Orange Juice Cake
With orange juice in the cake and in the glaze, this Orange Juice Cake is a delicious treat for either breakfast or dessert!
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As any parent can attest, you have to reach compromises with your kids. Several months ago, Robbie realized he could open his bedroom door by himself. Oh boy, that led to some really “fun” evenings. I think I went upstairs and put him back in his room at least 12 times one night. That’s when we settled on the rule that he could only come out 1 time. So now we put him to bed, he immediately gets back up and reads books in his room and then he eventually comes out for his “1 time.”
Last week, Laura had literally just gotten downstairs from putting him to bed when we heard his door open. He said was ready for his 1 time, so Laura turned back around and went to tuck him in (again). That’s when the night just turned hilarious.
As Laura got to his door, Robbie asked, “Umm, Mom?”
Laura: “Yes?”
Robbie: “Do you know the muffin man?”
Laura played this with a perfectly straight face and responded, “The one who lives on Drury Lane?”
Robbie: “Yeah.”
Laura: “Yeah, I know the muffin man.”
Robbie: “Oh, ok.”
*conversation over*
Laura returned back downstairs and we both looked at each other and busted out laughing. Who knows what was going through Robbie’s head that night! But he was satisfied that Mom knew the muffin man, and he went on to bed without a peep.
Orange Juice Cake
While this Orange Juice Cake isn’t a muffin, it is a delicious cake that can be served for either breakfast or dessert. I found this recipe in my Grandmother’s recipe box. I honestly don’t recall her ever making this cake, but I was young. I easily could’ve forgotten. However, this cake totally reminds me of her. It’s a down-home Southern kitchen type of recipe that also happens to be really freakin’ delicious!
This cake calls for orange juice as one of the primary liquids, but the really unique thing is the orange juice glaze that gets poured over the cake while it’s still hot. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, you stab it a bunch of times with a skewer and then pour an orange juice glaze/syrup all over the top. At first, it might seem like there’s too much liquid and you just drowned your cake. Fear not, come back 30 minutes later, and that cake will have absorbed all of the glaze.
The result is a super moist and juicy cake. (Yes, I recognize calling a cake ‘juicy’ seems a bit odd, but I don’t know how else to describe it. The cake is literally soaked in juice.) We enjoyed slices of this cake for dessert, but Laura pointed out that it would make an excellent breakfast cake as well. To test her theory, I had a small slice the next morning with my cup of coffee. She was right. This Orange Juice Cake can serve as dinner dessert or breakfast dessert. I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we do!
Did you bake this Orange Juice Cake at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). I’d love to see your version…happy baking!
Orange Juice Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 3.4-oz. box instant lemon pudding mix
- 3½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
For the Glaze
- 1⅓ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup orange juice
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray a 10- or 12-cup Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray; set pan aside.
- Using an electric mixer, add flour, sugar, pudding mix, baking powder, salt and butter; mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes.
- Add eggs, vanilla, orange juice and vegetable oil; mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out mostly clean. Let cake cool in pan.
- Meanwhile, make the glaze by whisking powdered sugar, orange juice and melted butter together in a medium mixing bowl.
- Using a toothpick or skewer, poke holes in the top of the cake. While cake is still in pan, pour glaze mixture over the top. Let cake rest for 30 minutes to absorb glaze.
- Turn cake out onto serving plate.
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Well I’m all for a cake that can be eaten for breakfast!!! And dessert too!!! This looks so moist. I love that you’ve added juice to the cake and the glaze. Now about that Muffin Man….you have to wonder… It’s kind of fun to look into the history of nursery rhymes and how/why they got started, although sometimes they are kind of morbid!
I agree with you about the morbidity of some nursery rhymes. I guess it kinda makes sense if you think about the bigger picture of when they were written…but still. Either way, the muffin man is a classic! And this orange juice cake? Another classic! Now I want to try this with other types of juice. Pineapple cake? Cranberry cake? Grape juice cake!? Me thinks that would be awesome!
My mom used to make a cake very much like this! And I haven’t had it since I was a kid. Thanks for the recipe!
This really is a classic kid’s type of cake. I highly recommend taking a trip down memory lane by making this cake, Jeff!
I love orange cake! And anytime I can eat cake for breakfast, I am happy! 😉 Good to know Laura has a contact with the muffin man too! 😀 How cute!!!
Haha! Yes, if you ever need to chat with the Muffin Man, then just let Laura know. Apparently she knows him well. 🙂 Thanks, Alex!
Yes to cake for breakfast cake. Who needs it in a class when it can be served up in a cake!? 🙂 ~Valentina
Haha! You’ve got that right, Valentina! I love this cake. It’s packed with so much flavor. 🙂
David, I love simple cakes and orange cake is my all time favorite! Love that moist and tender crumb!
Hey Kelly! I’m with ya on the simplicity of cakes, too. I mean I don’t mind making layer cakes with frosting and all…but there is absolutely something to be said for a nice and easy cake like this. Rustic and easy in the best way possible!
That cake looks scrumptious David and I adore citrus flavours in bakes. A great way to add a bit of sunshine into our life 😉
That’s a good point, Rahul! Orange juice always brightens things up a bit, and this cake? It definitely brightens the mood! (Well, until it’s gone…then I’m sad. Haha!)
i do love a good juicy citrus-flavoured cake like this, david. yum. i’ve made similar ones where you pour over heaps of syrup and think OMG it’s ruined but no! delish i bet.
Oh, this cake is SO good, Sherry. I took it to the curling club, and I had several people ask for the recipe. It’s rustic and easy in the best way possible…and it’s packed with so much flavor! Thanks so much!
Haha-Laura and Robbies interjection gave me a chuckle as well – though I got to wondering, was Robbie referring to you when he talked about the muffin man? I mean you are the one baking all sorts of treats – cupcakes /muffins and glorious cakes like this! Wow this sounds and looks delicious! And yes- I’d definitely have this for breakfast!
Haha! While I do like making muffins, I think Robbie was talking about the actual muffin man…you know, the one who lives on Drury Lane. 🙂 However, I would gladly take the title Muffin Man if someone wanted to bestow that upon me. Thanks, Shashi!
What a cute story David! Kids are so funny! But this cake looks so delicious and dare I say it…. moist!! 😀
Kids really are hilarious! As a parent yourself, I’m sure you know that. The days can be challenging, but then they drop a bomb like “Do you know the muffin man?” I seriously crack up thinking about that. Thanks so much for the kind words, Michelle! I do highly recommend this cake. It’s delicious!
My granny used to make a very similar orange cake, I just don’t remember her using the instant pudding. She likely did though.
We don’t see lemon pudding here, just vanalli and chocolate. I’m thinking of trying your cake recipe, but using vanilla and then a bit of lemon juice. What do you think David (aka Mr. Muffin Man)?
You should totally try adding pudding to cakes, Ron. I think vanilla pudding would be just fine here, and then just a bit of lemon juice would bring it back around. Maybe ~2-3 tablespoons? You don’t want too much extra liquid, but I think that amount would be fine. This cake really is a down-home type of recipe – just like Grandma used to make! Or just like the Muffin Man used to make. Haha!
If a recipe came from a Grandmother’s recipe box, then it HAS to be good! The cake looks moist and delectable. Wish I had a slice right now… with a hot cup of coffee. Have a lovely day.
I’m totally with ya on Grandma’s recipes! The old recipe box is a treasure chest of great stuff. 🙂 This cake is absolutely fantastic, too. I highly recommend it…and it would go great with a mug of coffee! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
Robbie sounds like such a character, David! I love that you guys compromised on the ‘one time’.
I also love this orange juice cake! As you said, perfect for a decadent breakfast or dessert. Delicious!
Haha! Our house is all about the compromise. One time out of your room (which we seem to have broken that habit recently…awesome), one more minute to play, one more slice of cake. Ok, that last one might have been a compromise for me, but still. 🙂 Thanks, Marissa!
I dont know about the muffin man 🙁
Who is that? is it on a nursery rhyme or something
Yup, the Muffin Man is a nursery rhyme. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muffin_Man No matter, though…this Orange Juice Cake is delicious even if you don’t know the muffin man!
Cute story about Robbie. Kids are so much fun! This cake looks delicious. I can see have a slice for breakfast or for dessert.
Kids are a lot of fun. They are absolutely exhausting, but they are also a lot of fun. 🙂 And this cake? Robbie and I both enjoy it no matter the time of day!