• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Style Sweet
  • Layer Cakes
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Layer Cakes
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Layer Cakes
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Newsletter
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home

    Orange Pound Cake with Vanilla Icing

    January 16, 2023 by stylesweet 10 Comments

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This tender orange pound cake is bursting with sunshine and loads of citrus flavor. The cake is scented with orange zest and gets paired with a creamy vanilla icing.

    Slices of orange pound cake on a white serving dish

    Steps for Making Orange Pound Cake

    This cake is super easy to make. The batter for the cake comes together in one bowl. Use a hand or stand mixer to make sure the butter and sugar get nice and fluffy.

    • Massage the zest - rub the orange zest and sugar together until fragrant
    • Mix the batter
    • Bake!
    • Make the glaze
    • Ice the cake

    Top Tip

    Massage the orange zest into the sugar by rubbing the ingredients together between your finger tips. This helps release the oils in the orange zest to make it extra flavorful!

    Jump to:
    • Steps for Making Orange Pound Cake
    • Top Tip
    • Ingredients
    • Tools and Equipment
    • Substitutions
    • Storage
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Join the Style Sweet Bake Club!
    • More Easy Cake Recipes to Try
    • Recipe

    If you like citrus, happiness, and easy cakes - then you are going to LOVE this orange pound cake. It comes together quickly and with few tools and ingredients.

    When winter only seems to bring rain and storm clouds, remember that it is also citrus season! Celebrate with zesty oranges, mandarines, and tangerines.

    The sour cream and oil keep the cake tender and moist. You will love how the orange flavor pairs with the vanilla icing - it tastes like a creamsicle!

    What I love about this cake is that it is both moist and sturdy. It is the type of cake that doesn't need more than a napkin to carry it from kitchen to car when you need a quick pick-me-up (yes, I know this from personal experience!).

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for orange pound cake
    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking powder
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Granulated sugar
    • Oranges - use both the zest and juice for max flavor
    • Unsalted butter - creaming the butter with sugar makes the cake extra fluffy
    • Olive or avocado oil - the oil keeps the cake moist for days
    • Eggs
    • Vanilla
    • Sour cream - the acidity makes the cake super tender
    • Confectioners' sugar

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Tools and Equipment

    • Hand or stand mixer
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Microplane or citrus zester
    • 9 X 5-inch loaf pan
    • Whisk
    • General kitchen tools (measuring cups, spoons, etc.)
    Orange pound cake with vanilla glaze on a serving dish

    Substitutions

    • Sour Cream - you may substitute equal parts buttermilk or full-fat Greek yogurt
    • Oranges - you may use mandarins, tangerines, or even lemons!

    Storage

    Store the cake at room temperature for up to 2 days. Loosely cover with plastic wrap or tent with foil.

    Store leftovers in the refrigerator. The cake is best served within 3 days.

    Freeze the unfrosted loaf by wrapping in plastic and piping in a zip-top bag. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator.

    Slices of orange loaf cake

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I turn this cake into muffins?

    Yes! Fill muffin liners ⅔ of the way up and bake for 17 to 20 minutes.

    Can I bake this in an 8 X 4-inch loaf pan?

    Yes. Be sure not to fill the pan too high (about ¾ of the way full). Use leftover batter to make muffins (see above).

    Can I use different fruit in this cake?

    Yes, you can use any orange-like fruit - orange, mandarins, or tangerines. I've also used this recipe with equal parts lemon juice and lemon zest.

    A three-layer vanilla bean cake with pink buttercream and sprinkles on top

    Join the Style Sweet Bake Club!

    Get exclusive recipes and articles sent straight to your inbox. Become a subscriber today! Click to join.

    More Easy Cake Recipes to Try

    Birthday Coffee Cake

    Blueberry Pound Cake

    Apple Cinnamon Cake

    Small Batch Pumpkin Cake

    Strawberry Snacking Cake

    What a chocolate variation? Try this Chocolate Orange Cake!

    Please leave a star review if you loved this recipe! Make sure to share your recipes and tag me on Instagram @stylesweetdaily. 

    Recipe

    Orange pound cake with vanilla glaze on top
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Orange Pound Cake

    This tender orange pound cake is bursting with sunshine and loads of citrus flavor.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: loaf cake, orange cake, pound cake
    Servings: 8

    Ingredients

    For the Orange Pound Cake

    • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 teas baking powder
    • ½ teas salt
    • ¼ teas baking soda
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon orange zest
    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
    • 3 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
    • 1 teas vanilla extract
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 3 tbsp orange juice

    For the Vanilla Icing

    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 ⅓ cup confectioners' sugar
    • 1 tablespoon orange juice
    • splash milk as needed

    Instructions

    To Make the Orange Pound Cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9 X 5-inch loaf pan and set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bow, add the sugar and orange zest. Rub the ingredients together between your fingertips until fragrant. 
    • Add the softened butter and mix with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
    • Mix in the oil, vanilla, and eggs - one at time. Mix until blended.
    • Add in half of the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Add the sour cream and orange just then mix until smooth.
    • Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Use a rubber spatula to fold the batter together until smooth.
    • Scoop the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out with the rubber spatula.
    • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake on a wire rack.

    To Make the Vanilla Icing

    • Melt the butter. Add in the confectioners' sugar and orange juice then stir until smooth. Mix in a splash of milk, as needed, until the icing is thick yet pourable.
    • Spoon the icing over the top of the cooled cake and serve.
    « Vanilla French Macarons
    Rocky Road Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura

      January 21, 2023 at 5:48 am

      5 stars
      Super easy and really delicious! I thought there would be leftovers, but there were none! Perfect use of our abundance of backyard oranges.

      Reply
      • stylesweet

        January 21, 2023 at 4:13 pm

        Yay! I am so glad your enjoyed the recipe. Happy Baking!

        Reply
        • Ann Martin

          February 12, 2023 at 9:53 pm

          5 stars
          I knew I would just love this recipe (as I do ALL of your wonderful recipes)! Thank you for yet another fantastic dessert, with easy to follow instructions). You are the best!

          Reply
    2. Gina

      January 27, 2023 at 4:45 am

      5 stars
      OMG I love this recipe. My husband loves citrus desserts and he devoured it in a couple days.

      Reply
    3. Rodney P

      January 27, 2023 at 6:13 pm

      5 stars
      The cake is TO DIE FOR. Worked out great the first time!

      Reply
    4. patty buchannon

      January 27, 2023 at 7:48 pm

      5 stars
      my favorite pound cake bar none. more of these please!

      Reply
    5. Mia

      April 05, 2023 at 2:37 pm

      5 stars
      I made this cake last month and it's so good that I need to make it again! Already excited just thinking about it. Thank you!

      Reply
      • stylesweet

        April 11, 2023 at 2:30 pm

        Hi! Thank you for the comment. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    6. Margie

      June 29, 2023 at 10:40 pm

      Does the icing stiffen? I need it to harden so I can use as a "floor" for a disco cake!!🤔

      Reply
      • stylesweet

        July 01, 2023 at 3:04 pm

        HI! Yes, it should feel dry not sticky after a little bit.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Tessa Huff

    Hi, I'm Tessa Huff! I am the cookbook author of Layered and Icing on the Cake. I bake, develop recipes, and photograph food from my home studio in North Vancouver, BC.

    More about me →

    My Cookbooks

    a Good Reads Best Cookbook Nominee!

    Join the Style Sweet Bake Club on Substack!

    Style Sweet is the ultimate resource for home bakers of all skill levels. Here you will find everyday dessert recipes, cake decorating tutorials, and expert baking tips to improve your skills and gain confidence in the kitchen.

    Find my recipes on FoodNetwork.CA and TheKitchn

    As Seen On

    Milk & Cookies Cake on The New York Times Style Magazine

    Cinnamon Roll Cake on Food Network 

    5 Stylish Layer Cakes on The Kitchn

    Cookie Decorating with MUJI 

    London Fog Cake on Bake From Scratch 

    Buttercream Flower Cupcakes with Wilton Cakes

    Popular Recipes

    • A thick slice of lemon ricotta cake with lemons and tea in the background
      Quick and Easy Lemon Ricotta Cake
    • How to Ice an Ombré Cake
    • Frosting a watercolor buttercream cake
      How to Make a Watercolor Cake
    • A bunch of mini two-layer vanilla cakes with flowers on top
      How to Make Mini Cakes

    Seasonal Recipes

    • An overhead image of a cake with slices on plum baked in a spiral on top.
      Plum Yogurt Cake
    • Carrot Cake Recipe with Brown Butter Frosting
    • Pumpkin Coffee Cream Cheese Cake
      Small-Batch Pumpkin Cake with Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting
    • A slice of apple blueberry pie
      Apple Blueberry Pie

    Cake Decorating

    • a perfect chocolate drip cake with pink buttercream frosting
      How to Make a Chocolate Drip Cake
    • How to Ice a Cake
    • Stacking layers of cake and filling.
      How to Stack and Fill a Cake
    • Making a buttercream flower cake with pink, orange, and purple frosting
      How to Make a Buttercream Flower Cake

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • As Seen On

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for new articles and updates
    • Bake my recipes on FoodNetwork.ca

    Contact

    • Work with Me
    • Email

    COPYRIGHT © 2024 StyleSweet Studio LTD.