Whole Orange Blender Cake

Unlock the ultimate citrus secret with this incredibly easy and moist Whole Orange Blender Cake! You get a quick, intensely flavorful dessert with a delightful hint of bitterness from the whole orange, all while keeping cleanup a breeze with just one blender jar to wash. It’s the perfect, effortlessly elegant loaf for any occasion.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

I was skeptical about blending a whole orange rind and all until I tried this recipe. The result was a revelation: a cake that’s beautifully aromatic, perfectly sweet, and unbelievably moist. The fact that it all comes together in a blender, leaving me with minimal mess, has made it my absolute go-to recipe for a stress-free, impressive homemade treat.

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 navel orange or other thin-skinned orange, at room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Glaze:

  • 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice or milk
Whole Orange Blender Cake

Step-by-step instructions for making the recipe

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, allowing the paper to overhang on the two long sides for easy removal.
  2. Thoroughly wash the orange and pat it dry. Cut it into 8 wedges, removing any seeds you find.
  3. Place the orange wedges (peel included), eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract into the jar of a blender.
  4. Cover and blend on high speed for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is completely smooth.
  5. Add the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt to the blender jar.
  6. Cover and pulse the blender several times, just until the dry ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
  8. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the cake out of the pan and transfer it to the wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Once the cake is completely cool, make the glaze: in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and orange juice (or milk) until smooth.
  11. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cake. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.
Whole Orange Blender Cake
Eva

Whole Orange Blender Cake

Unlock the ultimate citrus secret with this incredibly easy and moist Whole Orange Blender Cake! You get a quick, intensely flavorful dessert with a delightful hint of bitterness from the whole orange, all while keeping cleanup a breeze with just one blender jar to wash.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 396

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 1 navel orange or other thin-skinned orange, at room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Glaze
  • 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice or milk

Equipment

  • Blender
  • 8×4-inch Loaf Pan
  • Parchment Paper

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, allowing the paper to overhang on the two long sides for easy removal.
  2. Thoroughly wash the orange and pat it dry. Cut it into 8 wedges, removing any seeds you find.
    1 navel orange or other thin-skinned orange, at room temperature
  3. Place the orange wedges (peel included), eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract into the jar of a blender.
    1 navel orange or other thin-skinned orange, at room temperature, 3 large eggs, at room temperature, 1/3 cup butter, melted, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  4. Cover and blend on high speed for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is completely smooth.
  5. Add the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt to the blender jar.
    2 cups all-purpose flour, 2/3 cup white sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
  6. Cover and pulse the blender several times, just until the dry ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
  8. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the cake out of the pan and transfer it to the wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Once the cake is completely cool, make the glaze: in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and orange juice (or milk) until smooth.
    3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon orange juice or milk
  11. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cake. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.

Notes

Using room temperature ingredients helps create a smoother batter. Be sure to pulse in the dry ingredients just until combined to avoid a tough cake. The subtle bitterness from the orange peel is a signature part of the flavor profile!

FAQ

Do I really blend the whole orange, including the peel?

Yes! The entire orange is used, which gives the cake its deep, complex flavor and a subtle, tantalizing bitterness that balances the sweetness. Just be sure to use a thin-skinned variety like a navel orange and wash it well.

Why are my ingredients at room temperature?

Room temperature eggs and butter emulsify better with the other ingredients, creating a smoother, more uniform batter and a cake with a better texture. If you forget, you can place cold eggs in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to quickly bring them to room temp.

My cake is browning too quickly. What should I do?

If the top of the cake is browning too fast before the center is cooked, you can loosely tent a piece of aluminum foil over the top for the remaining baking time.

Can I make this cake without a blender?

A blender is essential for pureeing the whole orange into a smooth liquid base. A food processor could potentially work as a substitute.

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