Orange Cake

Slice of orange bundt cake on a white plate with a gold fork.

This homemade Orange Cake is bursting with the flavor of fresh oranges. A combination of orange zest and orange juice make this cake extra moist and flavorful. This bundt cake can be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert, or alongside a cup of afternoon tea.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 40

Total Time 1 10

Servings

Calories 445kcal

Author Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

Cake:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup unsalted butter softened
½ cup canola oil or vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
¼ cup finely grated orange zest from about 5 large oranges
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
¼ cup orange juice
1 cup buttermilk

Syrup:

¼ cup orange juice
¼ cup granulated sugar

Icing:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
1 cup powdered sugar sifted if lumpy
1 tablespoon half and half or milk
½ teaspoon finely grated orange zest
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F with a rack in the center of the oven. Set aside a 12-cup bundt pan (don't grease it just yet).
In a large bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, oil, sugar, and orange zest on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract. Beat until combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
In a liquid measuring cup combine orange juice and buttermilk.
Add one third of the dry ingredients to the sugar/egg mixture, beat until just combined. Add half of the buttermilk, beating until just combining. Repeat adding half the remaining flour, all the remaining buttermilk, then the last bit of flour, beating between each addition. Stir with a rubber spatula to make sure it is completely combined.
Thoroughly grease a 12-cup bundt pan (I use nonstick spray with flour in it). Pour the batter into the pan and smooth into an even layer. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes (don't invert it yet). Proceed with syrup as you approach the end of the 30 minute cool time.

Syrup:

Combine orange juice and sugar in a microwave safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Cook until the juice begins to bubble. Carefully remove it and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
After 30 minutes of cooling, carefully invert the cake directly onto a cooling rack. Place a large piece of parchment paper or foil under the rack to catch any drips of syrup.
Spoon or brush the syrup onto the cake. The cake should still be a bit warm so it will soak up the syrup. Allow the cake to cool completely before proceeding with the icing.

Icing:

Using a hand mixer or stand fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and powdered sugar until combined. Add milk, zest, and extract, beating until smooth and combined. Adjust the consistency of the frosting by adding more powdered sugar to thicken or more half and half to thin it out. Drizzle or spread the icing on top of the cooled cake (I placed it in a ziptop bag with the corner snipped for easy application). Grate some additional orange zest over the top, if desired.

Notes

Serving: Serve at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.

Storage: Store tightly covered at cool room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 4 days. The cake may also be frozen (double wrapped) for up to 3 months.

Tips:

Make sure you have plenty of oranges. I recommend about 7 large oranges to ensure you have enough zest and juice for all components of the recipe.
Don't have buttermilk? Try one of these buttermilk substitutes.
Use a fine microplane style grater for the orange zest. Only grate the orange skin, not the white pith.
I recommend a stand mixer for this recipe. There is a large volume of batter and I find that a stand mixer with a paddle attachment works best.
Grease your bundt pan really well. I use a non-stick spray that contains flour. Wait to spray the pan until right before you add the batter.
Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes before removing the cake from the pan. You want to remove it when it is still slightly warm (so that the orange syrup will soak in) but not when the cake is hot (it might fall apart).

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