Jaffa Cakes

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cakes cupcakes Medium

A light genoise-style sponge topped with a firm orange jelly disc and set under a snap of dark chocolate. Made in a shallow bun tin. Makes 12 cakes in about 3 hr 52 min.

Prep 40 min

Cook 12 min

Cooling 3 hr

Total 3 hr 52 min

Servings 12

Ingredients

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servings

⅔ cup (150 ml)orange juice, strained
3 tbsp (40 g)sugar, for the orange jelly
2 ¼ tsp (7 g)powdered gelatin
1 ½ tsp (3 g)orange zest
2 (100 g)eggs, large, room temperature
¼ cup (50 g)sugar, for the sponge
6 tbsp (50 g)all-purpose flour
½ tbsp (5 g)butter, for the tin
5 ½ oz (150 g)dark chocolate, chopped

Fresh ingredient guides

OrangesHow to pick, season & nutrition · 62 kcal per 131 g

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Instructions

Jelly: sprinkle the gelatin over 3 tablespoons of the orange juice and let it soften 5 minutes.
Heat the remaining juice, sugar and zest until steaming, stir in the softened gelatin until dissolved, and strain into an 8 inch (20 cm) square pan lined with plastic wrap. Chill 2 hours until firm.
Heat the oven to 340 F (170 C) and butter a 12 hole shallow bun tin.
Whisk the eggs and sugar with a mixer 6 to 8 minutes until pale and thick enough to leave a ribbon trail. Sift in the flour and fold gently.
Divide the batter among the holes and bake 10 to 12 minutes until pale golden and springy. Cool in the tin.
Cut the jelly into 2 inch (5 cm) discs with a cutter and press one onto each cooled sponge.
Melt the chocolate gently over a pan of just-simmering water or in the microwave in short bursts. Cool 10 minutes until it thickens slightly.
Cover each jelly with a spoonful of the chocolate, spreading to the edge, and let set at cool room temperature.

Tips

Let the chocolate cool to thick before spreading, or it will melt the jelly.
Dip the cutter in hot water for neat discs.
Add a spoonful of marmalade to the jelly for a more bitter orange flavor.
Good with tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make jaffa cakes?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours to chill. The recipe makes 12 cakes (12 servings).

How should I store jaffa cakes?

Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days; bring to room temperature to serve.

Can I make jaffa cakes ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Serve it with tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

72 Calories / serving

1.2g Fat

13.4g Carbs

2.1g Protein

10.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~864 cal · 14g fat · 161g carbs · 25g protein · 120g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.