Description
A delicious orange-flavored cake with cream cheese frosting, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup orange zest (from about 4 oranges)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1/3 cup neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 drops orange food coloring gel (optional)
- 1/3 cup milk
- 6 large egg whites
- 1/2 cup orange juice (from about 4 oranges, strained to remove pulp and seeds)
- 12 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1 pod vanilla bean (scraped OR 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract)
- 5 cups powdered sugar (plus more for decoration)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Orange food coloring gel
- Green food coloring gel
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two or three 8-inch cake pans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment, add the sugar and orange zest. Beat together to release the fragrant oils in the orange zest.
- Add the butter and vanilla extract, beating until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. If desired, add 2 drops of food coloring gel for color.
- Pour in the oil and beat once more.
- In a measuring cup, whisk together the milk, egg whites, and strained orange juice.
- Turn the mixer to low speed and alternate adding the dry ingredients and liquid ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture until the batter is smooth.
- Divide the batter amongst the prepared baking pans, smoothing it out to reach the sides. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake layers to cool in their pans for about 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool to room temperature.
- In a clean bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and mix for about 10 seconds to smooth out.
- Add the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, and heavy cream. Beat for 2 minutes to achieve fluffy frosting.
- Divide the frosting into two bowls (about 1/4 cup each). Add drops of orange food coloring to one and green to the other, mixing until smooth.
- Transfer the orange frosting to a piping bag fitted with a #3 round piping tip and the green frosting to a #1 round piping tip.
- Frost the top of the cake with an even layer, then pipe on rounds of frosting to create oranges and leaves as desired.
- Store the cake at room temperature or cover with plastic wrap if needed, serving within 2 to 3 days for best taste.
Notes
- This cake can be topped with sprinkles or left plain for a cute finish.
- Frosting can be tinted as desired for added decoration.
- To keep the cake fresh, store at room temperature in a covered container.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg