A super tender, full flavored, easy to make cake that is surprisingly addictive!
I am not sure whose recipe this is, but all of the women in my family have it in their go to recipe book, the one that is a 'best of' of sorts. Also there? My super easy Lemon Velvet. I know, I know, I gots citrus on my mind.
The orange zest is my addition, but it goes a long way towards enhancing the orange flavor. I do skip making the glaze sometimes and instead warm and pour over some lovely sticky orange marmalade to good effect.
OJ Is Everything
This cake is called Orange Cake for a reason and it's that lovely bright but not too overpowering orange flavour. If you use a lackluster orange you will get lackluster results. In season oranges result in the tastiest cake, but if oranges are not in season you can still make this cake. Just pick a juice with pulp for more robust flavour.
Why Use Oil in Cake
Here are three main reasons why and one accidental bonus!
1.) It's faster - no softening butter
2.) It is decidedly cheaper than butter
3.) It makes for a VERY moist cake.
What's the accidental bonus you may ask? Well - if you didn't feel like busting out your mixer you can easily whisk this up by hand.
Want More Cakes with Oil?
Check out the crowd favourite Marble Cake
My Super Tender Yogurt Cake
A One Bowl Chocolate Cake
Watch the Step by Step Orange Cake Video Below
Made this cake? Please rate it by clicking on the stars below! Appreciate your love and support! Want to share that fabulous click? Tag me on instagram @flourandspiceblog - can't wait to see your creations!
Orange Cake
Ingredients
- ½ cup canola oil or other neutral tasting oil
- 1 to 1 ¼ cup sugar see notes at bottom
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Zest of one orange
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice (see notes for bottled) approx the juice of 3 oranges, remove seeds, some pulp is fine
Orange Glaze
- ¾ cup Fresh Orange Juice (strained)
- 3 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Orange Zest
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 6-inch (what I used) or a 9-inch pan and set aside.
- Sift the dry ingredients into a medium sized bowl.
- Take out a large mixing bowl and briskly whisk the oil, sugar, and zest together till combined.
- Add the eggs one by one whisking well after each addition.
- Then alternate between adding the flour and juice in three batches until combined.
- Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 35-50 minutes depending on the pan you use. My 6-inch took longer since the cake was higher, my 9-inch is done earlier.
- Let it cool for ten minutes then invert onto a cake plate and pour the glaze over while the cake is still warm.
For the Glaze
- While the cake is baking bring the glaze ingredients to a boil in a small non stick saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes until it is thickens and becomes syrupy. It will run off your cooking utensil in languid drops.
Notes
Pin me to hang on to me!
Shashi says
Oh wow - your cake looks so incredibly moist and delicious! I'd love a slice of this for breakfast - it has orange in it so that justifies a slice of this for breakfast - for me!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Oh absolutely Shashi!!!
Sadia Malik says
love that this cake is eggless, I love orange so good will try
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Sadia! Unfortunately it does have 3 whole eggs and while that gives the cake wonderful flavour it's definitely not ideal where there are allergies!
Beth says
This looks so delicious and yummy! My family is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to give this a try!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thanks so much Beth!
LindaLee says
I have decided that I must try this cake recipe very soon. I promise to post on IG when I do!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Can't wait to see it Linda!
Andrea Metlika says
Wow, so much orange flavor. This cake sounds amazing!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you Andrea! It's a family favourite!
Debashree Chandra says
Tried your orange cake couple of weeks back and it was just so out of the world that I have already made it seven times over. Everytime I make it it gets over on the same day and many of my friends keep asking me to make it for them.
Thank you for such a simple yet delicious recipe
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
That is the BEST to hear thank you!!!! It is one of my first cakes and it means a ton that you have made it and enjoyed it!
H.K says
I made this cake for my family the otherday and they loved. thank you for the greate recipe this one is a definite a keeper.
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Yay! Thank you! I am SO happy to hear that!
Arch Angel Yafafiah says
Thank you so much for the delicious orange gazed cake recipe!!! This cake is wonderfully moist and delicious. Very easy to make!! Thank you!!!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you! I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
Tracy says
Thank you 😊
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank YOU!
Tracy says
Love to make this soon. Question about the sugar - can I use granulated sugar or must be caster sugar? Thank you. Can’t wait to taste it!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
HI Tracy! You can absolutely use granulated sugar! In some parts of the world the granulated sugar granules are sizable and don't dissolve, but in North America and the UK that isn't the case. Happy Baking!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Absolutely use granulated - Happy baking!!! Hope you love it 🙂
SHAMISO MANGONGO says
I enjoyed the cake thank you
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
happy to hear that - thank you!
Mariam says
I made this cake and it was soft and moist. I burned the glaze so ate it without the glaze ? but it was delicious ?
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Mariam when I saw the email with your comment in it I almost burst out laughing because I had made this cake a day before and burnt the glaze myself!!! Sorry about not replying earlier, my laptop was in the shop and I can't access comments on my phone!
MyNinjaNaan says
Dude, can I please tell you how awesome it is that the women in your family actually BAKE? None of the women from either side of my family bake, nor do they have the inclination to LOL
This cake looks fab, and it's totally perfect for the summer as well 🙂
sarahjmir says
hahah thanks - I never thought of that!!
SADAF F K. says
This cake is just WOW! I want to start with the first photo.. cut myself a bigger slice (than you) then have it with a cup of tea! Yum!!
sarahjmir says
you are so so sweet! thank you!
Aruna Panangipally says
What I wouldn't do for a piece of this cake! 😀
sarahjmir says
awww! thanks Aruna!!!
Julie Parker says
Just wondering am I able to double the recipe? Would it be just as delicious?
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Yes! A lot of people I know have recently doubled it and used chocolate ganache to make a two tier orange chocolate cake and they say they had no issues!
Rosemarie says
Hello Sarah,
I made your orange cake - very moist and pronounced orange flavour. I made it in a ring tin, but could I make it in a large loaf tin about 9 inchesx 4inches (23cmx9cm)?
Rosemarie
Sarah Mir says
Hey there! I am glad to hear it worked for you! The cake rises a fair bit so I am not sure if it would overflow in a 9*4!
Uma says
Hi Sarah,
Would it be ok to add chocolate chips in the cake?
Best
Uma
Sarah Mir says
Hi Uma! So you absolutely can, but I'd use mini only because bigger ones might sink! the flavour combo sounds DELISH though!