Tender Orange Poppy Seed Cake layers with a scrumptious mascarpone frosting. The proper mixture of three distinctive flavors.
Each time I make a cheese primarily based frosting, I swear it will likely be my final. They’re SO tough to work with. I do know I may make them extra steady, however I’d must both add extra cheese or extra sugar — neither of which I wish to do. So I’m caught with a scrumptious tasting however much less steady frosting. It’s what it’s.
Actually, the one motive I hold making them is as a result of they style so good. Not too tacky, not too candy, they usually complement sure desserts simply completely. Like this Orange Poppy Seed Cake!
I’ve had a lemon poppy seed cake on my radar for some time now. I’ve a Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt (which was scrumptious), however I’d been which means to make it right into a layer cake for a while. Alas, it bought pushed off but once more as a result of I assumed orange poppy seed can be a extra attention-grabbing and distinctive taste to attempt. For those who’d quite do lemon, you’ll be able to swap it in simply sufficient.
What sort of oranges ought to I take advantage of?
I’m not an skilled on oranges. I’ve presently been consuming my method by way of luggage of flavorful mandarins, however in any other case oranges are by no means a staple round right here. For those who’re an orange skilled and have a favourite, go together with what you’re keen on. In any other case, good previous navel oranges will work. Blood orange would work properly too! I used Cava Cava Navel.
How you can Make this Orange Poppy Seed Cake
This cake makes use of my favourite Vanilla Cake recipe as a base. I merely changed among the milk with orange juice and added orange zest and poppy seeds.
It’s a bit tougher to get orange taste to come back by way of than lemon — it’s much less potent general. You could possibly use an extract, but when me in any respect I desire to make use of pure flavors when potential, and solely use an extract when there’s actually no different choice. The important thing to getting that orange taste to shine by way of is within the zest. By no means skip the zest!
By no means Skip the Zest!
There may be a lot taste packed within the zest. My favourite tip is to beat the zest with the butter and sugar. Processing it this manner helps to extract the oils from the zest and get that taste to actually come by way of. Don’t simply toss the zest in on the finish!
By the way in which, in the event you’re on the lookout for zester, those from Microplane are the very best. You get a superfine zest with none of the pith. Works like a appeal each time.
One other method so as to add flavour is to make use of a easy syrup. Brushing the cake layers with an orange flavored easy syrup will add taste and in addition moisture to you cake.
For the poppy seeds, I toss them with my flour combination. I discover that is best, and there’s much less danger of over-mixing the batter quite than in the event you had been so as to add them on the finish.
How you can Make Mascarpone Frosting
This mascarpone frosting goes so properly with this orange poppy seed cake! It’s refined and never overpowering like a cream cheese frosting will be, however it provides it a singular and scrumptious taste.
I gained’t bore you with the small print about how annoying the frosting was to work with — the bare cake I ended up going with needs to be a sign of how issues went (lol).
I supposed to completely frost this cake and do one thing rustic with the edges, however that was a complete fail. The frosting was each mushy and filled with air bubbles, and all makes an attempt to make an “straightforward” rustic swirl had been futile. I ended up scraping the entire thing off and letting the gorgeous poppy seed studded sides shine by way of.
The frosting recipe makes sufficient to cowl the entire cake although, and I’d advocate doing that as a result of it’s so scrumptious. Perhaps you’ll have higher luck adorning than I did?
Styling inspo for this cake got here from the beautiful MaryAnne over at Little Epicurean. Can I simply say how completely happy I used to be to seek out mandarin oranges with the leaves nonetheless connected?! Non-shriveled leaves at that.
This cake didn’t final lengthy round right here. I needed to cease myself from inhaling a complete slice as I used to be cleansing the kitchen afterwards. Have I discussed I’ve a weak spot for citrus desserts?? I hope you’re keen on this cake recipe as a lot as I do!
Searching for extra Citrus Truffles?
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
How can I convert this recipe?
- The recipe as-is will even work in three 6″ pans. For 3 8″ pans, 1.5x the recipe. Baking time could must be adjusted.
- To make cupcakes, all it’s essential to do is cut back the baking time — begin checking at 15mins or so. The recipe will make 18-24 cupcakes relying on measurement.
- For different conversions go right here. Bake time could range relying on pan measurement.
Can I make it upfront?
- The cooled cake layers will be baked forward of time, double wrapped in plastic wrap, and frozen for as much as 3 months. Take out 2-3 hours earlier than meeting.
- The frosting will be positioned in an hermetic container and refrigerated for 1 week or frozen for 3 months. Convey to room temp and rewhip earlier than utilizing.
- The completed cake (complete or sliced, saved hermetic) will be frozen for as much as 3 months.
Can I get the measurements by weight/grams?
- There’s a Metric choice within the recipe card. For those who click on it it’s going to convert every thing to grams.
- This conversion is finished routinely and I can’t assure the accuracy however many readers have had success utilizing the metric choice on my recipes.
Suggestions for this Orange Poppy Seed Cake
- The frosting recipe makes sufficient to completely frost the entire cake.
- Do NOT overmix the frosting as soon as the mascarpone is added. It may cut up.
- To make a lemon poppy seed cake as a substitute, simply swap orange for lemon in the identical quantities.
- For those who desire, you should use a cream cheese frosting as a substitute.
- I put together my cake pans utilizing Selfmade Cake Launch and line with parchment paper.
- Learn to hold your desserts moist utilizing Easy Syrup.
- To assist guarantee your cake layers bake up good and flat, take a look at my How you can Bake Flat Truffles submit!
Orange Poppy Seed Cake with Mascarpone Buttercream
Tender Orange Poppy Seed Cake layers with a scrumptious mascarpone frosting.
Servings 12
Energy 806kcal
Components
Orange Poppy Seed Cake:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp orange zest from 1-2 giant oranges
- 3 giant eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup milk room temperature
- 1/4 cup orange juice contemporary squeezed, from 1/2 a big orange
Orange Easy Syrup:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice contemporary squeezed, from one giant orange
Mascarpone Buttercream:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese softened however barely chilled, 250g container
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Meeting:
- orange slices optionally available
- orange leaves optionally available
- poppy seeds optionally available
Directions
Orange Poppy Seed Cake:
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Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour two 8″ cake rounds and line with parchment.
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In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, poppy seeds, and salt. Put aside.
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Utilizing a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar and orange zest on med-high till pale and fluffy (about 3mins). Cut back velocity and add eggs one after the other absolutely incorporating after every addition. Add vanilla.
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Alternate including flour combination and milk & orange juice, starting and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and a couple of of milk & orange juice). Absolutely incorporating after every addition.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out largely clear.
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Place desserts on wire rack to chill for 10mins then prove onto wire rack to chill utterly.
Mascarpone Buttercream:
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Beat butter till easy. Slowly add in powdered sugar (1/2 cup at a time). Add vanilla and beat on med-high for 5mins.
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Add mascarpone cheese and beat simply till easy and mixed. Don’t overbeat.
Meeting:
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Repeat with remaining layer and apply a skinny layer of frosting throughout to crumb coat the cake. Chill for 20mins. You may go away the cake bare or absolutely frost the cake after chilling if desired.
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Adorn the highest with contemporary orange slices, orange leaves, and poppy seeds if desired.
Energy: 806kcalCarbohydrates: 95gProtein: 7gFats: 46gSaturated Fats: 28gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 10gTrans Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 158mgSodium: 139mgPotassium: 194mgFiber: 1gSugar: 75gVitamin A: 1455IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 122mgIron: 2mg
The dietary info and metric conversions are calculated routinely. I can’t assure the accuracy of this information. If that is necessary to you, please confirm along with your favourite diet calculator and/or metric conversion instrument.
This submit was initially printed on 04/12/19 and was up to date with new content material on 01/06/22.