Fresh Orange Layer Cake
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orange cake
It was time for “Birthday with the Girls” again! There are four of us, and two out of four have a birthday in January. So, Rhonda, “Miss December” and Me, “Miss June,” decided to pitch in and make dinner for the ladies of the month, Betsy and Lori.
Rhonda had her house looking so nice, and her family left for the evening.
It was PEACEFUL.
Between the four of us, we have thirteen children!!
I love my kids to pieces, but silence can be golden!!
(at least when it’s accompanied by girlfriends, good food, good wine and good conversation!)
Betsy doesn’t like chocolate (GASP!!)
So, I started scouring recipes to find something for dessert that she would love!!
I came across this orange cake.
I found the recipe on finecooking.com
It was submitted by Ris Lacoste, and if I ever get the chance I just want to THANK HER!
This cake is really good!! Every element is perfectly flavored, the filling, the frosting and the cake.
I know the key to it’s perfect flavor is the fresh orange juice.
It’s a very time consuming cake to make; lots of steps.
But don’t let that change your mind, you would be missing out!
fresh squeezed oranges and orange zest make this a perfect citrus cake
prepare the filling first, so it can chill thoroughly
here the cake is with the filling.
My youngest daughter, my sou chef, said it looked like a giant hamburger!!
my sou chef, Josie, melting the chocolate for the curls
topped with the chocolate curls
The original recipe called for topping with orange slices and mint leaves. I think this would be GORGEOUS in the spring, but for the winter, I thought about making chocolate curls. I love chocolate orange, and I figured, I would serve Betsy’s without chocolate, easy peasey!!
One candle on top, and some fresh tulips (my favorite!!)
“Miss Januaries” Lori and Betsy, the birthday girls
This little slice of cake is like a little slice of heaven!!
the filling is AMAZING
Fresh Orange Cake with orange filling
and Orange Buttercream Frosting
———
When all of the cake components are cool, put one layer on a cake stand or plate, spread the filling over the cake to make a 1/2 layer. (you will have some extra) Place top layer on and refrigerate the cake for another hour or so, to firm the filling back up.
Using an icing spatula, spread a very thin layer of frosting, called a “crumb coat,” over the whole cake. Place the cake back in the fridge for another 10 minutes or so. Frost the cake, adding decorative strokes to complete.
You can top with chocolate curls, or with fresh oranges, or just eat it plain, it’s so yummy!!
This would make a great Easter dessert!!
Fresh Orange Layer Cake
What better use for fresh oranges than to put them in this Fresh Orange Layer Cake.
Servings: 1 cake
Calories: 9239kcal
Ingredients
- Filling:
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 1 cup fresh orange juice about 3 large oranges, pulp removed
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- Cake:
- 2 1/4 cup flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup salted butter
- 1/3 cup vegetable shortening
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest from about one large orange
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup fresh orange juice about 3 large oranges, pulp removed
- Frosting:
- 18 Tablespoons of Salted butter room temperature
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- dash of salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of grated lemon zest
- 6 Tablespoons of fresh orange juice
Instructions
Making the filling:
- Combine the sugar and the flour in a heavy saucepan. Whisk to mix, add the orange juice and egg yolks, whisk quickly to combine. Put the saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. (about 3 minutes) Cook another minute, stirring constantly, the mixture will thicken and become less cloudy. Be sure to let it boil for one minute so that the filling will thicken enough to support the top layer of the cake. Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, laying the plastic wrap directly on the filling when covering the bowl.
- Chill thoroughly before using.
Make the cake:
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. Grease and flour two 8″ round cake pans (you can use 9″ round, the layers will just be thinner)
- In your mixer, cream together butter, shortening, and zest. Gradually stir in the sugar and eggs, creaming together, and scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the orange juice to the creamed mixture, beating well on low speed after each addition. Pour equal amounts of batter into the two prepared cake pans. Tap the pans on the counter a couple of times to remove any air bubbles and to even out the batter. Bake until a toothpick in the middle comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Cool the layers in the pans for about 10 minutes and then loosen the layers from the pans and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting:
- Cream the butter in the mixer. Add the sugar and salt and combine thoroughly. Add the orange juice and zest and mix until light and creamy. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl down. Refrigerate if not using right away.
- (if you refrigerate, be prepared to place frosting back under the mixer to fluff it back up when you are ready)
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 9239kcal | Carbohydrates: 1399g | Protein: 73g | Fat: 391g | Saturated Fat: 222g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 142g | Trans Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 1924mg | Sodium: 6195mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 1130g
What a beautiful cake! 🙂
~Melissa
That really looks like a cake worth trying.
I really like how light and rereshing this orange cake looks and sounds. A perfect treat for any celebration.
I’d like to ask if I can omit shortening and use all butter . What’s the reason butter and shortening is used .?thank you
I got this recipe from someone else, and I made it as it said. I really don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work with all butter? I found this article on subbing butter for shortening online:https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/bake/how-to-substitute-butter-for-shortening-when-baking/
This is the third time I have made this cake and I have received nothing but Rave reviews. I do try to make this recipe in several phases so I have some questions.
1. How far in advance can I make the orange filling?
2. Can cake be frozen, thawed and then constructed?
Thanks this is one of the best recipes I have ever picked up.
Leslie
Leslies-Kitchen
Leslie – I feel like you could keep the filling in the fridge for a day or two before. And cakes freeze well! I think these are all great ideas. I am so happy you love it! I need to make this one again!!