Kwarezimal (Maltese Lenten almond cakes)

Name: Kwarezimal (Maltese Lenten almond cakes)
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: Maltese
Ingredients: 200g plain flour; 150g ground almonds; 100g caster sugar; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 0.25 tsp ground cloves; 2 oranges, zested; 3 tbsp maple syrup; 1 tbsp orange blossom water; 100ml water; 2 tbsp flaked almonds

Chewy orange and cinnamon almond slabs from the Maltese Lent table, naturally vegan and made without any butter.

Time55 min
LevelEasy
Costabout £0.25 a head
Oven180°C (160°C fan)

Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.

12 pieces

Ingredients

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200 gplain flour
150 gground almonds
100 gcaster sugar
1 tspground cinnamon
¼ tspground cloves
2orangeszested
3 tbspmaple syrup
1 tbsporange blossom water
100 mlwater
2 tbspflaked almonds

Method

1
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line a 20 cm square tin with baking paper.
2
Mix the flour, ground almonds, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and orange zest in a large bowl.
3
Stir in the maple syrup, orange blossom water and enough water to make a thick, stiff dough that is easy to press but not wet.
4
Press the dough firmly into the tin and smooth the top with the back of a wet spoon. Scatter over the flaked almonds and press them in lightly.
5
Bake for 30 minutes until firm and lightly golden at the edges.
30 min
6
Leave in the tin for 10 minutes, then cut into 12 rectangles while still warm. Cool on a rack. They firm up and taste even better the next day.

Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.