This orange pound cake recipe is everything you love about citrus desserts. It has a perfectly light orange flavor, it’s wonderfully moist, and is topped with a heavenly orange glaze.
The best orange pound cake
I love baking with citrus flavors! There's just something so light and refreshing about desserts made with citrus.
Lemon thumbprint cookies, lemon bars, and lemon cupcakes are my all-time favorites.
But lemon isn't the only citrus I have a crush on. I adore bread pudding with orange custard sauce or candied orange slices which I think would be a fun decoration for today's cake.
This cake is GOOD!
The smell that fills your home while the cake bakes is amazing. It’s like a fresh breath of warm air.
Why this recipe works
Traditional pound cakes don't use chemical leavening agents. Instead, they are leavened with the air that's incorporated by beating the sugar and cream together.
I decided to add just a tiny bit of baking powder to this recipe though. It softens the crumb slightly making the cake perfect for summer.
There's a good amount of orange flavor from the orange zest and orange juice used in the cake. Then a generous drizzle of orange glaze adds even more flavor.
Ingredients
The ingredients needed to make an orange-flavored pound cake are pretty basic.
- Butter: Unsalted sweet cream butter will give the cake a sweet buttery flavor. It needs to be softened, not melted, in order to cream properly with the sugar.
- Sugar: Use regular granulated sugar.
- Eggs: You need 5 large eggs. Make sure they are at room temperature.
- Orange zest: I found 2 tablespoons of zest, which is about 2 oranges, give the best flavor.
- Orange juice: The same goes for orange juice. 2 tablespoons was flavorful without being too strong.
- Flour: I usually use cake flour for pound cakes but chose all-purpose this time around. The results were just as good!
- Salt: Just a pinch is needed to balance all the flavors.
- Baking powder: I chose to use only 1/2 teaspoon to make the texture lighter while keeping true to the denseness pound cakes are known for.
- Milk: Whole milk will give you the best results.
What can I use in place of milk?
If you don’t have milk, you can use non-dairy milk, sour cream, or plain yogurt instead. If using sour cream or yogurt, your pound cake will have a tighter crumb and taste denser.
Equipment need
When it comes to making pound cakes, I prefer to use a stand mixer. It seems to work best when mixing large quantities of batter.
You'll also need a 10-inch bundt pan. But you can also bake it in two 9x5 loaf pans.
Step-by-step intructions
This recipe is a lot like my sour cream pound cake, but I used milk instead of sour cream, added orange juice, and used all-purpose flour instead of cake flour. Here's an overview of how to make it:
- Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together until well combined.
- Combine the wet ingredients. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs followed by the vanilla, orange zest, and orange juice.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until almost fully combined. Add the milk followed by the remaining flour mixture then mix until no dry streaks of dry flour remain.
- Bake. Spread the batter into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Glaze and serve. Mix the ingredients for the glaze and drizzle over the cooled cake.
Don't have a bundt pan?
The recipe as written is made for a bundt pan. It yields too much batter for any other pan. However, you can bake it two 9x5 loaf pans.
Recipe Variations
Try this recipe with lemon zest and lemon juice instead of orange for a bright lemon pound cake.
Storage tips
You can make this cake ahead of time if needed.
- Cover it and store it for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
- Or freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then bring it to room temperature before serving.
Orange Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
This Orange Pound Cake is everything you love about citrus desserts. It has a perfectly light orange flavor, it’s wonderfully moist, and it’s topped with a heavenly orange cream cheese glaze.
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 and 1/4 cup (282 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (600 g) granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 3 cups (390 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
For the glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) confectioners' sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Instructions
Make the cake
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan, and set aside.
- Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
- Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in the orange zest and juice. Continue beating for an extra 2 minutes, scraping down the pan once or twice so that everything gets well mixed.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir with a whisk. Add to the butter mixture. With the mixer set to low speed, slowly pour in the milk. Continue to beat just until combined. Do not over mix.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes or until the pan is cool enough to touch. Invert the cake onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Drizzle with glaze.
Make the glaze
- Add the confectioners' sugar to a small bowl. Stir in enough of the orange juice to create a galze thin enough to drizzle.
Notes
To make the original cream cheese glaze:
- 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces (56g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups (240g) confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice.
Mix the butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar until fully combined. Mix in the orange juice and spread over the top of the cake.
Make ahead tip
- The cake will keep for up to 5 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 418Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 175mgCarbohydrates: 64gFiber: 1gSugar: 46gProtein: 5g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the values shown are just an estimate.
Adapted from Taste of Home
Originally published May 2015. Post updated June 2020 with a new topping, new photos, and a video.
Rosie says
Can You cook it with gluten free flour?
Jen Sobjack says
I haven't made the recipe with gluten-free flour but if you try it let me know it turns out.
Jackie says
Hi
I was wondering could I add some vanilla extract to this recipe.
Jen Sobjack says
Certainly!
Chris Yap says
Hi Mr Sobjack
I am learning to bake.
I am excited to have found your recipe for the orange cake. Do you have the same recipe in metric measurements as I am not good with “cups” measurement. Can I use self-raising flour instead of all purpose flour?
Thanks for your time.
Jen Sobjack says
The recipe has been updated to include metric measurements. If you use self-raising flour instead of all purpose, you'll need to omit the baking powder. Keep in mind, I've never made this recipe with self-raising flour so I can't guarantee it will work.
Kylie F Solis says
This cake was amazing. I didn’t even make the glaze, it was so good plain.
SaintsBaker says
I am excited to try this recipe! Question - can buttermilk be used in place of regular milk?
Thanks!
Jen Sobjack says
I haven't made it with buttermilk before but I imagine it would be okay.
Liz says
I just made this cake and it is delicious! I'm always the person who bakes cakes for coworkers birthdays, and this will be a nice change from vanilla. Yummy!
Sherry says
Made this cake this morning; it looks and smells delicious (but I don't want to cut into it until my husband comes home from work so off to the fridge it goes). Baking time in my Wilton pan was 75 minutes and, thanks to the grease/flour prep, the cake released completely intact.
Jen Sobjack says
I hope you guys enjoy it!
Sherry says
I'm sure we will! Thank you for the great recipe.
Claire says
I saw a comment about someone putting in refrigerator. Does this need stored in the refrigerator?
Jen Sobjack says
Yes, keep in stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Sherry says
Update on the cake: I could hardly wait for dinner to be over so I could serve this cake and get my husband's 'verdict'. This orange pound cake is a winner and a keeper! It was moist, dense without being heavy, with a distinct but not overpowering orange flavor. The subtle hint of orange in the glaze was perfect.
Kathryn says
I want to make this cake to take on family vacation. I will be gone 7 days. Will it last that long?
Gee says
All these comments are fine, but is there anyone who has actually tried this cake & can give an opinion. Would love to hear from you. thanks, Gee
Linda | A La Place Clichy says
I love citrus flavors right now! Today it poured down rain and I forgot it was almost June for a moment. I guess with this cake it will always be summer in my apartment! The cake looks so moist and delicious!
Jen says
Thanks you so much for the sweet comment, Linda!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
My mouth is totally watering - that cake looks like heaven on a plate! I love the fresh burst of brightness from the orange zest and the moistness imparted into each divine bite. Love this!
Jen says
You are too kind, Hayley! Thank you so much!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
I've seen this cake around the internet the last few days and every time I see it I want a huge slice. Jen this looks divine and I can not wait to make it. Pinned!!
Jen says
Thank you, sweet girl! Happy Monday!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I love pound cake - especially with citrus. This looks beautiful and delicious! Pinned!
Jen says
Citrus is my favorite! Thank you for the pin, Rachelle!
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
I'm a sucker for anything citrus - so you know I'm in love with this cake! It is so gorgeous - & I'd love a slice for breakfast 😉
Jen says
Thanks, Megan!