MOIST Orange Loaf Cake

We make a lot of dessert recipes around here, but if you’re looking for the one recipe that fits every occasion and gets rave reviews, this moist Orange Loaf Cake is it! Whether you call it orange cake, orange pound cake, or orange bread, it’s that elusive recipe that never fails to impress (even for beginner bakers). 

The inspiration for this recipe started with our Lemon Loaf Cake Recipe. If you're looking for more orange recipes during citrus season, might I suggest this Orange Cranberry Rice or this Citrus Fruit Salad Dressing.

🏅 Why this recipe is the best

I cannot overstate how AMAZING this easy orange cake recipe is. It's my favorite cake! Let me share a few of the reasons…

• It’s incredibly moist and tender. This is thanks to making it with oil and yogurt, plus a bonus orange simple syrup that you add when it comes out of the oven. 
• The easy orange glaze on top of the cake is thick, creamy, and flavorful. It looks beautiful and doesn't soak in.
• No stand mixer or electric mixer required! This is a simple cake recipe that just requires a couple of bowls and some utensils. 
• It fits every occasion, whether a dinner party, bridal shower, picnic, pool party, weekend breakfast, midday snack, and the list goes on.

🥄 Tools for making this cake

This easy recipe requires basic baking tools (no crazy layer cake today 😉). The only special tools you may need are a standard 9 x 5-inch loaf pan (affiliate), a microplane zester (affiliate), a cooling rack (affiliate), and baking spray that includes flour in the ingredients (affiliate).

🍊 Ingredients for orange cake

• Flour: Use all-purpose flour and measure it with a light hand or the spoon and level method.
• Baking powder: Make sure yours isn't expired.
• Whole-milk yogurt: The extra fat is a key ingredient for adding moisture to the cake. Don't use low-fat substitutes or sour cream.
• Sugar: Just regular granulated sugar.
• Eggs: Bring these to room temperature before using. If you’re in a hurry, place them in a shallow bowl with warm water to speed up the process. 
• Vegetable oil: Some lemon loaf cakes are made with butter, but they tend to be more dense or dry. Use vegetable or canola oil to keep it moist. Do not use olive oil instead.
• Fresh oranges: Use zest and fresh orange juice (bottled juice is not the same). For zesting, my favorite tool is this specific microplane (affiliate). 1 large orange is about 1-2 tablespoons of orange zest.

• Butter: A tiny bit of softened butter makes the glaze extra creamy.
• Powdered sugar: For the simple orange glaze.
• Heavy cream: You can use half n half, but it won't be quite the same. Don't substitute with milk because it doesn't have enough fat to cut through the sugary taste and keep it creamy.
• Orange juice and zest: Grab those whole oranges again for some more fresh juice and zest in the icing.
• Vanilla extract: That extra tough of flavor.

⏲ How to make orange loaf cake

Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a standard loaf pan (approx 9x 5 x 3-inch) with non-stick baking spray.

Wet and dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, oil, orange zest, and vanilla. Then in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Bake: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes.

Orange syrup: While the cake is baking, microwave the orange juice and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is translucent. Use a fork or wooden skewer to poke holes in the warm cake about ¾ of the way down. Leaving the cake in the loaf tin, pour on the syrup and let it soak in until cool.

🥣 How to make orange icing

While the orange loaf is cooling, combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Once the cake is cooled completely, remove it from the pan and place on a wire rack over a sheet pan. Pour the glaze on top, allowing it to drip down the sides (the sheet pan will catch the drips).

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd

If you are making this orange cake for a crowd, I recommend making each batch one at a time for best results, instead of doubling or tripling the batter in the same bowl. This will prevent over mixing the flour mixture and making the cake tough.

📋 Variations and toppings

There are a lot of fun ways you can bake and serve orange cake depending on the occasion. Baking instructions for each of these can be found in the recipe card.

• Full Loaf Pan: Great for dinner parties, casual gatherings, and serving a crowd.
• Mini Loaf Pans: Great for serving small groups of 2-4, making a cute display for a party, or giving as gifts. 
• Mini Bundt Cakes: Makes the cutest single serving dessert and is a fantastic option for special occasions such as bridal or baby showers. Plus they make a great Easter or Mother's Day dessert. We use this mini bundt pan (affiliate).

Although the fresh orange glaze is topping enough on its own, you can also add extra toppings to take this loaf cake to the next level!

• Fresh berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries - you name it! 
• Berry topping: Try a drizzle of this mixed berry sauce or a heaping of shortcake topping (chopped strawberries, sugar, and a squeeze of lemon juice).
• Whipped cream: Homemade is my favorite way to go.
• Orange curd: This recipe already has tons of orange flavor, but can you really have too much?
• Ice cream: A simple scoop of vanilla is reminiscent of a creamsicle.. but better!

🙋 Questions and answers

👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & tricks

• Use fresh oranges for the best flavor.
• Zest the oranges before juicing, making sure to avoid the white pith.
• Use room temperature eggs and yogurt. It helps them to fully incorporate into the batter and helps the cake rise evenly. 
• Use whole-milk yogurt instead of fat-free or reduced. The extra fat makes the cake more moist.
• Don’t skip poking holes in the cake because this helps it absorb the syrup more evenly. The syrup is well worth your time!

📖 More citrus recipes

• Orange Poppy Seed Dressing for Fruit Salad
• Pineapple Lime Rice
• Lemon Blackberry Cheesecake
• Shredded Honey Lime Chicken
• Orange Cranberry Rice
• Moist Lemon Loaf Cake
• Homemade Lemonade Concentrate