Blood Orange Pudding Cake

I’ve been captivated by the idea of a pudding cake ever since I saw a recipe for one by the pastry chef Kristen Murray of Maurice luncheonette in Portland, Oregon, many years ago. Prepared more like a soufflé than a cake, it’s a mixture of citrus juice, dairy, egg yolks, and flour, lightened with beaten egg whites and baked in a water bath. As it bakes, the egg whites rise to the surface and the batter miraculously separates into a light sponge on top and a curdlike layer on the bottom. The typical all-lemon version is lovely, but here I use blood oranges for their vibrant color and sweet-tart flavor. You can leave the cake in the baking dish for serving, but I prefer to turn it out so the pudding layer is on top. Serve it with fresh blood orange slices for a bright and light winter dessert.