Mar 21, 2017, Updated Apr 07, 2024
Blood Orange Cake: Why You’ll Love It
Blood oranges are so sweet and juicy and this cake is the perfect blood orange dessert to put them do delicious use. I think the pretty pink hue and citrus profile are a perfect bright way to bridge the gap between winter and spring. This recipe is super easy to put together. Start by simmering orange slices (peel and all!) until tender, then blend them. This puree will be the base of the cake. Beyond that, all you need is two bowls – not even a standing mixer. So simple!
Here’s What You Need for this Blood Orange Cake Recipe
This blood orange cake recipe uses the whole oranges – the rind, the pith and the fruit itself. They’re sliced and simmered until tender, then pureed. This gives the cake an amazing depth of flavour, and makes for a very moist crumb.
Blood Orange Cake Ingredients
For Cake
Blood Orange Puree: Adds moisture and SO much citrus flavor to the cake. Butter: Gives the cake a rich, tender texture. Egg: Works as a binder, giving the cake structure. All-Purpose Flour: The cake’s main building block, providing structure. Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake. Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise. Salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
For Glaze
Blood Orange Juice: Brings a fresh, citrusy zing to the glaze. Confectioners’ Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the glaze.
Variations and substitutions
Different Citrus: Feel free to swap blood oranges for grapefruit, cara cara oranges, regular oranges, tangerines, mandarins or meyer lemons (not regular lemons, which are too sour). Each brings a slightly different citrus flavor and color to the cake. Different Fat: Since we are melting the butter and not creaming it, you can use extra virgin olive oil as a substitute for a different flavor.
Grab these Tools
Having the right equipment makes the process smoother.
Blender: For pureeing the blood oranges into a smooth mixture. 9×2″ Round Baking Pan: The perfect size cake pan for for this recipe. Parchment Paper: Helps the cake come out easily without sticking. Mixing Bowls: Needed for mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately. Wire rack: To cook the cake.
How to Make Blood Orange Cake: An Easy Guide
Got two bowls and a spoon? You’re most of the way there. Let’s walk through the steps together.
Making the Blood Orange Puree
First off, let’s create the flavor base for our cake. Simmer sliced blood oranges in water until they’re soft. Then, blend them into a smooth puree. This puree is the secret to the cake’s moist texture and bright flavor.
Prepare the Cake Batter
Mix the Wet Ingredients Start by blending the vibrant blood orange puree with melted butter. Crack a room temperature egg into this mixture. (Here’s how to quickly bring eggs to room temperature.) Stir these well until they’re completely combined. Mix the Dry Ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients Pour the wet mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to fold them gently. It’s about being gentle and not overworking the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough. We want it tender and airy, with a soft crumb that melts in your mouth. Each fold blends the ingredients without deflating the air bubbles too much. Those bubbles are precious. They’ll expand in the oven, giving our cake that perfect rise. Remember, the batter doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth. A few lumps are okay. They’ll disappear during baking, leaving us with a beautifully textured cake. Bake the Cake Pour the batter into a prepared pan and bake until it’s just right. A bit of patience here pays off with a perfectly bouncy and delicious cake. My favorite way of checking doneness is with an instant read thermometer (or a meat thermometer). It will be 190ºF when perfectly done, without being underbaked, and without losing excess moisture. Glazing the Cake The final touch is a sweet and tangy orange glaze. Mix blood orange juice with confectioners’ sugar to get the consistency you like. Drizzle it over the cooled cake for that extra zing. I like to finish the cake with very thin orange slices. You could alternatively garnish it with a little orange zest and/or toasted almonds.
Other Citrusy Desserts You’ll Love
Start with this collection of drool-worthy orange dessert recipes.
I’ve got another Orange Cake option here – this portuguese version is very delicious. This Lemon Curd Cake is definitely a must-try for citrus lovers. Lemon Curd Cookies can’t be missed either. Love citrus, love chocolate? This Chocolate Orange Cake is for you. This Cranberry Lemon Cake is a long-standing favorite. Of course, can’t forget this recipe for orange pound cake with orange glaze, baked in a pretty bundt pan. Lemon Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins (not quite a dessert, but delicious enough to be included!)
