Orange Cake Recipe

Whenever you’re feeling blue, make Orange Cake to make everything better!

Instead of the classic Vanilla Cake or Chocolate Cake, get a new experience with a cake infused with the sweet, tangy, and pleasant flavor of oranges. It’s time to revel in the goodness of another cake flavor that everyone will love.

Orange Cake has a wonderfully satisfying flavor that goes with its tender and moist crumbs. Every member of the family will surely want their slice of the cake, so be sure to bake enough cakes!

Take a break from the classic cake flavors and try the Orange Cake for a whole new experience to enjoy. It’s surely going to be an all-time favorite in your home, just as it is in my humble home!

How to Make Orange Cake

Have you baked a cake before? Making Orange Cake is exactly like baking a cake but you just need to include oranges in your batter. It’s an awesome way of putting your oranges to good use while making them last longer.

Ingredients

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

Oranges

What makes oranges some of the best fruits for cakes?

Oranges are sweet, tarty, and juicy citrus fruits that will add aroma, color, and a rich taste to the cake recipe. They’re easy to peel, juice, and zest for any recipe that you can think of.

Indeed, the vibrant quality of oranges can instantly make cake better. Once you bake it into the cake, you will smell its mouthwatering aroma that will convince you to have another slice of Orange Cake.

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 texture with flour. It has protein and a gluten network, expanding the cake into a soft and chewy dish. You need flour because it serves as the foundation for the whole cake.

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, you need to add eggs 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. Eggs are not just for flavor and texture, but they also give your cake a golden brown finish that everyone will look forward to.

Sugar

Intensify the sweet flavor of the Orange Cake with caramelizing sugar. Once the sugar melts into the cake, it will give the dish an even better color, texture, and flavor 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 or even powdered sugar.

Sea salt

Every time I bake a cake, I always make sure to add salt. It’s a simple ingredient that instantly makes the cake tastier. You will need it to balance the sweet flavors of the oranges and sugar.

It strengthens the gluten of the flour to give your cake crumbs the perfect quality. Boston Girl Bakes also mentioned that salt is good for making your baked goods last longer.

Butter

No matter what happens, don’t forget to add the butter. It adds a buttery flavor that goes well with the oranges. Butter also adds moisture to the cake for soft and tender crumbs inside.

I suggest using butter at room temperature or melted. It’s easier to mix into the cake batter for the best consistency. You will surely appreciate how it can leaven your cake as it bakes.

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

Buying oranges

• 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.

Storing oranges

• 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

Taste the Orange Cake and see how else you can make it interesting!

One of the best ways to give the cake the orange flavor is to zest and juice the orange, like how it is used in this recipe. I suggest using fresh oranges to give a rich and authentic flavor.

In case you want to give the cake a higher rise, you can add baking powder and/or baking soda. These leavening agents can give the cake a fluffy, light, and airy quality to make the cake better.

When you want to make your Orange Cake more exciting, you can add other flavors. For instance, it can taste great with chocolates, vanilla extract, almond extract, desiccated coconuts, and lemons.

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. 

More Cake Recipes

• Sponge Cake – it’s a traditional cake that’s extra light and soft.
• Coconut Cake – cook your cake with coconuts for a tropical flavor.
• Vanilla Cake – taste how pleasant and simple Vanilla Cake is.
• Chocolate Cake – enjoy the bittersweet goodness of cakes with chocolate.
• Almond Loaf Cake – give your cake a sweet, nutty, and earthy taste with almonds.
• Pound Cake – it’s truly one of the easiest cake recipes you can bake.
• Carrot Cake – add carrots to your cake batter for an earthy and sweet taste.

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.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn commission income from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.

Visit my shop for more products.

How to Serve Orange Cake

How do you plan on serving Orange Cake?

You can always enjoy it for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. Even on its own, it’s guaranteed to give you a fantastic experience. I suggest garnishing it with powdered sugar for a beautiful appearance and an added flavor.

For a more potent orange flavor, make an orange glaze with orange juice, orange zest, and sugar. You can also frost the cake with your favorite icing to make it perfect for any celebration.

Instead of serving it as a whole cake, you can slice it into layers and add your filling in between the layers. It’s also good to top it off with fresh fruits for a sweet yet healthy meal.

Orange Cake can taste well with ice cream flavors like Vanilla Ice Cream. In fact, you can turn it into a trifle with layers of whipped cream, custard, or fruits in the middle. I even suggest toasting in a pan for a crunchy texture.

• Powdered Sugar – drizzle your cake with powdered sugar on top.
• Banana Ice Cream – serve your cake with banana ice cream for a cold treat.
• Dark Chocolate – add in dark chocolate for a good balance of flavor.
• Nutella Milkshake – enjoy the Orange Cake with a sweet drink.
• Desiccated Coconuts – garnish the cake with desiccated coconuts.

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

Why is my orange cake dry?

A dry Orange Cake can be caused by different reasons. For instance, you may have overbaked the cake or used the wrong measurements in the batter. Don’t overmix the batter and be sure to preheat the oven.

Can I use orange juice instead of milk on a cake?

Yes, you can use orange juice instead of milk on a cake. I especially suggest using orange juice in this recipe to intensify the sweet and tarty flavor of the oranges.

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.