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Orange and Lemon Cake

Sunnyside Cook

Dawn Dobie
A winter citrus treat
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

For the cake

  • 1 C. all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 C. unsalted butter (1 stick) room temperature
  • 1/2 C. sugar
  • 2 eggs separated, room temperature
  • 1/2 C. sour cream room temperature
  • 1/2 C. fresh orange juice room temperature
  • Zest of one orange about 1 1/2 tsp
  • Zest of one lemon about 1 1/2 tsp
  • Pinch of cream of tartar

For the syrup

  • 1/4 C sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. orange liqueur
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt

For the garnish

  • Thin lemon slices
  • Thin orange slices

Instructions
 

For the cake

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Butter and flour 9 X 5 loaf pan.
  • Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • Using a large bowl and electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add yolks one at a time, beating well after each. Add sour cream, orange juice, lemon zest, and orange zest. Beat slowly until dissolving ribbon of batter forms when beaters are lifted. Stir in flour mixture.
  • Using clean, dry beaters and medium clean bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until they are stiff, but not dry. Gently fold half of whites into cake batter. Fold remaining whites in, attempting to keep as much volume as possible.
  • Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake until tester inserted in middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
  • Let cool in pan at room temperature for 15 minutes. Run knife carefully around cake to loosen; invert onto serving platter.

For the syrup

  • Cook all ingredients in small pan over low heat until sugar dissolves, whisking occasionally.
  • Increase heat to medium and boil until syrupy.

To glaze and garnish

  • Pierce top of cake in several places. Pour syrup over.
  • Garnish with orange and lemon slices.

Notes

The glazed cake is best served the day it's made. Omit the glaze if you want to bake the cake ahead of time (up to two days before serving).
Feel free to substitute other orange citrus like tangerines or Cara Cara navels for the orange.
Adapted from Joe Famularo in Bon Appétit (Jan 1986)