Slice Into Sunshine: Zesty Orange Loaf Cake You’ll Love

Brighten your baking day with this Orange Loaf Cake, featuring fresh orange juice, zest, sour cream, and buttermilk for a tender, moist crumb. It starts by creaming butter and sugar for a fluffy base, then folding in the citrus-laced wet ingredients before smoothing into a loaf pan. Finished with a simple orange glaze, it's soft, silky, and deliciously zesty from the very first bite to the last.

One of the most popular recipes on my website is my Raspberry Lemon Loaf Cake. For good reason, it's delicious. Recently I realized that I don't have many orange recipes. I love lemon and have numerous lemon recipes, but I also love orange so I knew I had to rectify that.

Here is a gorgeous orange-infused loaf cake. The loaf cake is soft, tender, and full of orange flavor. My sister looooved this one. And I can't blame her!! It is sooo good!

Sisters know what's best for you, don't they ?! 🙂

I won't tell you how many times I snacked on this delicious cake. Not because I don't want to, but because I can't remember!! LOL talk about addicting!!

I enjoy this for breakfast when I am feeling cheeky, or for an afternoon snack, or midnight treat! Perfect for a cup of tea.

Ingredient Breakdown: From Zest to Glaze

You'll need mostly pantry staples but here is a note:

• Fresh Orange Juice and Zest. It took a couple of trials to find the perfect balance-using both juice and zest gives this loaf a bright, fresh flavor without being overly tart
• Buttermilk and Sour Cream. After testing multiple versions, the combo of sour cream and buttermilk delivers a rich, velvety crumb that stays moist for days.

Next time, try making my easy lemon loaf cake recipe or orange cranberry cake.

Stir, Pour & Bake!

Glaze Her Up!

While the orange loaf cake is cooling you can prepare the glaze.

To ensure no chunks of sugar make sure to sift the powdered sugar into a clean bowl.

★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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Slice Into Sunshine: Zesty Orange Loaf Cake You'll Love

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Brighten your baking day with this Orange Loaf Cake, featuring fresh orange juice, zest, sour cream, and buttermilk for a tender, moist crumb. It starts by creaming butter and sugar for a fluffy base, then folding in the citrus-laced wet ingredients before smoothing into a loaf pan. Finished with a simple orange glaze, it's soft, silky, and deliciously zesty from the very first bite to the last.

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8-10 Slices 1x

Ingredients

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Loaf Cake

• 188 Grams (1 ½ cup) All-Purpose Flour
• 1 ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
• ½ Teaspoon Salt
• 266 Grams (1 ⅓ cup) Granulated Sugar
• 6oz (¾ Cup) Unsalted Butter, at room temp.
• 2 Large Eggs, at room temp.
• 3 Tablespoon Fresh Orange Juice
• 1 heaping Tablespoon Orange Zest
• 2oz (¼ cup) Buttermilk 
• 2oz (¼ cup) Sour Cream

Orange Glaze

• 188 Grams (1 ½ cup) powdered sugar, sifted
• 3 Tablespoons Fresh Orange Juice
• 1 Teaspoon Orange Zest

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Instructions

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Loaf Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C and grease a 9X5 loaf pan.
2. In a bowl of an electric mixer combine sugar and butter for 3-4 minutes, so it's nice and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, waiting until each is fully combined.
   
3. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
   
4. In a small bowl mix in orange zest and juice, sour cream, and buttermilk.
   
5. Alternate by folding in the dry ingredients then wet to the butter mixture. 
   
6. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before starting glaze. 

Orange Glaze

1. While the cake is cooling prepare orange glaze. In a bowl combine powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Drizzle on top of the cake when it is completely cool. Store cake in an airtight container, store in the fridge to last longer. 
   

Equipment

OXO Kitchen Scale

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• Author: Elizabeth Waterson
• Prep Time: 15
• Cook Time: 55
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: American

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