About This Dish
Morocco's most beloved everyday cake — a simple, moist orange cake that is found in every bakery, cafe, and home across the country. Meskouta is made with whole oranges (juice and zest), eggs, sugar, oil, and flour, producing a tender crumb with bright citrus flavor. It is the cake Moroccan mothers bake for their children after school, the cake served to unexpected guests, and the cake that accompanies every glass of mint tea in every cafe. Its simplicity is its charm — no frosting, no decoration, just honest, orange-scented comfort.
Ingredients
- 250 g All-purpose flour
- 200 g Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 150 ml Orange juice
- 100 ml Vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp Orange zest
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- optional Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- 1
Whisk eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Add orange juice, oil, orange zest, and vanilla. Mix well.
- 3
Fold in flour and baking powder until just combined.
- 4
Pour into a greased and floured cake pan.
- 5
Bake at 180C (350F) for 35-40 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- 6
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Tips & Tricks
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter once flour is added — it makes the cake tough.
- This cake keeps well for 3 days and actually improves on day 2.