Description
A light, fluffy, and moist Orange Creamsicle Cake bursting with fresh citrus flavor and topped with a creamy, easy-to-make orange buttercream frosting. Perfect for summer gatherings, birthdays, or any occasion that calls for a bright and nostalgic dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Essential Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients for Moisture & Flavor
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Creamsicle Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Gather Your Ingredients: Measure and prepare all cake and frosting ingredients to ensure a smooth baking process.
- Prepare the Cake Batter: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs one at a time. Stir in orange zest, juice, and vanilla. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk until just combined to avoid a dense cake.
- Bake the Cake: Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Make the Creamsicle Frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar alternating with heavy cream and orange juice. Add vanilla and orange zest and beat until light and fluffy.
- Assemble & Frost the Cake: Place one cake layer on a plate and spread frosting generously. Add second layer and cover the entire cake with remaining frosting. Decorate with candied orange slices or zest.
- Serve & Enjoy: Let cake set for 30 minutes before slicing. Serve chilled or at room temperature, ideally paired with tea or vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Notes
- Use fresh orange juice and zest for the best natural citrus flavor.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- Add 2 tablespoons sour cream to batter for extra moisture if desired.
- Chill frosting before applying to achieve smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Allow cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- Store cake in airtight container in fridge up to 5 days or freeze slices up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Orange Creamsicle Cake, citrus cake, orange cake, homemade frosting, summer dessert, layered cake, moist cake, buttercream frosting, vanilla orange cake
