Savor the Sweet Brightness of Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
Embark on a citrus-filled journey with this Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting, merging tangy zest, tender crumb, and a smooth, dreamy frosting. Every bite captures the sunshine-bright notes of orange while keeping the texture incredibly moist and fluffy.

Whether it’s a family birthday, a cozy afternoon treat, or a festive holiday table, this cake delivers joy. The refreshing orange flavor pairs beautifully with the creamy tang of cream cheese frosting, giving you a dessert that feels both nostalgic and elegant.
Ideal for gatherings, celebrations, or a simple tea-time indulgence, this recipe offers a balance of sweetness and citrus that everyone will love. Ready to discover how this Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting can become your go-to citrus cake? Let’s dive into this vibrant recipe together.
Bright and Moist: Your New Favorite Orange Buttermilk Cake Recipe
This Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting is more than a dessert. It’s a celebration of flavor, balancing the richness of cream cheese frosting with the light, tangy crumb of buttermilk cake. Because the batter uses fresh orange zest, every slice bursts with natural citrus notes.
Unlike heavy cakes, this one feels airy yet indulgent. It’s simple enough for beginner bakers but still special enough to serve at dinner parties. Just like a comforting old-fashioned peach cobbler or a buttery pound cake, it brings people together with ease.
Here’s how you can recreate this sunshine-bright cake at home with professional tips for success.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Orange Buttermilk Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Room-Temperature Ingredients: Always use room-temperature eggs and cream cheese. This ensures even mixing and a smoother cake texture.
- Gentle Mixing: Avoid over-whisking once you add the flour. Gentle folding keeps the crumb tender.
- Citrus Boost: For stronger orange flavor, add a teaspoon of orange extract to the batter. It intensifies the citrus without adding bitterness.
- Frosting Patience: Let the cake cool completely before frosting. Warm cake can cause the frosting to slide off.
- Creative Layers: Spread a thin layer of marmalade between cake halves. It enhances flavor and adds a touch of natural sweetness.

Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe:
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
- Cooking time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Equipment: 9×2 inch round baking pan, whisk, spatula, electric mixer
This Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting will quickly earn a permanent place in your dessert rotation, just like a moist and fluffy orange cake.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of one orange (about 1 tablespoon)
- ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
For the frosting:
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon orange extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Directions:
- Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×2 inch pan, line with parchment, and butter the lining and sides.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk sugar and eggs. Add orange zest, vanilla, and buttermilk. Stir until blended.
- Add Butter and Oil: Slowly whisk in cooled melted butter and oil. Mix until smooth.
- Incorporate Dry Mix: Fold in the sifted dry ingredients until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
- Bake the Cake: Pour batter into the pan. Smooth the top and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Let the cake cool for 20 minutes in the pan. Invert onto a wire rack and cool fully.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, marmalade, orange juice, vanilla, and orange extract until creamy. Add powdered sugar. Beat again until smooth.
- Assemble and Frost: Slice the cake in half horizontally. Spread marmalade and a quarter of the frosting between layers. Place the top back, then cover with the remaining frosting.
Ready to Relish!
This Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting is sunshine on a plate. It combines the gentle tang of buttermilk, the zest of citrus, and the richness of cream cheese frosting. Pair it with a hot tea or coffee, and you have an uplifting treat any day of the week.
It’s versatile, too. Much like easy homemade lasagna comforts the soul or Parmesan crusted tilapia adds flair to dinner, this cake proves that homemade desserts can be both simple and unforgettable.
Try it once, and you’ll understand why cakes like this belong next to to-die-for buttermilk pound cake in your recipe box.
Whether you’re baking for a celebration or simply to brighten the day, this Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting delivers in every bite.
Print📖 Recipe
Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
This Orange Buttermilk Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting will quickly earn a permanent place in your dessert rotation, just like a moist and fluffy orange cake.
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
-
2 cups all-purpose flour
-
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
-
½ teaspoon baking soda
-
¼ teaspoon salt
-
2 large eggs, at room temperature
-
1 cup sugar
-
1 cup buttermilk
-
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
-
Zest of one orange (about 1 tablespoon)
-
¼ cup butter, melted and cooled
-
2 tablespoons neutral oil
For the frosting:
-
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
-
4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
-
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
-
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
-
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
-
½ teaspoon orange extract
-
2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
-
Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×2 inch pan, line with parchment, and butter the lining and sides.
-
Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
-
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk sugar and eggs. Add orange zest, vanilla, and buttermilk. Stir until blended.
-
Add Butter and Oil: Slowly whisk in cooled melted butter and oil. Mix until smooth.
-
Incorporate Dry Mix: Fold in the sifted dry ingredients until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
-
Bake the Cake: Pour batter into the pan. Smooth the top and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
-
Cool Completely: Let the cake cool for 20 minutes in the pan. Invert onto a wire rack and cool fully.
-
Prepare Frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, marmalade, orange juice, vanilla, and orange extract until creamy. Add powdered sugar. Beat again until smooth.
-
Assemble and Frost: Slice the cake in half horizontally. Spread marmalade and a quarter of the frosting between layers. Place the top back, then cover with the remaining frosting.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes






Leave a Reply