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    Home » Italian Desserts » Italian Cakes

    Torta alla Melagrana (Easy Pomegranate Cake)

    Published: Oct 24, 2023 · Modified: Jun 14, 2025 by Silvana Nava · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Fall is a season that offers many delicious and nutritious fruits, among which the pomegranate stands out. With its juicy, ruby-red seeds, this fruit is perfect for making desserts. In this recipe, I will show you how to use pomegranate juice to make an amazing cake that is simple, tasty, and beautiful.

    Pomegranate cake is light, fluffy and has a very distinctive flavor. The pinkish color can vary in intensity depending on the color of the juice, sometimes very intense, sometimes lighter. The preparation of pomegranate cake is quick and easy and does not require any special skills. The ingredients are also very simple and common: flour, sugar, butter, eggs, lemon zest and pomegranate juice.

    pomegranate cake recipe - 1

    It's a light and very fluffy cake, ideal for breakfast, snack or dessert. Serve with a cup of tea, a good cup of coffee or a small glass of liqueur.

    I used a Bundt pan, but you can use any pan you like. When ready, sprinkle with powdered sugar and decorate with a few pomegranate seeds to make it more decorative.

    I also recommend pomegranate cake for Christmas and the coming New Year. Not only because of its refined and elegant appearance, but also because the pomegranate is a symbol of good fortune.

    Here are all the steps to make a pomegranate cake. You will amaze your guests with its sophisticated simplicity!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Kitchen Tools and Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Variations
    • Tips
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    pomegranate cake recipe - 7

    Prep Time: 10 Min | Cook Time: 40 Min | Servings: 6

    Doses for a 20 cm (8 inch) Bundt Cake Pan

    • 2 medium pomegranates or pomegranate juice. You need 160 ml (~¾ cup) of juice and some grains for decoration.
    • 200 g (1 ⅓ cup) of "00" flour
    • 110 g (1 stick) of unsulted butter, softened at room temperature
    • 2 medium eggs
    • the zest of 1 organic lemon
    • 150 g (¾ cup) of granulated sugar
    • 10 g (2 ½ teaspoon) of baking powder
    • powdered sugar for decoration

    Kitchen Tools and Equipment

    • To make Pomgranate Cake, get a really useful stand mixer to stir the ingredients well, adding them gradually without stopping mixing. I chose the Kitchen Aid Hand Mixer.
    • It’s also very important to mix the dry ingredients together. For best results, we recommend sifting the powders with a Fine Mesh Strainer. This allow the flour and baking powder to mix evenly. You will also need this kitchen tool to dust the cake with powdered sugar at the end.
    • To extract pomegranate juice you can use, as I did, a simple and common hand juicer.
    • However, there are specific tools on the market for squeezing pomegranate. Very practical and useful items if you are a regular drinker of pomegranate juice. They can also be an original gift idea.
    • I opted for a 20 cm (8 inch) Bundt Cake Pan. But you can also use other shapes of your liking with the same capacity.
    • Finally, I recommend using a cake dome to preserve its fragrance and softness.

    Instructions

    pomegranate cake recipe step 1

    Step 1) - To make the pomegranate cake, start by placing the 2 medium whole eggs in a bowl with the 150 g (¾ cup) of granulated sugar. Beat with electric mixer until light and fluffy.

    pomegranate cake recipe step 2

    Step 2) - Add 110 g (1 stick) of softened butter at room temperature and mix well, again using electric mixer on medium speed.

    pomegranate cake recipe step 3

    Step 3) - In another bowl, mix 10 g (2 ½ teaspoon) of baking powder with 200 g (1 ⅓ cup) of flour. Sift the powder into the egg and butter mixture a little at a time.

    pomegranate cake recipe step 4

    Step 4) - Add the powders a little at a time, always mixing with the whisk, until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

    pomegranate cake recipe step 5

    Step 5) - Now squeeze 2 medium pomegranates or pomegranate juice. You need 160 ml (~¾ cup) of juice. Remember to keep a few seeds for the final decoration. Slowly pour the pomegranate juice into the mixture and mix well.

    pomegranate cake recipe step 6

    Step 6) - Now add the grated zest of 1 lemon. I recommend grating only the yellow part of the lemon as the white part would make the mixture bitter.

    pomegranate cake recipe step 7

    Step 7) - Pour the mixture into a floured and buttered cake pan and bake at 180°C (356°F) for 40 minutes.

    pomegranate cake recipe step 8

    Step 8) - When done, remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool. Turn the cake upside down onto a serving dish.

    Finally, dust the pomegranate cake with plenty of powdered sugar and decorate with a few pomegranate seeds.

    pomegranate cake recipe - 1

    YOU MUST ALSO TRY:

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    • Italian Chocolate Cake | Torta al Cioccolato
    • Zuppa Inglese Recipe | Traditional Italian Trifle
    • Sicilian Orange cake | Pan d'Arancio

    Storage

    You can store the Pomegranate cake at room temperature for up to two days under a dome or on a plate covered with plastic wrap.

    Can I Freeze the Pomegranate Cake?

    Sure. You can freeze it once it's completely cooled and consume it within a month. We recommend that you already cut it into slices and store it in well sealed freezer bags. You can defrost it at room temperature.

    pomegranate cake recipe - 5

    Variations

    Depending on your taste, you can enrich this recipe to make this cake even more beautiful and inviting.

    • CINNAMON: You can scent the dough with a pinch of cinnamon, very appropriate for Christmas days.
    • CHOCOLATE CHIPS: You can make the pomegranate cake richer by adding dark chocolate chips
    • WALNUTS: or add some crunch by adding chopped walnuts.
    • JAM FILLING: Once the cake is baked, you can also decide to cut it in half with a long knife and fill it with a layer of citrus or raspberry jam. This will make the cake even more delicious.
    • WHIPPED CREAM: As for the decoration, you can replace the powdered sugar with delicious whipped cream, always adding pomegranate seeds for the beautiful color contrast.
    pomegranate cake recipe - 3

    Tips

    • I remind you that the decoration should be done just before serving the cake to your guests. In fact, the powdered sugar melts after a while and is partially absorbed by the cake. While the whipped cream is likely to fall apart and become more liquid.
    • Also, the pomegranate seeds may release their juice over time and color the surrounding area.
    • Another tip I give you is to cut and peel the pomegranate with kitchen gloves and in a bowl with some water. The juice, while beautiful and delicious, is very colorful and you would risk staining.
    • I recommend that you PRESS the pomegranate as indicated in the recipe. Do not blend it, because the skin of the seeds and the hard arils inside are very bitter and would spoil the flavor of the juice.
    • Finally, you can use a pre-made pomegranate juice to make this cake, but believe me when I tell you that this cake has a really great flavor with the fresh fruit!
    pomegranate cake recipe - 6

    Recipe Card

    STEP BY STEP PHOTOS ABOVE!Have a look at my step-by-step photo instructions, variations and tips. That way, you can get it perfect the first time you try it!
    pomegranate cake recipe

    Pomegranate Cake Recipe

    Silvana Nava
    Fall is a season that offers many delicious and nutritious fruits, among which the pomegranate stands out. With its juicy, ruby-red seeds, this fruit is perfect for making desserts.
    In this recipe, I will show you how to use pomegranate juice to make an amazing cake that is simple, tasty, and beautiful.
    Pomegranate cake is light, fluffy and has a very distinctive flavor. The pinkish color can vary in intensity depending on the color of the juice, sometimes very intense, sometimes lighter.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6
    Calories 454 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pomegranates - medium size, or pomegranate juice. You need 160 ml (~¾ cup) of juice and some grains for decoration.
    • 200 g flour - 1 ⅓ cup, "00"
    • 110 g butter - 1 stick, unsulted and softened at room temperature
    • 2 eggs - medium
    • 1 lemon - the zest, organic
    • 150 g granulated sugar - ¾ cup
    • 10 g baking powder - 2 teaspoon
    • powdered sugar - for decoration

    Instructions
     

    • Start by placing the 2 medium whole eggs in a bowl with the 150 g (¾ cup) of granulated sugar. Beat with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
    • Add 110 g (1 stick) of softened butter at room temperature and mix well, again using electric mixer on medium speed.
    • In another bowl, mix 10 g (2 ½ teaspoon) of baking powder with 200 g (1 ⅓ cup) of flour. Sift the powder into the egg and butter mixture a little at a time.
    • Add the powders a little at a time, always mixing with the whisk, until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
    • Squeeze 2 medium pomegranates or pomegranate juice. You need 160 ml (~¾ cup) of juice. Remember to keep a few seeds for the final decoration. Slowly pour the pomegranate juice into the mixture and mix well.
    • Add the grated zest of 1 lemon. I recommend grating only the yellow part of the lemon as the white part would make the mixture bitter.
    • Pour the mixture into a floured and buttered cake pan and bake at 180°C (356°F) for 40 minutes.
    • When done, remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool. Turn the cake upside down onto a serving dish.
    • Finally, dust the pomegranate cake with plenty of powdered sugar and decorate with a few pomegranate seeds.

    Notes

    Doses for a 20 cm (8 inch) Bundt Cake Pan

    Nutrition

    Calories: 454kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 7gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 319mgPotassium: 308mgFiber: 5gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 541IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword pomegranate cake
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    Comments

    1. Barbara says

      January 02, 2025 at 12:39 am

      5 stars
      This cake is absolutely delicious! Moist, fruity, and bursting with flavor, it’s the perfect dessert for any occasion. I followed the pomegranate cake recipe exactly and it turned out beautifully - definitely a keeper!

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Barbara & Silvana

    CIAO! Barbara & Silvana here! We are the authors of these amazing Italian recipes. Living in Italy, they are part of our culture, tradition and everyday life. And we want to share them with you all, straight from Italy! Learn more about us! Read our story!

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