Provençal colombier for Pentecost
The "colombier" (dove cake) is a traditional cake for Pentecost from the south of France, flavoured with orange and almonds.
This very moist cake is quite dense as it is made with marzipan (almond paste).
It can be eaten on its own or as a dessert, with or without ice cream.
This very moist cake is quite dense as it is made with marzipan (almond paste).
It can be eaten on its own or as a dessert, with or without ice cream.
67 K 4.3/5 (29 reviews)
1 hour 6 min.
Easy
1 colombier
6 IngredientsLast modified on: December 30th 2019
For 1 colombier, you will need:
- 1
50 g butter - 2
150 g marzipan (almond paste) - 3
3 eggs - 4
30 g flour - 5
1 orange - 6
100 g candied fruit - Total weight: 780 grams
Change these quantities to make:
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 35 min.
Cooking: 35 min.
All in all: 1 hour 6 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Melt 50 g butter over low heat, then take off the heat and leave to cool.
Stage 2 - 3 min.
Cut 150 g marzipan (almond paste) into small pieces and put into a food-processor bowl.
Stage 3 - 1 min.
Add the first egg.
Stage 4 - 15 min.
Start beating slowly at first, then increase the speed.
Add the other eggs one at a time, about 5 minutes apart...
Add the other eggs one at a time, about 5 minutes apart...
Stage 5
...until the mixture is light and well aerated.
This beating takes about 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C).
This beating takes about 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C).
Stage 7 - 2 min.
Add the melted butter, which should be nearly cold, and the zest of 1 orange.
Stage 8 - 3 min.
Mix in gently.
Stage 9 - 3 min.
Use a 7" (18 cm) springform tin and lay a circle of cooking parchment in the bottom, as the columbier tends to stick during cooking.
Stage 10 - 1 min.
Pour the mixture into the tin.
Stage 11 - 1 min.
Scatter 100 g candied fruit evenly over the top.
Stage 12 - 30 min.
Bake for about 30 minutes.
Stage 13
Leave to cool in the tin. Turn the columbier out carefully, as it is very fragile.
Keeping: Several days at room temperature, covered with plastic film.
Source: Free interpretation of a recipe by Gaston Lenôtre.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 70 RDI=30 % | 410 RDI=40 % | 180 RDI=30 % | 1,910 RDI=100 % | 7,990 RDI: 100 % |
| Per 100 g | 9 RDI=3 % | 50 RDI=5 % | 20 RDI=4 % | 240 RDI=10 % | 1,020 RDI: 10 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 1 colombier : £3.85
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Marzipan (almond paste)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Agen prune cake, Arizona cupcakes, Little Christmas biscuits, Piped petits-fours, How to make marzipan decorations, ... See them all 6
Candied fruit
Like these other recipes: Sicilian Epiphany Pie, Panettone, Hazelnut and orange cake, Fondant-iced pithivier, ... See them all 4
Butter
Like these other recipes: Tournedos Rossini, Lambé salad, Creamy spinach and potato gratin, Baked potoatoes with herb butter or cream , Butter cream, ... See them all 470
Flour
Like these other recipes: How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub), Caribbean upside-down cake, Walnut short bread, Lobster Thermidor, Savoury mini-madeleines with 2 cheeses, ... See them all 201
Other recipes you may also like
Chestnut cake
This delightful cake is doubly chestnutty: it contains chestnut flour, and sweet chestnut purée.May 8th 2020339 K5 1 hour 15 min.
Fruit crumble
A fruit pudding: very easy to do and delicious: just a layer of fruit with a golden crunchy topping.February 21th 2011360 K4.0 1 hour 15 min.
Epiphany galette
Here is the recipe for the very classic but delicious "galette des rois" (Epiphany galette) in puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée) with almond cream or frangipane . You will also see some professional tips to easily handle the dough, and obtain a nice and regular galette.January 1st 2025295 K 24.5 3 hours 8 min.
Caramelised apple pie
Apple pie made with caramelised apples.September 11th 2018261 K4.3 1 hour 55 min.
Toasted almond cake
A layer cake, with toasted almonds in the chocolate part.July 5th 2016244 K4.4 2 hours 2 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-06-08)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe (as 2 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.