Orange Loaf Cake: Bright, Moist, and Bursting with Citrus Flavor
This Orange Loaf Cake is a vibrant, citrusy dessert that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet treat. Made with fresh orange zest and juice, this easy recipe delivers a moist, tender crumb topped with a luscious sweet glaze. Packed with zesty flavor and simple to prepare, it’s a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Loaf:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature works best!
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil if you prefer
- 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Glaze:
- ⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- Pro Tip : Fresh orange zest is key here. It adds an extra punch of citrusy goodness that store-bought alternatives just can’t match. Trust me—it’s worth the effort!
Instructions
- Now comes the fun part: putting it all together. Don’t worry; I’ll walk you through each step so even beginner bakers can nail this recipe.
- Prep Your Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a standard tin loaf pan , give it a light coating of non-stick spray, and set it aside. If you don’t have a loaf pan, fear not—a cake sheet will work too, though the baking time may vary slightly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside while you tackle the wet ingredients.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a larger bowl, whisk the eggs, Greek yogurt, sugar, melted oil, orange zest, and vanilla extract until smooth. Take a moment to inhale that heavenly citrus scent—it’s almost therapeutic, isn’t it?
- Bring It All Together: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until fully combined. Remember, overmixing is the enemy of tender cakes, so stop as soon as everything looks uniform.
- Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and pop it in the oven. Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs). The smell wafting through your kitchen at this point? Pure magic.
- Add the Sweet Glaze: Once the cake has cooled completely, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest. Drizzle it generously over the loaf and let it set for a few minutes before slicing.
- And voilà—you’ve just created a masterpiece!
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- For best results, use fresh orange zest and juice to enhance the citrus flavor.
- Adjust the glaze consistency by adding more powdered sugar for thickness or more orange juice for thinning.