Glazed Orange Sponge Cake is light and just bursting with sunshine! It’s perfect for a celebration and can brighten even a cold, dark winter day.
I have a couple of projects all finished, but you know how sometimes you just have one of those weeks? This seems to be one of them for me! Well, I thought it was a great time to dig into the archives and share a little sunshine with this fantastic Glazed Orange Sponge Cake. It’s also in honor of my Mom, who celebrated her 80th birthday yesterday! The recipe is adapted from my 1960 Better Homes & Gardens Dessert Cook Book, from my Mom, of course. ? This cake is perfectly light, airy and luscious.
Even if you’ve never made a sponge cake before, trust me, the results are totally worth the effort! Just like with chiffon cakes, DO NOT grease the pan. The ungreased pan allows the batter to rise properly and bakes to a beautiful cake. Use a 10” tube pan, preferably one with a removable bottom. You can bake it in a Bundt pan, which I did, but it take a bit of work to get the cake out of the pan. Allow the cake to cool completely and run a thin knife around the edge of the pan. It WILL come out, I promise! ? Once the egg yolk mixture is beaten until very thick, the cake flour is gently but thoroughly folded into the yolk by hand.
Beat the egg whites until stiff, glossy peaks form. The egg whites are carefully folded into the yolk/flour mixture.
Finish the cake with generous drizzles of thick, scrumptious orange glaze and sprinkles of orange peel. Slice sponge cake with a serrated knife. You can garnish slices of cake with a quarter slice of fresh orange inserted into a toothpick and into the cake slice.
A celebration cake doesn’t always have to be frosted! This will make everyone happy – and some orange sunshine is great for long, cold winter day.
Happy 80th birthday to my dear Mom! Thanks for letting me share this cake again, and for visiting!
- Orange Sponge Cake
- 1 ½ cups sifted cake flour
- 1 ½ cups sugar, divided into 1 cup and ½ cup
- 6 eggs, separated, at room temperature
- ½ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Orange Glaze
- 2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ tablespoon finely grated orange peel, plus additional grated peel for garnish
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Use a 10” tube pan, preferably with a removable bottom. DO NOT GREASE.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks until they are thick and lemon-colored.
- Add grated peel and juice; continue to beat until mixture is very thick.
- Gradually beat in one cup of sugar and salt.
- With a large rubber spatula, carefully fold all flour into egg yolk mixture until completely combined.
- In large mixing bowl, beat egg white until they are foamy; add cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add ½ cup sugar and continue beating egg white until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Gently and thoroughly fold whites into flour/yolk mixture.
- Pour batter evenly into 10” tube pan.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until cake tested inserted in center comes out clean.
- Invert pan on wire rack and cool completely
- Orange Glaze.
- In medium bowl, combine confectioner’s sugar, vanilla, grated peel and enough freshly squeezed orange juice to make glaze of thick, drizzling consistency.
- Place waxed paper under cake on wire rack; with a large spoon, generously drizzle glaze over entire cake, allowing glaze to run down sides of cake.
- Garnish top of cake with additional grated orange peel.
- Slice cake with a serrated knife.
- Top slices with ¼ slice of fresh orange, inserted into cake slice with a toothpick, if desired.
Sharing at these parties!
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I’ve never made a sponge cake, but that looks delicious. I’ve been wanting to bake an orange cake too. I’m going to have to give it a try!
Hi Carlee – I think you’ll love this cake – it’s so light and luscious! Thank you so much for visiting – have a happy Saturday and a wonderful weekend!
Cindy, This looks fabulous!! I can’t wait to try your recipe! Happy 80th Birthday to your Mom! I missed this cake the first time around, so I am so glad you shared it again, Pinned of course! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for linking up with us @ the What to do Weekends Party!
Hugs and best wishes for your 2016!
Hi Theresa! You are so sweet, thank you for the visit, party and pin! Wishing you all things wonderful for 2016 – happy Saturday and have a fabulous weekend! Hugs!
Featuring your yummy cake at this week’s What to do Weekends party!! ? You just bringing the good stuff, girlie!
Hugs and wishes for a wonderful weekend!
~Theresa @ Shoestring Elegance
Hi Theresa – thank you again so much for the feature and for your kind visit! Hope you have a happy Sunday and hugs!
Whoa! This looks amazing Cindy! Hope you are doing well – pinning!!
Hi Raquel – it’s always so wonderful to see you and hope all is well with you, too! Thank you for your sweet visit, comment and pin! Have a happy Saturday and a wonderful weekend!
You have quite the eye for photography. Even though I can’t eat the beautiful food that you prepare, I sure do think your images are beautiful, Cindy.
http://www.womenabiding.com/discover-the-mystery-of-how-you-impact-this-world/#comment-11134
Olivia, thank you so much for your sweet visit and comment – you have made my Saturday! Thank you for the party – happy Saturday and have a wonderful weekend!
This looks so good!
Thanks, Paula! It’s definitely one of my favorite cakes. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
Beautiful cake!!
Orange cake is super popular here, especially during winter.
Your looks moist and delicious ?
Hi Winnie! Isn’t orange cake great in the winter? It brings some sunshine! Thank you so much for your sweet visit and comment – hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
This looks AMAZING! I’m trying it out tomorrow …. not sure that mine will look at pretty as yours! (i’m a terrible cook!) Such a great detailed tutorial! Thanks for sharing at #funtasticfriday
Lindsay, thank you so much and I know it will turn out beautifully for you, too! Thanks so much for the party and visit – let me know how it goes! Have a wonderful Sunday!
Cindy, I can’t wait to try this recipe! Pinning and tweeting to share. Thank you so much for coming over and linking up with us for Snickerdoodle Sunday! Have a fabulous week ahead!
~Laurie
This looks really good!! I wonder how it would be with blood orange?? Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner linky!
Helen, I love the idea of making this with blood orange. I think it would be great and look amazing!
Your glazed orange sponge cake looks wonderful, Cindy.It’s going on my must make list. Pinned and Tweeted. Thank you for partying at Snickerdoodle Sunday. I’ll be featuring this at today’s party. Hope to see you there!
Beverly, thank you so much for your sweet visit, the feature and shares! I really appreciate it! Just stopped by this week’s party. ? Have a great day and a wonderful week!