Zesty Orange & Vanilla Bean Cake Recipe: Sweet Sunshine

Sweet memories often bloom from the most unexpected culinary adventures, like this delightful orange vanilla bean cake that whispers comfort in every tender crumb.

Fragrant citrus notes dance effortlessly with rich, luxurious vanilla bean, creating a dessert that feels both elegant and warmly familiar.

Soft, moist layers promise a delectable experience that transcends ordinary baking.

Each slice tells a story of carefully balanced flavors, blending bright orange zest with pure vanilla deep, complex notes.

The cake golden surface hints at the delicate crumb waiting beneath, promising a moment of pure indulgence.

With simple ingredients and straightforward technique, you can craft this stunning dessert that will surely become a treasured recipe in your collection.

Savor every bite and let the enchanting flavors transport you to a place of pure culinary bliss.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes (plus cooling time)

Calories: 408 kcal

Servings: 13

Orange Vanilla Bean Cake: What You’ll Need

• Cake Flour: Provides delicate, tender texture with lower protein content for a softer cake crumb.
• Baking Powder: Helps cake rise and creates light, airy structure.
• Baking Soda: Neutralizes acidic ingredients and promotes even browning.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Sour Cream, Orange Juice: Adds moisture, tanginess, and helps tenderize the cake.
• Orange Zest: Provides intense, fresh citrus aroma and bright flavor.
• Vanilla Bean Paste: Delivers rich, authentic vanilla essence with visible bean specks.
• Orange Extract: Boosts citrusy profile and deepens orange flavor.

• Butter: Creates rich, smooth base and contributes to cake's tender texture.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps create soft, moist cake structure.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients, provide structure, and add richness.
• Cream Cheese: Offers creamy, tangy element to frosting.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Smooths and sweetens frosting.
• Orange Coloring Gel (Optional): Enhances visual appeal with soft orange hue.

Tools That Help You Bake Orange Vanilla Bean Cake

• Stand Mixer or Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter, beating eggs, and mixing cake batter smoothly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Large Mixing Bowls: Needed for combining dry and wet ingredients.
• 8-inch Round Cake Pans (3): Specific size for creating cake layers.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Perfect for cooling cake layers evenly.
• Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients and making smooth mixtures.
• Spatula: Helpful for scraping bowl sides and smoothing cake batter.
• Offset Spatula: Ideal for frosting and creating decorative textures.
• Toothpicks: Useful for checking cake doneness.
• Zester or Grater: Needed for orange zest preparation.
• Mixing Bowls: Required for preparing different cake components.

How to Make an Orange Vanilla Bean Cake at Home

• Cake Preparation

Grab three cake pans and coat them with butter and flour. This helps your cake slip out smoothly after baking.

• Flour Blend

Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl, creating a soft powdery base that will give your cake amazing texture.

• Liquid Fusion

Combine creamy sour cream, bright orange juice, zesty orange peels, and rich vanilla bean paste in another container. These ingredients will create deep, complex flavors.

• Butter Magic

Whip softened butter until it becomes light and fluffy. Slowly add sugar and beat until the mixture looks soft and cloud-like.

• Egg Integration

Add eggs one by one, blending each completely into the buttery mixture. This creates a smooth, silky foundation.

• Batter Assembly

Gently fold flour and liquid mixtures into the butter base. Alternate between dry and wet ingredients, mixing minimally to keep the batter tender.

• Baking Moment

Pour batter into prepared pans and bake until golden. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the center.

• Cooling Zone

Let cakes rest briefly in pans, then transfer to a cooling rack. Patience ensures perfect cake texture.

• Frosting Creation

Blend butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and orange extracts until smooth. Gradually mix in powdered sugar for a creamy, dreamy topping.

• Cake Construction

Layer cakes with frosting, creating a tall, impressive dessert. Apply a thin initial layer, chill, then finish with a smooth final coat.

• Serving Suggestion

Keep cake refrigerated. Before serving, let it sit at room temperature to soften and develop full flavor.

Tips to Boost Flavor in Orange Vanilla Bean Cake

• Enhance the orange essence by adding a splash of orange liqueur to the cake batter or brushing the cake layers with orange simple syrup for extra moisture and intensity.
• Garnish the cake with candied orange peel, fresh orange segments, or delicate white chocolate curls to create a stunning visual presentation that complements the cake's vibrant flavor profile.
• Fold in toasted sliced almonds or chopped pistachios into the batter for a delightful crunch that adds depth and unexpected texture to the smooth cake layers.
• Prepare the cake layers in advance by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and freezing for up to two weeks. Thaw completely before frosting to maintain optimal moisture and freshness.
• Transform the recipe into cupcakes or a sheet cake by adjusting baking times and pan sizes, perfect for easy serving at parties or casual gatherings.

How to Serve Orange Vanilla Bean Cake for Any Occasion

• Party Slice Presentation: Elegantly cut precise triangular slices that showcase the delicate layers and creamy orange-vanilla frosting, perfect for sophisticated gatherings or afternoon tea events.
• Citrus Zest Garnish: Sprinkle fresh orange zest or create delicate orange candied peel curls on top of each slice, adding bright color and enhancing the cake's aromatic citrus profile.
• Complementary Beverage Pairing: Serve alongside chilled champagne, white wine, or a light orange-infused herbal tea to elevate the dessert experience and complement the cake's sophisticated flavor notes.
• Seasonal Fruit Accent: Arrange fresh orange segments, edible flowers, or thinly sliced kumquats around the cake plate, creating a visually stunning presentation that highlights the cake's natural citrus essence.

How to Store Orange Vanilla Bean Cake for Freshness

• Cake Comfort Station: Refrigerate cake in sealed container for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
• Slice and Freeze Magic: Individually wrap cake slices in plastic wrap, then store in freezer-safe bag for convenient 1-2 month emergency dessert stash.
• Temperature Sweet Spot: Remove cake from refrigerator 2-3 hours before serving, allowing gentle warming to enhance taste and soft texture.
• Moisture Shield Strategy: Place wax paper between cake layers when storing to prevent frosting from sticking and maintain pristine appearance.

Heavenly Orange Vanilla Bean Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes (plus cooling time)
• Yield: 13 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Silky orange vanilla bean cake delights with Mediterranean citrus notes and delicate sweetness. French pastry techniques elevate this classic dessert for memories you’ll savor long after the last crumb disappears.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (342g) cake flour
• 2 cups (400g) sugar
• 7 cups (805g) confectioners’ sugar
• 16 oz (453g) cream cheese, softened
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 sticks (226g) unsalted butter, slightly softened
• 3 sticks (339g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (242g) sour cream
• 3 tbsps orange zest (from 2–3 oranges)
• 1 tbsp orange extract (10g)
• 2 tsps vanilla bean paste (8g)
• ⅓ cup fresh orange juice (from approx. one medium orange)
• 1½ tsps baking powder (7g)
• ½ tsp baking soda (3g)
• 1 tsp salt (5g)
• orange coloring gel (optional)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Set oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 8×2 inch round cake pans with flour, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
3. Liquid Mixture Creation: Blend sour cream, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla bean paste, and orange extract into a smooth, integrated liquid base.
4. Butter Transformation: Cream butter in a mixer, gradually adding sugar and mixing for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Incorporate optional orange coloring.
5. Egg Integration: Add eggs one at a time, ensuring thorough incorporation after each addition.
6. Batter Composition: Gently fold flour and liquid mixtures into the butter base, alternating ingredients and minimizing mixing to preserve the cake’s delicate texture.
7. Pan Distribution: Evenly spread batter across prepared pans, smoothing surfaces for uniform layers.
8. Baking Process: Bake for 25-30 minutes, testing doneness with a clean toothpick inserted into the center.
9. Cooling Stage: Rest cakes in pans for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
10. Frosting Preparation: Beat butter until smooth, then blend in cream cheese until well combined.
11. Flavor Enhancement: Mix vanilla bean paste, orange extract, and salt into the butter mixture.
12. Sugar Incorporation: Gradually add confectioners’ sugar on low speed, creating a creamy, homogeneous frosting. Optional orange coloring can be added.
13. Frosting Consistency: Refrigerate briefly if frosting is too soft to achieve ideal spreading texture.
14. Cake Assembly: Layer frosting between cake tiers, creating a stable multi-layered structure.
15. Crumb Coating: Apply a thin frosting layer across the entire cake, chill for 15 minutes to set.
16. Final Decoration: Complete cake with a smooth frosting layer, potentially creating texture with an offset spatula.
17. Storage and Serving: Refrigerate in an airtight container, allowing 2-3 hours at room temperature before serving to restore optimal texture.

Notes

• Zest Selection: Use fresh, vibrant oranges with bright, unblemished skin for maximum flavor intensity and aromatic zesting.
• Ingredient Temperature: Ensure all ingredients, especially eggs and dairy, are at room temperature to promote smoother mixing and consistent cake texture.
• Mixing Technique: Minimize mixing once flour is added to prevent gluten development, which could result in a dense, tough cake structure.
• Frosting Consistency: Adjust powdered sugar and refrigeration time carefully to achieve the perfect spreadable frosting that holds shape without being too stiff or runny.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 408
• Sugar: 35g
• Sodium: 220mg
• Fat: 21g
• Saturated Fat: 13g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 48g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 85mg