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Orange Cake Recipe – Moist, Fresh & Easy to Make

Orange Cake Recipe – Moist, Fresh & Easy to Make

This moist orange cake has a soft, tender crumb and bright citrus flavor from fresh orange juice and orange zest. A simple orange glaze adds another layer of fresh orange flavor without making the cake overly sweet.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Cooling/Glazing 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 slices
Calories 340 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Cake

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 210g
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 120g
  • 1/2 cup neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil 120ml
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 120ml
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Orange Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar 120g
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
  • In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and orange zest. Rub them together with your fingertips for about 30 seconds until the sugar smells strongly of orange.
  • Whisk the eggs, Greek yogurt, oil, orange juice, and vanilla into the orange-scented sugar until smooth.
  • Add the dry ingredients and gently fold with a rubber spatula just until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 48–55 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Use the parchment overhang to lift it onto a wire rack and cool completely.
  • Whisk the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake and let the glaze sit for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • Fresh orange zest provides much of the cake's strongest citrus aroma, so use freshly grated zest rather than bottled flavoring. Avoid overmixing once the flour is added, and let the cake cool completely before glazing so the glaze stays visible on top instead of melting into the cake.