Cara Cara navel oranges look like other navels on the exterior, but their interior is a distinctive pinkish red, they have an exceptionally sweet flavor, and they’re seedless. In my opinion they are the best oranges for peel and eating plain that you will ever find. They are exceptional for use in sweet and savory recipes as well. I adapted a lemon loaf recipe to create my Sunshine Orange Cake.
I baked mine in mini loaf pans but a regular loaf pan or a bundt pan would work well too.
It is good glazed or plain.
The orange zest and juice along with the lemon juice in this recipe make it perfectly tangy and not too sweet. You can help but think "sunshine" when you eat this Orange Sunshine Cake.
Orange Sunshine Cake
Equipment
- 9x4 loaf pan
- Small bowl
- Medium bowl
- Another medium bowl
Ingredients
For the cake:
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange zest I used cara cara navel oranges
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup peanut or canola oil
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
For the glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1½ teaspoon fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- 1-2 teaspoon milk
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray a loaf pan, or 3 mini loaf pans, or a bundt pan.
- Pour the heavy cream into a small bowl and add the juice of one lemon. Stir ti mix then set aside for a few minutes until the cream curdles. You are essentially making buttermilk, except it is tastier than real buttermilk!
- In a medium bowl, rub the orange and lemon zest into the sugar using your fingertips, until the zest and sugar is well blended. Whisk in the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, eggs, curdled cream, oil and yogurt.
- Pour the wet mixture into the flour mixture; stir until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s).
- Bake until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Baking time will vary according to what pan you use. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
For the glaze:
- Sift the powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Add the orange juice and zest. Mix together. Slowly add the milk stirring until it reaches the stage it can be poured over the cake.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.
We take every effort to ensure that the estimated meal cost per serving is accurate. We use a meal cost analysis application that estimates the cost of a recipe based on groceries purchased at a Walmart store in my geographical area, northern California.
Natasha In Oz says
What a yummy looking cake. I am definitely going to try this soon.
Thanks so much for sharing your post at the Say G’Day Saturday linky party. I've just shared this on Google+ and Pinterest.
Hope to see you again this Saturday!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Julia - Vintage with Laces says
Hi Mary, I made the cake today. Even though I had to subsitute canola oil with sunflower oil and the Greek yogurt with regular yogurt, it turned out just great and we love it very much.Thank you very much for the recipe. I will for sure make it again :).
Mary says
OH I am so glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting.
Theresa @DearCreatives says
Your cake looks amazing! I hope I have the chance to try your recipe. It's a perfect for spring!
Mariah says
Looks so yummy! Reminds me of summer 🙂
Mary says
Hence the name! Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Erin {Delightful E Made} says
This cake looks soooo good! With our on-going/perpetual winter, the orange citrus cake, is calling my name in hopes of spring arriving sooner than later. (We have ANOTHER snow storm hitting the mid-Atlantic tonight. Booo!) I will defiintely make your cake soon. Have pinned!! ~Erin
Mary says
Thanks Erin! This is the perfect thing to eat during a snowstorm. You'll be looking for your flip-flops!
Winnie says
GREAT looking cake!
Orange cake is super popular here, but your recipe is quite different. I've never used cream or even buttermilk in orange cake. I'm quite intrigued 🙂 as the texture looks GOOD
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
Such a beautiful cake! I've been craving citrus lately too. Yum!
Christine says
So bright and cheery! The bread looks fantastic!
Beverly Rosa says
Looks delicious!! Love orange! Great job on your blog page. Awesome look!
Mary says
Thanks Beverly! Much appreciated.