Orange Cake Recipe

Make everyone’s dessert fun and exciting with an easy, healthy, and simple Orange Cake recipe! Take a break from the classic cake flavors. Relish new flavors that will make you feel refreshed and nourished at every slice. Your guests will also love how festive the cake color is.

Once you eat it, you will find out that it’s bursting with sweet and fruity flavors. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying it until the last crumb!

Whenever you make Orange Cake, be sure to let everyone try a piece because it’s guaranteed to be a crowd favorite!

Ingredients

Grab these ingredients on your next trip to the grocery store!

Oranges

What makes oranges some of the best fruits for cakes? They are sweet, tarty, and juicy citrus fruits that will add aroma, color, and a rich taste to the cake recipe.

Oranges are also easy to prepare and eat. You just need to peel and separate the sacs! These are great for fresh eating, but you can also use them to make your desserts fruity and sweet.

There are many varieties of oranges you can use. I suggest using navel oranges, clementines, and Valencia oranges. Don’t forget to set aside some oranges for fresh Orange Juice!

Flour

Give the cake the perfect shape and structure with flour. It has protein and a gluten network, expanding the cake into a soft and chewy dish.

I Scream for Buttercream suggests using flour such as plain flour, self-rising flour, and cake flour to bake cakes. You can also use flour to make Coconut Cake, Chocolate Cake, and Almond Loaf Cake!

Eggs

Like plain flour, eggs are needed for the cake’s proper structure. In fact, the eggs can also enrich the flavor of the cake. They can even make the cake moist for a tender and light texture.

Aside from organic eggs, you can always use effective egg substitutes.

Sugar

Enhance the sweetness of the Orange Cake with caramelizing sugar. Once the sugar melts into the cake, it will give the dish a golden orange color to make the dish appetizing.

According to Baker Bettie, sugar also makes baked goods moist and tender. Granulated sugar is one of the best sugars to use, but you can also use brown sugar.

Sea salt

Never skip the sea salt because it will surely make the cake taste better. Boston Girl Bakes also mentioned that salt is good for making your baked goods last longer.

Butter

The butter gives the cake an intense flavor that you will taste at every bite. It also makes the dish moist, tender, and heavenly in texture.

I suggest using butter at room temperature or melted. It’s easier to mix into the cake batter for the best consistency.

Have you ever made something that’s as unique, tasty, and fruit as this Orange Cake? If not, this is the perfect time to put your baking skills to the test! Start with this quick and easy Orange Cake recipe! 

Directions

Put on your apron, powder up your oven, and let’s make the best Orange Cake!

1. Zest the orange with a zester or grater.
2. Finely mince the orange zest using a knife and set the zest aside. 
3. Juice the orange with your hands or a juicer.
4. Crack the eggs into a strainer skimmer with a bowl underneath to separate the egg yolks and egg whites.
5. Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until fluffy. 
6. Gradually add the sugar.
7. Then, add the egg yolks one at a time while whisking. 
8. Sift the plain flour and sea salt into the egg mixture.
9. Fold the ingredients together with a spatula until well incorporated.
10. Combine melted butter, orange juice, and orange zest in a bowl.
11. Then, add some of the cake batter into the bowl and mix it well. 
12. Once mixed, pour the orange mixture into the batter and fold gently until well incorporated.
13. Grease your baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
14. Pour in the cake batter.
15. Bake the cake in the preheated oven to bake at 160°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. 
16. Let it cool, and serve it for breakfast or dessert!

Wasn’t it fun and easy to make? This Orange Cake recipe is definitely something that you should serve to your family and friends. I’d love to know how your cake turned out, so feel free to share it in the comments section!

Tips

Oranges

Selection

• Health Family Project suggests buying oranges that feel heavy for their size.
• Don’t buy oranges with soft or rotten spots.
• The oranges should also have a bright color.

Storage

• According to Master Class, oranges can last up to a week at room temperature.
• Make oranges last up to a month by putting them in the fridge.
• Once sliced, store them in a container and refrigerate for a week.

Orange Cake Variations

Vegans can enjoy every bite of this Orange Cake because of its vegan-friendly ingredients. You can use gluten-free flour instead of plain flour to make it gluten-free. 

Margarine can also be used as a gluten-free and lactose-free substitute for butter. You can also replace sugar with healthier sweeteners like stevia, honey, or maple syrup. 

No-Bake Orange Cake

If you don’t have access to an oven, then you can steam the cake instead. After transferring the batter into the baking pan, cover it with aluminum foil and steam it for 40 to 45 minutes or until done. 

Alternatively, pre-heat a pot with a wire rack inside and place the baking pan inside to cook for at least 30 minutes over medium heat until cooked well. 

Recommended Tools

• Grater: Zest the oranges using a grater or zester
• Knife: Prepare the fruits with a knife.
• Juicer: Extract the orange juicer with your hands or a juicer.
• Strainer skimmer: Separate the egg yolk and egg white using a strainer skimmer.
• Bowl: Make the cake batter in a bowl.
• Spatula: Fold the batter with a spatula until well mixed.
• Baking pan: Cook the Orange Cake in a baking pan.
• Parchment paper: Line the baking pan with parchment paper.
• Oven: Bake the Orange Cake in the oven.

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How to Serve Orange Cake

Orange cake can be served for breakfast, snacks, or as dessert. It goes perfectly well with chocolate drinks, fruit smoothies, juices, and coffee. To add character to the dish, you can sprinkle it with powdered sugar. 

You can also decorate it with thinly sliced oranges, orange frosting, whipped cream, orange glaze, or leftover orange zest. 

Here are some drinks to help you fully enjoy your Orange Cake:

• Clementine Juice with Pineapple and Ginger
• Avocado Banana Milkshake
• Iced Tea
• Fruit Smoothie
• Orange Juice
• Almond Milk

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Place the cake in a cake container. This can last up to 2 days at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What flavors go with orange cake?

Orange Cake will taste well with grapefruits, limes, and lemons. Treat Dreams also suggests pairing oranges with berries, apples, bananas, cherries, coconuts, pineapples, pears, mangoes, papayas, and more!

How to make an orange cake without milk?

In this recipe, no milk is necessary. The orange juice gives it enough moisture and flavor to infuse the crumbs with fruity goodness.

Is there an orange-flavored cake mix?

Yes, you can find orange-flavored cake mixes in the grocery store. However, I suggest making an orange cake with fresh oranges for the best flavors and health benefits.

What is a citrus cake made of?

A citrus cake is made of classic cake ingredients, but you just need to add zest and juice from your favorite citrus fruits. Aside from oranges, you can also go for lemons, clementines, and kumquats.