Mother’s Orange Cake is a simple and easy cake you can make in less than an hour including baking time. With only a few ingredients, you’ll have a fluffy moist and delicious cake. Since oranges are in season I wanted to share my mother’s orange cake recipe. When oranges are not in season check out my Simple Plum Cake Recipe
Seasonal
Oranges are winter fruits with a need for warmer climates to grow. My hometown of Ramallah is a mountain city. Considered a summer resort with a cooler breeze on hot summer days. Jericho on the other hand is considered a winter resort with a warmer climate due to its geographical location below sea level.
My family as well as other families from East Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Bethlehem loved to visit Jericho on weekends in winter . What I loved the most in Jericho was walking into any of the orange groves and hand picking orange peel it and enjoy eating my orange right under the tree.
Jericho orange's are one of the most delicious to be found. Ovular rather than spherical, they have a very thin inner skin and a taste that is neither too tart nor too sweet. Riha and Jericho in Arabic means ‘fragrance’, some people believe the orange blossom scent in springtime is the scent of heaven. Check out this article on the health benefits of seasonal citrus: WHAT’S IN SEASON: CITRUS FRUITS.
California has a very similar climate to Jericho, everywhere I walk I can see wide verity of beautiful citrus trees. Blood oranges can make a great addition of color pictured above. This type of orange was not available in Palestine when I was growing up.
I love eating fruits when they are in season, that’s how I grew up enjoying oranges. I would never eat oranges when they are out of season. Even when they are available in the grocery store out of season. It is simply not just that my brain is programmed against it, the taste is simply not the same. The taste of fresh fruits in season is just heavenly delicious.
How to make orange cake:
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Mother’s Orange Cake
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Mother’s Orange Cake is a simple and easy cake you can make in less than an hour including baking time. With only a few ingredients, you’ll have a fluffy moist and delicious cake.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoons baking soda
- pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of sugar (use ¾ of a cup if oranges are sweet)
- ½ cup olive oil or butter (melted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2-3 oranges, juice, zest, and peel
- zest of one lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix wet ingredients well (eggs, vanilla, butter, sugar)
- Gradually add flour, salt, and baking soda.
- Continue mixing while adding orange juice, orange peel, and zest.
- Pour mixture in 9″ size greased pan.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes.
erotik says
Stunning! So happy you had this experience. Yes, endless possibilities for you! Allx Lauritz Aires
Wafa Shami says
Thank you.
Melanie says
Delicious! Such a flavorful and delightful dessert!
Wafa Shami says
Thank you Melanie, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Jae W Buck says
Very yummy.
Deirdre Haj says
This cake is so lovely and not too sweet. I used more vanilla and almond extract. I also used zest as suggested. I sprinkled powdered sugar on top and served it for a dinner party with blackberries and crème fraiche. Everyone had seconds. Easy to make early in the day. Thank you!
Wafa Shami says
Hi Deirdre, I'm so glad to hear that you and your guests enjoyed it. Those extra additions sounded great -:)
Kim Van Houten says
Today was my daughter’s birthday. I decided to make this cake to celebrate. I did use more oranges (4) — more juice which is probably why it came out a bit dense. Used more vanilla because I always use extra in any recipe! Made a lot of candied orange peels and used some of the simple syrup leftover to drizzle across the cake before sprinkling on powdered sugar and topping with the candied peels. This tasted so awesome! We’re trying to think about other reasons to make it again, maybe adding other fruit, too.
Wafa Shami says
Happy Birthday to your daughter, the candied orange peels sound delicious. I'm glad you all enjoyed it.