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Whole Orange Butter Cake – Sweet Easy Recipes for Citrus Lovers

Let’s talk about citrus. Not the artificial kind that comes in a green bottle shaped like a lemon, but the real-deal, peel-and-all kind of orange flavor that bursts through a buttery, moist slice of cake. I’ve always been a fan of desserts that surprise you, and this Whole Orange Butter Cake? Oh, it gets people talking. It’s rich, sunny, and just the right balance of sweet and tangy. We’re not tossing the peel—we’re blending the entire orange into the batter. It’s bold, yes, but trust me, you’ll never look at oranges the same way again. If you’ve ever stared at a fruit bowl wondering what to bake, this is your nudge to grab that orange. I baked it once on a slow Sunday, and by Tuesday, the crumbs were a fond memory. And here's the kicker—it feels like something straight out of a fancy bakery, but it’s secretly filed under ‘sweet easy recipes.’ If you’re into air fryer desserts easy recipes or even butter swim biscuits easy recipes, this one fits right in your collection. It's quick, joyful, and dangerously snackable. Yes, I’m still thinking about it. Maybe it’s time to bake another.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer desserts easy recipes, bread easy recipes, butter swim biscuits easy recipes, how to make donuts at home easy recipe, quick and easy recipes, quick evening snacks easy recipes, sweet easy recipes
Servings: 8 slices
Author: Elena

Ingredients

  • 1 medium orange, seedless and washed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup milk (any kind)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a loaf pan.
  2. Cut the orange into chunks (peel and all), discard any seeds, and blend until smooth.
  3. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla.
  5. Mix in the blended orange puree.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in parts, alternating with the milk. Don’t overmix.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  9. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  10. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.