Soft, fragrant and incredibly creamy: this orange cake with mascarpone is a real homemade comfort.
The citrusy aroma of the orange combines with the sweetness of the apples and the creaminess of the mascarpone, creating a moist and tender texture that melts in your mouth and reminds me a lot of my creamy orange cake with mascarpone.
It’s a simple and wholesome cake, one of those that remind you of grandma’s desserts — perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack, it stays soft for several days and is even better the next day.
The secret to its softness? The mascarpone in the batter makes it velvety and irresistible
If you love citrus- and apple-scented desserts, this cake will become one of your favorites.
Do you know why I’m sure you’ll love this cake? It stays soft and moist for several days, it’s fragrant and delicate, it’s quick and easy, and perfect for breakfast or snack
Here are three irresistible recipes you might also like
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 8 Servings
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
A soft and fragrant cake that comes together in a few steps and wins you over at the first bite
- 1 cup mascarpone (about 7.8 oz)
- 7 tbsp butter (soft)
- 2 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (Tipo 00)
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 orange zest (grated) (untreated)
- Half orange juice
- 1 packet baking powder
- 2 apples
- powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Tools
You won’t need any strange gadgets to make this very soft cake
- 1 Mixer or Thermomix
Steps
👉 Just a few steps to turn simple ingredients into a soft and irresistible cake.
👩🍳PREPARE THE APPLES: Cut the apples into pieces, keep half for decoration, add one tablespoon of sugar and half of the orange juice and set them aside.
🥣PREPARE THE SOFT BASE: Put the mascarpone and the butter in the mixer bowl and blend for 1 minute, add the sugar and blend another minute — everything will turn into a velvety cream. Add the eggs one at a time while continuing to mix, then add the orange zest and finally the sifted flour with the baking powder. Fold in all the apples with their juice.
If you like cinnamon, this is the time to add it to the batter
🥰POUR AND BAKE: Butter and flour an 8–9 inch pan (about 20–22 cm) or line it with parchment paper, pour in the batter, add the half apple you reserved, thinly sliced, and bake in the oven at 356°F (about 180°C) for about 35–40 minutes — but always adjust for your oven and do the toothpick test. Remember that this cake stays very creamy. Once baked, dust with powdered sugar.
Do you know why this cake wins everyone over every time? The cream and the base bake together, so it stays soft and moist for several days — perfect for those with little time who still want a “wow” effect.
And if you want to make the cake even more special, here are some clever variations: Butter-free version
No butter needed — the mascarpone already makes the batter soft and velvety. Lighter version
You can replace half the mascarpone with plain yogurt for a lighter but still soft result. Lactose-free version
Use lactose-free mascarpone.If you love soft cakes try also: Soft cake with jam drops in the batter soft cake with ricotta and chocolate chips (also Thermomix)
If you try this recipe let me know how it went: leave a comment below or on my social pages Facebook and Instagram and don’t forget to send me your photo!
Tips and variations for a perfect result
Use untreated oranges, let the cake cool before serving, add chocolate chips for a more indulgent version, you can replace the apples with pears, or replace the orange with lemon.
Use untreated oranges, let the cake cool before serving, add chocolate chips for a more indulgent version, you can replace the apples with pears, or replace the orange with lemon.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I use heavy cream instead of mascarpone?
Yes, certainly — but the texture will change. It will still be delicious. You can follow my recipe for Pan di panna all’arancia or Pan di panna with chocolate.
