Soft orange cake — the cake that fills the whole house with its delightful aroma. It’s a dessert that can brighten the kitchen even before it’s out of the oven, it tells of a season, the color of the sun even if it’s winter. Just grate the zest of a fresh orange and the air is filled with an intense, citrusy fragrance that can evoke winter afternoons and simple, delicious treats. Oranges are not only delicious but also nutritionally valuable — rich in vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants and minerals. Their color alone lifts the spirits and brings sunshine back on a gray and dreary day. I love orange desserts: the zest gives an intense aroma, the juice keeps the batter moist and its gentle acidity balances the sugar to create a perfect harmony. With oranges don’t miss the recipes for orange and chocolate desserts and the recipe for orange and ricotta rings. The soft orange cake is perfect for breakfast, ideal for an afternoon snack and wonderful when served with a light dusting of powdered sugar even after dinner; it’s also great to fill with jam or a delicious orange cream. Tender when cut, moist just right, with that citrus fragrance that lingers in the air and invites you to take another slice. Preheat the oven, choose fragrant oranges and let their aroma guide you. Because sometimes happiness is the color of orange and the scent of a freshly baked cake.
DON’T MISS THESE RECIPES TOO:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Cooking time: 40 Minutes
- Portions: For an 8-inch pan
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter and Spring
- Energy 173.29 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 28.00 (g) of which sugars 13.48 (g)
- Proteins 3.22 (g)
- Fat 6.36 (g) of which saturated 1.18 (g)of which unsaturated 5.00 (g)
- Fibers 2.81 (g)
- Sodium 14.64 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 70 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for the Orange Cake
- 2 eggs
- 110 g (about 3.9 oz / ≈ 1/2 cup) granulated sugar
- 170 g (about 6 oz / 1 3/8 cups) all-purpose flour
- 2 oranges (untreated)
- 50 ml (≈3 tbsp + 1 tsp) neutral oil (seed oil)
- 1/2 packet baking powder (about 8 grams (≈0.28 oz))
- as needed powdered sugar (for decorating)
What you need
- Hand Mixer
- Baking Pan
How to prepare the Soft Orange Cake
Wash the oranges. Grate the zest of one orange and set it aside. Then squeeze the oranges to extract the juice. You will need about 1/2 cup of orange juice (≈120 ml).
Whip the eggs with the sugar using an electric mixer for 6-7 minutes until the mixture is pale and frothy.
Add the orange zest, the juice and the oil of seeds to the whipped eggs. Mix.
Continue by adding the sifted flour and the baking powder. Mix until just combined.
Pour the batter into an 8-inch (20 cm) cake pan, preferably a springform pan, greased or lined with parchment paper. Bake the soft orange cake in a preheated oven at 356°F (180°C) in conventional/static mode for 35–40 minutes.
Always perform the toothpick test to check the internal doneness. Let the cake cool before unmolding onto a serving plate and decorate as desired with powdered sugar.
See you tomorrow with a new recipe, hugs, Loredana
For a 9.5–10 inch (24–26 cm) cake pan: 3 eggs, 160 g sugar (≈5.6 oz / ≈3/4 cup + 2 tbsp), 160 ml orange juice (≈2/3 cup), zest of 2 oranges, 270 g flour (≈9.5 oz / 2 1/4 cups), one packet of baking powder.
Loredana’s Tips
The cake stays soft and tender for 2–3 days if kept in a container or under a cake dome.
Also try the recipe for the Soft orange bundt cake.
Your questions
How can I prevent the orange cake from becoming dry?
Don’t overbake it and check with a toothpick: it should come out clean but not completely dry. Store the cake well covered to retain moisture.
