Zesty Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake Recipe for Beginners

Sweet, moist, and bursting with citrusy brightness, this orange almond poppy seed cake brings sunshine to your dessert table.

Zesty orange notes dance alongside rich almond undertones, creating a symphony of flavors that tantalize the senses.

Delicate poppy seeds add a subtle crunch and visual intrigue to every slice.

The cake tender crumb melts effortlessly on your tongue, promising a delightful experience with each bite.

Elegant yet approachable, this recipe transforms simple ingredients into a show-stopping dessert that feels both comforting and sophisticated.

Bakers of all skill levels can confidently recreate this stunning treat that’s perfect for afternoon tea or a special celebration.

Get ready to fall in love with a cake that’s sure to become a cherished favorite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (plus chilling time)

Calories: 440 kcal

Servings: 13

What Goes in Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake

• Cake Flour: Ensures a tender, delicate crumb with soft texture and fine consistency.
• Baking Powder: Creates light, airy rise and helps cake maintain perfect volume.
• Orange Zest: Provides bright, citrusy flavor and aromatic essence to the cake.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.
• Poppy Seeds: Adds delightful crunch and visual interest with nutty undertones.

• Egg Whites: Contributes to cake's airiness and provides structural stability.
• Almond Extract: Delivers rich, intense nutty flavor with elegant undertone.
• Buttermilk: Creates tender texture and adds subtle tangy complexity.
• Sour Cream: Ensures moisture and provides luxurious, creamy richness.
• Butter: Delivers rich flavor and creates smooth, velvety consistency.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates silky smooth buttercream with perfect sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out flavors with warm, classic background note.
• Whipping Cream: Adds lightness and helps achieve creamy buttercream texture.
• Orange Juice: Intensifies citrus profile with fresh, vibrant flavor.
• Cold Butter: Provides glossy finish and smooth texture for orange curd.
• Eggs: Helps thicken orange curd and creates luxurious custard-like consistency.

Tools That Help Make Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake

• Electric mixer with paddle attachment: Essential for creaming butter, mixing batter, and whipping buttercream to perfect consistency.
• Three 8-inch round cake pans: Crucial for baking even cake layers with uniform size.
• Parchment paper: Helps cake layers release easily and prevents sticking.
• Whisk: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and mixing orange curd smoothly.
• Medium and small mixing bowls: Needed for preparing different components of the cake.
• Fine-mesh sieve: Helps strain orange curd for silky smooth texture.
• Wooden spoon: Great for mixing frosting and releasing air pockets.
• Piping bag and Wilton 1M tip: Creates beautiful decorative swirls on cake's exterior.
• Saucepan: Used for cooking orange curd over gentle heat.
• Wire rack: Allows cake layers to cool evenly after baking.
• Cake plate or board: Provides stable surface for assembling and serving cake.

How to Bake a Moist Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake

• Cake Preparation

Gather all ingredients and equipment. Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for optimal mixing and texture.

• Mixing Magic

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Carefully add egg whites and almond extract, creating a smooth base for the cake batter.

• Dry Ingredient Dance

Combine flour, zest, and poppy seeds in a separate bowl. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk to create a silky batter.

• Baking Brilliance

Pour batter into prepared pans and bake until golden and springy. Allow cakes to cool completely before moving to the next stage.

• Buttercream Bliss

Whip butter until creamy, gradually adding powdered sugar and cream. Create a smooth, luxurious frosting that will hold the cake layers together.

• Citrus Curd Creation

Simmer orange juice, zest, and eggs over low heat. Stir constantly until the mixture transforms into a velvety, tangy curd. Chill thoroughly.

• Cake Assembly

Layer the cake carefully, spreading buttercream and orange curd between each level. Apply a smooth exterior frosting, creating an elegant finish.

• Finishing Touches

Decorate with piped buttercream swirls. Refrigerate until ready to serve, allowing flavors to meld and develop.

Tips to Enhance Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake Flavor

• Soak poppy seeds overnight in milk or orange juice to soften them and enhance their nutty flavor profile.
• Swap orange zest with lemon or tangerine zest for a different citrusy twist that keeps the cake exciting and unique.
• Ensure butter is slightly cold but not hard, which helps create a smoother, more stable frosting with perfect piping texture.
• Continuously whisk egg mixture while cooking to prevent scrambling and achieve a silky, smooth orange curd consistency.
• Prepare orange curd and cake layers up to 2 days in advance, storing separately in refrigerator to simplify assembly and reduce day-of stress.

Serving Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake with Flair

• Brunch Centerpiece Delight: Showcase this elegant cake as the star of your weekend brunch, surrounded by fresh citrus slices and delicate almond slivers for a stunning presentation.
• Tea Party Elegance: Slice this cake into petite portions perfect for afternoon tea, pairing beautifully with Earl Grey or chamomile tea and delicate porcelain cups.
• Celebration Showstopper: Transform this cake into a memorable dessert for birthdays or special occasions, adding edible gold leaf or candied orange peel for extra sophistication.
• Seasonal Gift Treat: Wrap individual slices in parchment paper with a rustic twine bow, creating a delightful homemade gift that captures the essence of citrusy, nutty flavors.

Best Way to Store Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake

• Refrigerator Love Strategy: Carefully wrap the cake in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to maintain moisture and prevent flavor absorption from other foods. Keep the cake in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Slice Separation Technique: When storing individual cake slices, place a piece of parchment paper between each slice to prevent sticking and maintain the buttercream's delicate texture.
• Temperature Revival Method: Remove the cake from the refrigerator 2-3 hours before serving, allowing it to gradually warm to room temperature. This approach helps restore the cake's soft, tender crumb and brings out the full depth of orange and almond flavors.
• Freezing Freshness Hack: For longer storage, wrap the unfrosted cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling and frosting to ensure maximum taste and texture quality.

Velvety Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Mediterranean-inspired Orange Almond Poppy Seed Cake delivers a delightful balance of citrus and nutty flavors. Elegant yet simple, this dessert promises a delectable experience you’ll savor with each memorable bite.

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Ingredients

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Cake Ingredients:

• 3 cups (345 g) cake flour
• 1.75 cups (350 g) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup (240 g) buttermilk, room temperature
• 6 large egg whites, room temperature
• 3 tbsps (27 g) poppy seeds, soaked in water for 30 minutes, then strained
• 2 tsps almond extract
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp orange zest (about 1 large orange)
• 1 tbsp (10 g) baking powder
• 1 tsp (5 g) salt
• 0.5 cup (120 g) sour cream, room temperature

Frosting Ingredients:

• 6 cups (750 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 cups (452 g) unsalted butter, slightly cold
• 2 tsps almond extract
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 tbsps heavy whipping cream

Orange Curd Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 4 egg yolks
• 0.5 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp orange zest (about 1 orange)
• 0.5 cup (124 g) freshly squeezed orange juice
• 4 tbsps (56.5 g) unsalted butter

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Grease and line three 8-inch round pans with parchment paper, then preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Dry Ingredients Blend: Whisk cake flour, baking powder, orange zest, salt, and soaked poppy seeds in a mixing bowl until evenly distributed.
3. Butter Mixture: Cream butter and sugar using electric mixer until light and fluffy, gradually incorporating egg whites while maintaining smooth consistency.
4. Flavor Infusion: Mix in almond extract, beating until batter becomes pale and voluminous.
5. Batter Development: Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk on low speed, folding in sour cream gently to maintain delicate texture.
6. Baking Process: Divide batter equally among prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, verifying doneness with toothpick test.
7. Cooling Stage: Rest cakes in pans for 15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
8. Buttercream Creation: Beat slightly cold butter, gradually adding sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and whipping cream until smooth and fluffy.
9. Orange Curd Preparation: Whisk sugar, orange juice, and zest in saucepan over medium-low heat, tempering eggs carefully while continuously stirring.
10. Curd Finishing: Cook until thickened, incorporate cold butter, strain through fine-mesh sieve, and chill for minimum 4 hours.
11. Cake Assembly: Layer cake with buttercream and orange curd, applying crumb coat and final buttercream layer.
12. Decoration and Serving: Pipe buttercream swirls using Wilton 1M tip, refrigerate in airtight container, and serve at room temperature after 2-3 hours.

Notes

• Precision Matters: Measure ingredients exactly, as baking requires scientific accuracy for perfect texture and rise.
• Temperature Control: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before mixing to guarantee smooth, even blending.
• Zesting Technique: Use a microplane or fine grater for orange zest, avoiding bitter white pith for pure citrus flavor.
• Gentle Folding Crucial: When incorporating sour cream, use delicate folding motions to maintain cake’s light, airy structure.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 440
• Sugar: 34 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg