Description
A moist and flavorful Orange Buttermilk Cake with a zesty orange cream cheese frosting topped with Cool Whip, perfect for any occasion that calls for a bright, citrusy dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1¼ cups buttermilk
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 orange, juiced and zested
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 orange, juiced and zested
- 1 (8-oz) container Cool Whip
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch cake pan thoroughly to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- Mix cake batter: In a mixing bowl, use a mixer to beat together the white cake mix, buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs for 3 minutes until well combined. Then stir in the fresh orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract, incorporating the citrus flavor fully.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, indicating it’s fully baked.
- Cool the cake: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack. This is essential before frosting to prevent melting.
- Prepare the frosting: Using a mixer, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, the juice of half an orange, and the zest of a whole orange at medium speed until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until evenly incorporated.
- Frost the cake: Spread the orange cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Chill the cake if desired before serving to let the frosting set.
Notes
- Ensure cake is completely cool before frosting to achieve the best texture.
- If you prefer a stronger orange flavor, add more zest or juice gradually to the frosting.
- For a dairy-free version, try substituting dairy ingredients with suitable non-dairy alternatives.
- Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for freshness.
