Orange Loaf Cake with Orange Glaze
Orange Loaf Cake with Orange Glaze
Ingredients
For the Loaf Cake
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange zest, from 2-3 oranges, avoid white pith
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Orange Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
For Garnish
- 1/4 cup orange segments, small, fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan, or line with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
In a small bowl, combine milk and lemon juice. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes to create a buttermilk substitute. This will curdle slightly.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons of orange zest. Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant. This helps release the orange oils.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
To the sugar-zest mixture, add the fresh orange juice, vanilla extract, and melted butter. Stir until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Pour the milk-lemon juice mixture into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 350
- 10
Remove the loaf cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. This passive cooling time is crucial before glazing.
⏱️ 15 min
- 11
Once the cake is completely cool, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice, and 1 teaspoon of orange zest until smooth and pourable. Add more orange juice a few drops at a time if needed to reach desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Pour or spread the glaze evenly over the top of the cooled loaf cake, allowing some to drip down the sides.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
Garnish immediately with fresh orange segments and additional orange zest before the glaze sets.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Orange Loaf Cake with Orange Glaze
Ingredients
For the Loaf Cake
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange zest, from 2-3 oranges, avoid white pith
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Orange Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
For Garnish
- 1/4 cup orange segments, small, fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan, or line with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
In a small bowl, combine milk and lemon juice. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes to create a buttermilk substitute. This will curdle slightly.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons of orange zest. Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant. This helps release the orange oils.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
To the sugar-zest mixture, add the fresh orange juice, vanilla extract, and melted butter. Stir until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Pour the milk-lemon juice mixture into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 350 - 10
Remove the loaf cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. This passive cooling time is crucial before glazing.
⏱️ 15 min - 11
Once the cake is completely cool, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice, and 1 teaspoon of orange zest until smooth and pourable. Add more orange juice a few drops at a time if needed to reach desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Pour or spread the glaze evenly over the top of the cooled loaf cake, allowing some to drip down the sides.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
Garnish immediately with fresh orange segments and additional orange zest before the glaze sets.
⏱️ 1 min