An Orange Vanilla Cake That’ll Surprise Your Taste Buds with its Zesty Flavor

This largely unheard-of but absolutely delectable orange vanilla cake will make you feel like you are taking a walk through a sun-drenched orange grove, the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the gentle rustling of leaves under your feet. With each bite, the scent of the freshly baked cake will waft through your senses as its symphony of flavors and textures transports you to a realm of delight.

You can make this cake to celebrate the ushering of the winter season – after all, it is the only time of the year when you can get seasonal oranges that are sweet and zesty, and do not burn a hole in your pocket.

Check out the recipe here:

Orange Vanilla Cake

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 251 gm flour
• 202 gm sugar
• 103 gm butter
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 122 ml milk
• 3 tsp baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tsp orange zest
• 63 ml orange juice

For the orange syrup:

• 204 gm sugar
• 201 ml water
• 2 tsp orange zest
• 63 ml orange juice

Method:

1. First, you have to preheat the oven to 180°C, grease two round cake pans, and line their bottoms with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, and baking powder in a medium sized bowl, and stir until well combined.
3. Then, in a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, you have to beat unsalted butter until creamy, and beat in the eggs individually, with a good whisk after each addition.
4. Then, you can add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture slowly, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and beating just until combined.
5. Now, you have to stir in pure vanilla extract, grated orange zest, and fresh orange juice.
6. Then, you can divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, and smooth the tops.
7. After that, you have to bake them for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Next, you can remove them from the oven, leave them in the pans for 5 min, and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. For the orange syrup, you have to place granulated sugar and water, orange zest, and freshly squeezed orange juice together in a small saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves.
10. Now, you will bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the syrup has slightly thickened.
11. Then, you can remove the syrup from the heat, and let it cool to room temperature.
12. After that, you can assemble the cake by placing one of the cooled cakes on a serving plate, and brushing the top of the cake with some of the orange syrup.
13. You can place the second cake on top of the first cake, and brush the top of that with the remaining orange syrup.
14. Finally, you can serve the cake fresh, and enjoy.

Additional tips and tricks to bake the best version of this cake

To ensure your cake is moist and full of flavor, you have to make sure not to overmix your batter. You can experiment and make the dish even more delicious. For example, for an additional flavor layer in your cake, you can add orange extract or a pinch of salt to the batter.

For an aesthetic appeal, you can also try topping the cake with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a dollop of whipped cream.

This cake can be made even richer by substituting the vanilla extract with pods of vanilla. You can even add a few drops of orange essence into the batter along with the orange juice and orange zest to reinforce the orange flavor without going overboard with the bitter zest. You can also add a few drops of food coloring into the batter for the visual cues.

Orange and vanilla are two of the least likely combined ingredients when it comes to a sweet dish. However, as you can find out from this recipe, an orange vanilla cake is definitely a great way to showcase just how versatile the world of baking is. It is a rather simple idea, but with the right proportion of ingredients, the correct baking techniques, the optimal baking temperature, and a little bit of patience, you can make a creamy, smooth summary delight that is perfect for all kinds of occasions.