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.
Table of Contents
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

Step-by-step instructions for making the recipe
- 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.
- Thoroughly wash the orange and pat it dry. Cut it into 8 wedges, removing any seeds you find.
- Place the orange wedges (peel included), eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract into the jar of a blender.
- Cover and blend on high speed for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is completely smooth.
- Add the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt to the blender jar.
- Cover and pulse the blender several times, just until the dry ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- 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.
- 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.
- Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cake. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.

Whole Orange Blender Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- Cover and blend on high speed for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is completely smooth.
- 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
- Cover and pulse the blender several times, just until the dry ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- 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.
- 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
- Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cake. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
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.