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
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Abi says
Love this recipe! Super easy to follow and it came out moist and so delicious. I have made this 5x now with oranges in season (living in Australia and its winter) I have always preferred to use oil and so pleased I came across your website! I am now checking your other recipes (using oil). I making the Easy Lemon Cake next on the list. Thank you!
Sarah Mir says
I am so glad Abi!!!!! Hope you enjoy the other ones too!
Maria says
Yummy! I dont think any gathering or celebration in our home is complete without this orange cake!
Sarah Mir says
that gives me the warm fuzzies!
Sarah says
Super delicious and moist cake! Love it!
Sarah Mir says
Thank you SO SO MUCH!
joyce says
great easy recipe, tks
Sarah Mir says
Glad you liked it!
Abbie Carstens says
My husband only eats orange cake. This was a huge success. The previous recipe I used requires butter and since I'm out of stock your recipe came in really handy. Thanks from Abbie and family in South Africa.
Sarah Mir says
yay! Glad to hear that it worked for you! Also I love how he loves orange cake, I have an uncle who will pick it over anything and everything else!
Zufi says
Hi Sarah,
I am thinking of making this cake for my daugher's birthday with vanilla buttercream frosting instead of the glaze. Do you think that'll pair well?
BTW, I have made the bombay bakery coffee cake following your recipe and it's a HIT in my khandaan. I am requested to make at least two for family dinners because everyone wants to take some home! thank you so much for sharing that recipe!
Sarah Mir says
Hi Zufi! I am so sorry but for some reason I didn't see this until now. I am not sure how a vanilla buttercream would work with this cake. ideally id zest in a little orange to tie it in. Did you wind up trying it? So happy to hear you like the coffee cake!
Maria says
This is my absolute all time favorite cake! Its simple, light and tastes divine! Always a favorite, my friends even call to request it!
Sarah Mir says
Yayyyyy! that is absolutely amazing to hear!
Afia says
Thanks lovely 😊😘
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
My pleasure!
Afia says
Hi dear , this is an amazing recipe it at times my orange cake cracks from the top centre !! Can you plz tell what am I doing wrong ??
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Afia!!! I am so glad to hear you like the cake! cakes typically crack if there is too much rising agent or the oven is too hot. If you're pretty sure those are okay then drop the ogven temperature by 10 degrees celsius or 5 fahrehneit!
Aisha says
Hi...i wanted to try this cake but was wondering...is the glaze necessary? Or is this a pound type cake which will do good even without the glaze?
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Aisha! I really love it with the glaze but I know people who have made it without and loved it too. I think it's just personal preference since this isn't a very sweet cake!
Nisha Fatmi says
Made this cake the second time today and it was a BIG HIT!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
SO so glad to hear it Nisha!
Sahrish says
My family and I thoroughly enjoyed this cake. It was light and delicious. I always turn to Sarah for cake recipes. Thanks hun for your recipes💕 keep them coming ❤️
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you so much Sahrish!
Saadia says
Sarah, I simply cannot stop raving about how delicious this orange cake turned out neither can I stop eating it! It is simply phenomenal - so light, so fluffy, and just fruity enough you can tell that it’s an orange cake! I even made the glaze which was just perfect! I enjoy baking and I love eating cakes and desserts, but this orange cake - hands down - is the best cake ever!!! Thank you for sharing the recipe 🥰!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you thank you thank you Saadia! I am SO SO bowled over by your kindness!
Reema says
This was one of the best cakes ever!!! All your cakes have such a unique texture and flavor, soo soo authentic. Reminiscent of beautiful childhood memories. 😚🥰
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
you say the nicest things!
Kylie says
Oh my goodness I love this cake so much! Absolutely delicious!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you so much Kylie!