Sicilian Whole Orange Cake (Using an Entire Orange: Peel, Juice and Pulp)
Sicilian whole orange cake is a moist and delicious crowd-pleasing dessert. It is called a whole orange cake, because the entire orange is used, peel and all. Perfect for any occasion, but such a treat with a cup of tea or coffee.
My mother found the original Sicilian orange cake recipe for this divine baked treat on an Italian website, and I can’t even begin to describe how moist and fruity it is.
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The orange scent that fills your kitchen as it bakes is also heavenly! It contains a whole orange, peel and all (no seeds), and you’ll need another orange if you make the glaze.
The original recipe calls for an ingredient that’s mostly only available in Italy, so my mother adapted it for the rest of us and even added some yogurt, and the result is fabulous!
Many of you have asked…
What is Paneangeli or Pane Degli Angeli?
Paneangeli is the brand (translating to angel bread). Pane degli angeli means “angels’ bread” alluding to how light the product makes cakes and bakes. However, in plain English, the packets contain a vanilla-flavored baking powder. To me, when I smell it, it makes me feel like I’m in Italy because it’s used in so many cakes and pastries. Sorry for the pun, but the aroma is heavenly!
Getting ready for Christmas? Try these authentic Italian Christmas recipes which are great all year long!
Just know that the texture of this cake is different than a typical American cake: it’s more dense and heavy, but it’s meant to be that way. The whole orange cake also has a lovely glaze made with orange juice that soaks into the top of the cake, and works perfectly with blood oranges, too. I made a whole blood orange bundt cake to test them out (more than once)!
Tip: I once accidentally boiled the glaze into a syrup (forgot it was on the stove) and when I glazed the cake, it hardened and gave the cake a candy-like topping. I loved it! If you’d like to try this, just simmer the glaze an extra 6 or 7 minutes or so.
Everyone who’s tried it, loves it. Honestly, it’s just such a unique and crowd pleasing cake! Here’s a recent review (edited May 2023) which is only one of almost 2,800 reviews averaging 4.8 stars!
“Amazing, moist, delightful!
My whole family went back for THIRDS, didn’t last very long in our kitchen! Thanks for sharing” -Tianna
Gluten free diet? Try my gluten free recipe of this Sicilian Orange Cake!
It even gives perfect results when I make a gluten free whole orange cake. Of course, you can probably guess what I’m going to say next: you really need to use the best oranges you can get your hands on for this Sicilian whole orange cake recipe to turn out as deliciously as possible. If you can find organic, sweet, juicy oranges without a super thick rind, you’ll have it made. And if you ever have kumquats, try the same recipe to make these kumquat cupcakes.
Another of my most highly used recipes: authentic Italian tomato sauce (ready in minutes)
Just be sure to make this orange cake before citrus season is over! I’m sure there are other recipes for orange cake using fresh oranges, but I’d bet that this just may be the best orange cake in the world! It’s also perfect without the glaze as many have added in the comments and reviews. Speaking of reviews, take a look at all the rave reviews and comments, many bakers declaring it is the best cake they’ve ever made!
Edited Dec. 2020: I’ve just made a cranberry twist to this recipe!
Edited February 2019: I’ve made this orange cake recipe in a loaf tin, and it’s perfect. I’ve also made it in a bundt tin and the amount of batter for one recipe makes a short bundt cake. If you want a larger cake, make 1.5x the recipe.
Speaking or oranges, did you know arancini means little oranges? Try my popular Sicilian rice ball recipe!
Can I Freeze this Sicilian Whole Orange Cake?
Yes, this orange cake freezes beautifully! I often have pieces in the freezer because it freezes so well!
Now adding my Sicilian Whole Lemon Cake, too! I’ve adapted this recipe for a Meyer lemon cake, too! It’s fantastic!
Do I Have to use a Food Processor to Make this Orange Cake?
I’ve been asked if a food processor or blender is necessary to make this cake and the answer is, “yes.” Unfortunately, it would be too difficult to chop the orange as finely as needed by hand. You can see how fine the orange is processed in a photo below, however, an inexpensive food processor works great.
EDITED 7/2022: Daniel Coffey (a reader) left a tip for those of you without food processors in the comments below. Since it might be difficult to find, I’m adding it here:
“I…cut the peel into coarse strips and then finely diced them. I put the chopped bits of orange into the spice grinder in two batches and pulsed the stick blender a few times. I tapped it on the counter top to shake down any remaining coarse bits and gave it about 30 seconds. Scrape out and repeat for the other orange half. You can then put the juice and finely chopped peels in the recipe as normal.”
Sicilian Whole Orange Cake
adapted by Lidia Conte from Pan d’Arancio from Allaciate il Grembuile
I highly recommend using a scale for this recipe and if you are deciding cups or weight, ALWAYS weigh!
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
Make the whole orange cake
Prepare an 8″ springform pan by spraying with oil (or butter) and lining in parchment paper (sides optional, if you want really clean sides), then spray the paper, too.
Place the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and beat with a mixer until light and creamy.
Sift the flour with the baking powder or Paneangeli, then add to the mixture in the bowl a little at a time along with the softened butter. Continue to mix until completely blended, then stir in the yogurt.
In a food processor, or blender, process the whole orange until it is almost pureed. It should look like this~
Add the processed whole orange to the cake mixture (along with the vanilla if you used baking powder) and stir until evenly combined Put the batter into the prepared tin.
Bake the cake
Bake for 50-60 minutes (depending on your oven), but test with a cake tester or skewer to make sure the orange cake is done before removing from the oven. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes, then run a thin knife around the perimeter and remove the side of the springform pan.
Make the orange glaze
Prepare the glaze by melting the sugar in the orange juice and allow to simmer for a few minutes, just until the liquid has a syrupy consistency. Spoon and brush the hot glaze over the top of the warm cake and allow to cool completely before cutting. Yes, it’s hard to wait, but the moist orange cake will cut more easily if it’s cool first.
Enjoy the Sicilian whole orange cake!
Love citrus? Try making this lemon posset, but using oranges (or an orange/lemon combo) instead! It’s honestly one of my favorite desserts! It’s similar to orange boodle, but even easier, which is saying a lot. Oh, and I just keep making this recipe using all sorts of fruits. In addition to the whole lemon cake I shared above, I’ve also made whole apple cake, pear cake, peach cake, blood orange cake, kumquat cake (and kumquat cupcakes) and tried lime, but the rind was too bitter. I will post here when I tweak the recipe to make it work.
Aaand I’m updating to add apricot cake, mandarin orange cake, and whole Meyer lemon cake, which is divine!
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Sicilian Whole Orange Cake
Special Equipment
- 1 packet Pane Degli Angeli vanilla baking powder (Italian)
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 250 g sugar
- 275 g all purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder or 1 packet Italian Pane Degli Angeli vanilla baking powder
- 100 g butter salted, softened
- 100 g Greek yogurt plain (yes, sour cream works, too)
- 300 g orange approximately 1 large fresh, sweet, organic: washed and cut into pieces (keep the rind, but remove the seeds)
- 1 tsp 1 tsp vanilla extract (ONLY USE IF USING PLAIN BAKING POWDER)
Glaze
- 75 ml orange juice freshly squeezed juice of one large, organic orange
- 60 g sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
Make the whole orange cake
- Prepare an 8" springform pan by spraying with oil (or butter) and lining in parchment paper (sides optional, if you want really clean sides), then spray the paper, too.
- Place the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and beat with a mixer until light and fluffy.
- Sift the flour with the baking powder or Paneangeli then add to the mixture in the bowl a little at a time along with the softened butter. Continue to mix until completely blended, then stir in the yogurt.
- In a food processor, process the whole orange until it is almost pureed.
- Add this orange to the cake mixture (along with the vanilla if you used plain baking powder) and stir until evenly combined, then put the batter into the prepared tin.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes (depending on your oven), but test with a cake tester or skewer to make sure the orange cake is done before removing from the oven. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes, then remove the side of the springform pan.
Make the orange glaze
- Prepare the glaze by melting the sugar in the orange juice and allow to simmer for a few minutes, just until the liquid has a syrupy consistency.
- Spoon and brush over the top of the cake and allow to cool completely before cutting.
Notes
- I've received lots of emails and messages about the discrepancy in the measurements between metric and cups: THIS RECIPE WILL TURN OUT BEAUTIFULLY WHETHER YOU USE EITHER MEASUREMENT, which isn't normally the case (I normally recommend metric as it's more precise.)
- Measurements are NOT critical in this cake recipe. For some reason, it's extremely forgiving.
- Thousands of reviews can't be wrong.
- I've made this orange cake recipe in a loaf tin, and it's perfect.
- I've also made it in a bundt tin and the amount of batter for one recipe makes a short bundt cake. If you want a full size bundt cake, make 1.5x the recipe.
- Yes, it's hard to wait, but the moist orange cake will cut more easily if it's cool first.
- When I published this recipe almost a decade ago, it was the ONLY WHOLE ORANGE CAKE RECIPE in ENGLISH online. My mother found it on an Italian website (which I credit.) This is the original in English.
Nutrition
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Here’s a tip for those of us who might not have a food processor or liquidiser… as long as you have a stick blender (such as a Bamix) with the small “spice grinder” attachment with the little metal blade inside, you can still get the orange finely chopped enough.
I halved then juiced the orange so that I could get rid of the pips. I then cut the peel into coarse strips and then finely diced them. I put the chopped bits of orange into the spice grinder in two batches and pulsed the stick blender a few times. I tapped it on the counter top to shake down any remaining coarse bits and gave it about 30 seconds. Scrape out and repeat for the other orange half.
You can then put the juice and finely chopped peels in the recipe as normal.
This is great, Daniel! I will add this tip to the recipe and credit you! :)
Can I use mascarpone instead of yogurt?
I’m sure that’d be great, Annette!
Anyone have a high altitude adjustment?
Sorry I can’t help with that, Karen. Hopefully someone comes to your aid here.
I lived in Denver hope this helps.
Decrease by 5-8 minutes per 30 minutes of baking time. Baking at higher temperatures means products are done sooner. Increase by 1 to 2 tablespoons at 3,000 feet. Increase by 1 1/2 teaspoons for each additional 1,000 feet.
Thanks for sharing this, Bea. I think you missed an ingredient, but from your other comment, did you mean increase sugar?
You’re decreasing temp while increasing sugar .
Can I add fruit, like plums or nectarines, on top?
Why not, Josie? I think that would be lovely!
What is a springform pan?
A springform pan is one of the ones that are in two pieces – a round base with a lip and then an expanding loop with a retaining clip. The loop fits into the lip on the base and then clips tight. The advantage over a standard pan is that once the cake has cooled a bit you can release the retaining clip and take off the sides. This leaves the cake free to be lifted off the base with a spatula or knife.
You can achieve the same effect by using a regular cake tin but as well as buttering it, place a parchment disc on the bottom. You can also cook this recipe in a loaf tin (2lb / 1 kilo) which can be buttered then have a parchment sling across the bottom and up the two long sides.
Thanks again, Daniel!
Can I use Clementines?
Some readers have done so and loved it, I’ve also used tangerines. :)
Actually this recipe is not so unique. It’s very similar to a 1950 Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe winner called Orange Kiss Me Cake.
I will try your recipe though. The cake I mentioned has raisins and nuts that are ground with the oranges and also has orange juice poured over the warm cake. I made it recently for a reunion and everyone loved it. You can find the recipe on line if you would like to try it. May also be on Pinterest.
Good to know, Christine! Thanks! Let me know how you like this recipe!
Has anyone tried it with cake flour?
I have. Works great. Just use a little more than a-p
I noted the comment asking has anyone used cake flour. The reply was yes it works great but use more than the ap flour. How much more?