Imagine a cake so vibrant and luxurious that it transforms an ordinary dessert into an extraordinary culinary experience. Our Vanilla Blood Orange Cake is not just a recipe; it's a tantalizing journey of flavors that marries the delicate sweetness of vanilla with the bold, tangy brightness of blood oranges. Perfect for those seeking a show-stopping dessert that's both elegant and surprisingly simple to create, this cake promises to elevate your baking game and impress even the most discerning food lovers.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup blood orange juice
- Zest of 1 blood orange
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, ensuring the sides are also lightly buttered.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract and blood orange zest.
- Gradually fold in the dry flour mixture, alternating with the blood orange juice. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula to ensure an even distribution.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional: Dust with powdered sugar or prepare a blood orange glaze for added flavor and decoration.
Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients: Ensure your butter, eggs, and juice are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better cake texture.
- Don't overmix the batter: Mix until ingredients are just combined to prevent a tough, dense cake.
- Fresh is best: Use freshly squeezed blood orange juice and zest for the most intense citrus flavor.
- Check for doneness: A toothpick should come out clean, with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool completely before decorating to prevent your glaze or powdered sugar from melting.
- For extra moisture, consider brushing the cooled cake with a light blood orange syrup before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 320kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 4g
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 85mg
