How is it possible that the rind is sweet and the fruit is sour? Was it really true, they were loaded with seeds? After seeding lots and lots of lemons and oranges for marmalade I had kept my distance from these labor intensive little gems. Then on a whim I bought two pounds. I had lemons to use and was set to make another batch of marmalade with kumquats. Only I got sidetracked when I found this post. Candied kumquats in the shape of flowers were just too adorable to ignore. They really do take some time to make and then dry. But candied kumquats are so much sweeter and prettier than ribbons of candied citrus peel. And yes the kumquats seem to be filled with endless huge seeds! Several of my kumquats fell apart while simmering and couldn’t be flattened and shaped into flowers. I saved those along with the thick, spiced cooking syrup to use on pancakes, waffles and yogurt. With fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks and star anise simmering along with the kumquats my kitchen was filled with amazing aromas and flavors. Now I want to make marmalade with cinnamon, ginger and star anise.

Candied Kumquat Flowers

Essentials

If kumquats are a new citrus it’s time to give them a try. The interior of a kumquat captures the intensity of lemons all wrapped up in a petite package of sweet orange flavor. Orange zest could be used in the Chocolate Cake instead of pureed kumquats and I’m not sure anyone would notice the difference in taste. But reduce the amount to one tablespoon as orange zest has a more pronounced zippy citrus flavor than pureed kumquats. Candied orange peel is also intensely strong compared to the candied kumquats, garnish sparingly.

Chocolate Cake with Candied Kumquats
3-1/2oz dark chocolate, chopped in large chunks
1-1/2C all-purpose flour
1t baking powder
1/2t baking soda
1/2t fine grain sea salt
2T cocoa powder
10T/5oz unsalted butter, softened
1/2C brown sugar
3 eggs
1t vanilla extract
1/3C yogurt or sour cream
2T pureed kumquats (seeds removed) or 1T orange zest
5T mini, white chocolate chips
Icing
1C powdered sugar
1t pureed kumquats (seeds removed) or 1/2t orange zest
3T half and half
24 candied kumquats flowers or candied orange peel
24 chocolate pearls, optional

Chocolate Kumquat Cake

  1. Heat oven to 350°. Butter and flour three mini loaf pans or one large loaf pan.
  2. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave. Melt the chocolate in thirty second bursts as microwave temperatures vary. Or melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. Cool before adding to the cake batter.
  3. In a medium size bowl sift together or shake through a large sieve the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment add the softened butter and beat until light and creamy, 2-3 minutes. Add the brown sugar and beat again until throughly incorporated. Stop and scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to combine after each addition. Add the vanilla extract, yogurt and kumquats and mix to combine. Stop and scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl and mix again, the batter will remain lumpy. Remove the bowl from the mixer and add the flour mixture. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Use half the batter to fill the loaf pans half way. Sprinkle a heaped tablespoon of white chocolate chips across the surface of the batter in each pan. Top the loaves evenly with the remaining batter. Bake the mini cakes for 23-26 minutes. The cakes are done when a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out cleanly and the edges of the cakes are dark chocolate brown and have shrunk from the sides of the pan. Cool the cakes in the pans for ten minutes and then remove to a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.
  5. In a small bowl mix together the powdered sugar, pureed kumquats and the half and half. Frost the tops of the cooled cakes and decorate with candied kumquat flowers with chocolate pearls placed in the centers of the petals.

Vanilla and Candied Kumquats

Chocolate Kumquat Cake

38 Replies to “Chocolate Cake with Candied Kumquats”

    1. Thank you Jacquee! Chocolate makes life so much better! And those little kumquats are amazing!

  3. This is gorgeous! My mom was the one who introduced me to kumquats, and I just can’t get enough of them. I never thought to do anything with them other than eat them as-is. (for some reason…)

  5. Deb, I too have veered away from Kumquats for all the same reasons as you. I must admit though that it is high time I give those orangey nuggets a break and invite them into my baking life. The little candied flowers are beyond adorable!

  8. candied kumquat flowers-who knew!?? they are so cool and look great both in the jar and on the cake that is both chocolate and covered with icing- wow 😉 Love the photos and the way you’ve presented this very fun baking/preserving project 😉

  9. Oh my goodness! I love the cute, little stars the candied kumquats make. I can’t imagine how beautiful that flavor combination must be! Your cake looks dreamy.

  10. How do you make food look so pretty? I don’t think I’ve ever tried candied kumquats, but I will be now! Do they retain their tartness? Gorgeous combination of chocolate and kumquats, different and very attractive! Your pictures as as gorgeous as always x

    1. Thank you for the lovely comment Denna! The candied kumquats are sweet and tart, but milder than candied orange rind.

  11. You are SO amazing. The things you make and bake are SO, SO amazing and inspiring………This is beautiful, Deb. It makes me GLAD to be alive. You don’t know how much. Yum.

  12. So very pretty, and I bet that cake tastes amazing. Love anything with white chocolate in it! I can imagine making the candied flowers is time-consuming, but sometimes it is nice to get lost in concentration on a creative project like this – especially when it’s edible!

    1. I agree Cathy, I very much enjoy getting lost in the process! Thank you for the lovely comment!

    1. Thank you for the gracious comment Lynda! The candied kumquats have an amazing citrus flavor!

  16. Your cake is so beautiful! And, who would have thought kumquats could be so delectable. Another incredibly inventive post, Deb!

  17. 1. Lovely quote/inspiration

    2. The cake looks incredible! Candied kumquats are a great contrast to the richness, yumminess all around!

  18. completely, utterly adorable, Deb! candied kumquats were on my (too long of a) list to make this late winter/spring, and i’ve pushed them aside. now because of you and how cute these little things are, they’re back on. 🙂

    1. I’m so happy you liked them Shannon! Thank you! My list of “things to make” is very long too. I tell myself it’s what keeps me inspired, LOL!

  19. Candied Kumquats , that is just too cute. I’m in Germany and have not seen any Kumquats but I will try this when I’m back in Santa Cruz. I rember a recipe where you cooked the kumquats and I remember the tart wonderful flavor.
    Another beautiful post , it looks great.

    1. Thank you the gracious comment Gerlinde! I hope you are enjoying your time in Germany!

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