This orange cake recipe is so easy to make and requires few ingredients. It is perfectly moist with a fluffy texture - and is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.
Contents
🌟 Why this orange cake is the best
Orange cake is an all-weather cake to be enjoyed any time of the year!
This orange cake is bursting with orange flavor from the orange juice and zest, has a light and fluffy texture, and is slathered with a sweet glaze to keep it moist - this is one cake you will want to make again and again!
It has a light and fluffy texture, thanks to the vegetable oil and eggs that are used in the batter, and it's bursting with citrus flavor from the fresh orange juice and grated zest in the batter and glaze.
It's also quick and easy to make, requiring just 8 ingredients and an hour of your time. The cake batter can be easily mixed by hand - no need for stand mixers or electric beaters!
The cake is then not-so-patiently baked until golden brown before being glazed with a mixture of powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest.
Once it has cooled completely, you can slice the cake into generous wedges and serve. Enjoy this orange cake as an after-dinner treat or during your next special occasion!
With its bright flavor and simple-to-make recipe, this easy orange cake is sure to become a family favorite in no time.
If you love this easy orange cake recipe, you may also enjoy these other quick and easy dessert recipes: orange desserts recipes, 35 cake recipes with few ingredients and 35 easy sweet snacks with few ingredients.
🍽 Key Ingredients
The key to the best orange cake is using fresh orange juice and zest to give the cake its signature orange flavor and a cup of vegetable oil to keep it moist and delicious for days.
Flour - All-purpose flour is the best flour to use for making cake recipes as it has a high protein content which helps the cake rise properly.
Baking powder - Baking powder is used to help give the cake some lift.
Salt - Salt helps bring out the flavors in the cake.
Sugar - You'll need granulated sugar and powdered sugar for the cake batter and the orange glaze.
Oranges - Fresh oranges are used for both the zest and juice in this recipe, giving it a bright orange flavor.
Vegetable oil - Vegetable oil is a key ingredient that helps keep the cake moist and adds some richness.
Eggs - Eggs add structure and help bind the ingredients together.
Vanilla extract - Vanilla extract adds a lovely depth of flavor to the cake.
Substitutions
Vegetable oil
You can substitute vegetable oil for other oils, like coconut, grapeseed, or olive oil.
Fresh orange juice and zest
If you don't have oranges, you can use lime or lemon juice and zest instead.
🔪 How to make
This orange cake is one of the easiest dessert recipes you'll ever make! It's made with only 8 simple ingredients and takes just over an hour to bake. Plus, it's bursting with bright citrus flavor and is a surefire crowd-pleaser!
Preparations
- Allow the eggs to come to room temperature.
- Grate the orange zest into a small bowl and then squeeze the juice into a separate bowl.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) and grease a loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
Step 2
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
Step 3
Mix the granulated sugar with the orange zest in a large bowl using your fingers or a fork until the sugar turns light orange.
Step 4
Then, add the fresh juice, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Step 5
Whisk to combine, then pour the wet mixture into the flour mixture until just incorporated.
Step 6
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake to check if it's cooked, then remove it from the oven and allow it cool while making the orange glaze.
Step 7
To make the glaze, whisk the powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest in a small bowl until smooth.
Step 8
Drizzle the sweet glaze over the warm cake and let it soak in for 30 minutes.
Step 9
Let the cake cool completely before decorating it with a dusting of powdered sugar, orange slices, and mint leaves.
Step 10
Cut into slices and serve the cake on a plate with coffee or tea.
💭 Cooking tips
Using the correct pan
I find that using a loaf pan is the best for baking this orange cake in because it comes out in one piece once cooled. Since the cake is very moist, it tends to break when removing the cooled cake from a bundt cake pan.
Fresh orange flavor
Be sure to use freshly squeezed orange juice and zest for the best flavor. Avoid using store-bought orange juice or orange extract for this recipe because it doesn't have the same flavor.
Refrigerate overnight
If you can wait that long and allow the glaze to soak into the cake overnight, you will have the perfect orange cake! It tastes even better the following day.
Use food coloring
If you want to give your cake a bright orange color, use a few drops of orange food coloring in the batter.
📖 Recipe Variations
You can easily add extra ingredients to this super orange cake without changing the flavor or texture. Here are a few variations for you to try:
Orange layer cake with cream cheese frosting
Give your cake a lovely orange-flavored cream cheese icing by beating ½ cup softened unsalted butter, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 teaspoons orange zest, and 4 cups icing sugar in a bowl until smooth and thick.
Cut the cake in half and pipe or spoon the frosting over the bottom layer, lay the second layer on top, and then cover the cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
Orange fruit cake
Add 1 cup of your favorite chopped fruit, such as cranberries, dates, or raisins, to the batter for an extra fruity twist.
Orange coconut cake
For an even more tropical flavor, mix 1 cup of shredded coconut into the batter and sprinkle extra on top with sliced almonds for decoration.
🥗 What to serve with
This orange cake goes perfectly with an afternoon cup of tea, coffee, or glass of milk. However, If you're having a feast and need other desserts to pair with it, we have you covered.
When it comes to the festive season, there is always a huge selection of cakes, cookies, puddings, and sweets on offer, so it's always handy to have a few of these 50 easy desserts with few ingredients prepared to pair with this orange cake.
With many no-bake desserts to choose from, like vanilla coconut almond date bars, caramel haystack cookies, and fat bombs that take minutes to prepare using 5 or fewer ingredients, you'll breeze through the holiday season with many satisfied customers.
And if it's cookies you're after to impress your guests, you'll find many delicious recipes in our selection of 30 easy Christmas cookie recipes with few ingredients.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can I use gluten-free flour for this orange cake?
Yes, you sure can! Replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour, like almond or coconut flour, for a delicious gluten-free version.
Can I make this cake in advance?
Yes, you can make this orange cake a day in advance and store it covered at room temperature.
🧊 Storing
The beauty of this orange cake is that it tastes even better over the following days and can be stored cold or at room temperature.
Room temperature - The cake will stay fresh, covered in aluminum foil at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Fridge - You can also store this cake in the fridge for up to 6 days in an airtight container.
Freezer - The cake can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.
👪 Serving size
You can expect to get around 8-10 slices from this orange cake recipe, but you could easily make two or three orange cakes if you have more guests or just want to store them for another day.
Enjoy the sweet citrusy flavor of this super orange cake, made with just a few simple ingredients. You'll love the moist, fluffy texture and flavor that comes from fresh orange juice and zest! Happy baking, and don't forget to leave a comment below - thank you so much!
📋 Recipe
Orange cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2½ cups All-purpose flour - 300g
- ¾ teaspoon Baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Granulated sugar - 200g
- 2 tablespoons Orange zest - about 3 oranges
- 1 cup Vegetable oil - 240ml
- ¾ cup Fresh orange juice - about 3 oranges/180ml
- 3 Large eggs
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup Powdered sugar - 120g
- Zest of ½ orange
- 2 tablespoons Orange juice - about ½ orange
Instructions
Preparations
- Allow the eggs to come to room temperature.
- Grate the orange zest into a small bowl and then squeeze the juice into a separate bowl.
Cooking instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) and grease a loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
- Mix the granulated sugar with the orange zest in a large bowl using your fingers or a fork until the sugar turns light orange.
- Then, add the fresh juice, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Whisk to combine, then pour the wet mixture into the flour mixture until just incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake to check if it's cooked, then remove it from the oven and allow it cool while making the orange glaze.
- To make the glaze, whisk the powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest in a small bowl until smooth.
- Drizzle the sweet glaze over the warm cake and let it soak in for 30 minutes.
- Let the cake cool completely before decorating it with a dusting of powdered sugar, orange slices, and mint leaves.
- Cut into slices and serve the cake on a plate with coffee or tea.
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