In this Instructable, I will show you how to make Orange Cake. I really like this easy homemade orange cake recipe. It is moist and soft and can be eaten with or without frosting. In fact, I hardly ever frost it. It would pair well with a nice cream cheese frosting, which you could add some orange zest and orange extract to if you wanted as well. Making a cake from scratch is so fun! If I can do it, you can do it. Let's get baking!

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both! :)

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

Print this recipe here if you like.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup softened room temp butter (170g)
1 cup white granulated sugar (200g)
1/4 cup sour cream (optional) (61g)
3 large eggs
1/2 to 1 tsp. of orange extract (optional) (2 to 5ml)
1/2 cup orange juice (118ml) (approx. 4 small oranges)
1 1/2 Tbsp. to 2 Tbsp. orange zest (9 to 12g)
1 1/2 cups of cake or all-purpose/plain flour (192g)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder (6g)
1/2 tsp. table salt (2g)

Tools:

Hand mixer or stand mixer
Zester
Large bowls
Sifter or whisk
Spatula
9x5 bread pan
Shortening/butter and flour for the pan Aluminum foil (optional) to cover cake to prevent over-browning.
Wire rack

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Step 2: Cream the Butter and the Sugar

Preheat the oven to 350F (176C). In a large bowl cream together the butter and the sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer. If you don't have on, a whisk will work.

Step 3: Sour Cream and Eggs

Now add in the sour cream and the eggs and blend those in. The sour cream is optional but I usually like to add it because it makes the cake moister. But you can certainly leave it out too if you wish.

Step 4: Orange Juice and Zest

Next add in the orange extract (optional), orange juice, and orange zest. Zest is the little shavings of the orange peel. It adds a yummy orange flavor to the cake. To get the zest you use some sort of a zester. And you run your orange over it and save the shavings that come from it. Blend all those ingredients together. Now, put the mixer away. To prevent over mixing, the spatula will be used from now on.

Tip: Get the zest form the orange before you juice it.

Step 5: Dry Ingredients

Now using a sifter or a bowl and a whisk, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. I will sift in half of it, then fold and stir the dry ingredients into the cake batter. Then mix in the rest of it, just until combined. The orange cake batter is ready to go.

Step 6: Bread Loaf Pan

Pour the batter into a 5x9 bread loaf pan that has been greased with butter or shortening and then floured.

Note: You may use 2 8-inch round pans as well if you want to make a layered cake that you will frost.

Step 7: Bake That Cake!

Now place the pan in the oven, middle rack, and bake it for 45 to 60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Check the cake after 35 minutes to see how it is browning. If it is getting too brown for your liking on the top, place some aluminum foil on the top of the pan. Once the cake is done baking, allow it to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then remove it from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Slice into it and enjoy it! You can frost it or drizzle a simple glaze on top, whatever you like to do. I love to eat it plain.