Orange Smiley Cake: Soft and Easy Recipe to Make with Kids.
The smiley cake is a cute and wholesome idea, perfect to make together with little ones. I made it with my nephew and it was a wonderful moment: a soft, fluffy cake that’s really easy to prepare. With its strong scent of orange juice and its light texture, it will win everyone over at the first bite.
Come on, let’s start baking together.
Enjoy the recipe, Giusi.
You might also be interested in:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very affordable
- Preparation time: 35 Minutes
- Cooking time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 6 servings
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients for the smiley cake
- cup granulated sugar
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 4 tsp baking powder
Tools
- 1 Pan
Steps for the Smiley Cake — Soft and Easy Recipe to Make with Kids
In a bowl, beat the eggs with the granulated sugar using electric beaters until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Then, slowly pour in the milk, vegetable oil and the orange juice, continuing to mix gently. Finally, add the sifted all-purpose flour and baking powder. Mix well until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
Grease and flour the pan: I chose an oval pan, but if you prefer you can also use a round pan about 22/24 cm in diameter (approximately 8 3/4–9 1/2 in), or a square pan 20×20 cm (about 8 x 8 in).
Pour the batter and bake at 356°F for 25–30 minutes; after the first 25 minutes perform the toothpick test. If the toothpick comes out dry, the cake is ready; otherwise, extend the baking time.
Once ready, let the cake cool completely inside the pan before removing it. For decoration, draw two eyes and a mouth on a sheet of paper, cut them out and place them on the surface of the cake. Dust generously with powdered sugar and, finally, gently remove the paper shapes.
Thank you for cooking with me. See you on the next kitchen adventure.
Don’t miss my recipes on Instagram Pasticcidigiu ⬅️
If you want to see all my other recipes click here to start browsing
Storage of the Smiley Cake — Soft and Easy Recipe to Make with Kids
It stays soft for 3–4 days if stored under a glass dome or in an airtight container at room temperature. If it’s very hot, you can keep it in the refrigerator, but allow it to come back to room temperature before serving.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I replace the orange juice?
Certainly! If you don’t have oranges, you can use mandarin juice for a similar flavor, or lemon juice diluted with water. Alternatively, an ACE fruit juice or peach juice also works well.
The cake didn’t rise enough, what did I do wrong?
Make sure to:
Beat the eggs well: They should become almost white and triple in volume.
Sift the flour and baking powder: Avoid lumps that weigh down the batter.
Don’t open the oven: Do not open the door before at least 20 minutes have passed, otherwise the temperature shock will deflate the cake.Can I enrich the batter with other ingredients?
Yes! This base is very versatile. You can add:
Dark chocolate chips.
Grated zest of an organic orange for a more intense aroma.
A dusting of powdered sugar or an orange glaze once cooled.Can I use a different flour than ’00’?
You can use type 0 flour without changes. If you want to use whole wheat or spelt flour, I recommend adding an extra tablespoon of milk or juice, since these flours absorb more liquid.
