I’m not really the type of person that can just throw things together when baking and magically have it taste good. Cooking, I can make this happen. Baking, well, let’s just say one time in college I made out-of-the-box brownies and they came out so hard we couldn’t cut through them. So, know that if I’m giving you a baking recipe I worked my butt off to make sure this would taste good. And, this ones tastes, like a dream. The frosting is to die for!
I set out to create something delicious, fresh and a little different. I picked orange because spring is just around the corner (well, now its pretty much here) and the color just made me happy. It took me two weekends to get this recipe right. My first one was just a bit too “done.” I tried lower baking temp the second time around and gave it a little more oven time to make sure it was cooked all the way through. This one turned out dense, moist and delicious!
You will need:
Cookware
- A bundt cake pan. One like this one is good. You want to make sure the pan isn’t too dark or it will impact the color of the top of the cake. (You don’t have to make a bundt cake, but that’s what I used. In fact, I had to make more batter to actually fill out the pan.)
- Tooth picks/shish kabob sticks
- Dinner plate
- Handheld mixer
- Large bowl
- Frosting decorating bottles or decorating bags with stainless steel tips
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 10 Tbsp. of butter, melted
- 1 package of vanilla pudding. You can find some with no artificial ingredients at Target.
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1/2 cup of orange juice
- 4 eggs at room temperature
- 2 Tbsp of orange zest
- 2 1/4 tsp. of baking powder
- 1 tsp. of vanilla extract
- Non-stick, baker’s cooking spray, butter or olive oil to grease the pan
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 oz. of cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
- 1.5 tsp. of vanilla
- 1 Tbsp. orange zest
Cake Steps:
- Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees.
- Zest your orange.
- Combine all your dry ingredients together and make sure they are well mixed.
- Add your eggs and mix.
- Add your vanilla, orange juice and milk. Blend everything together.
- Sprinkle in your orange zest as you continue to mix.
- Grease your bundt pan with the butter or cooking spray.
- Pour the mixture into the pan evenly.
- Put it in the oven for 40 minutes once it finishes pre-heating. Make sure you put it on the center rack so you don’t over cook the bottom, which will be your top. Our oven also has the broiler on top so I wanted to make sure everything was cooking evenly.
- Since oven times vary, check the cake at 40 minutes with tooth picks or kabob sticks since the pan is deeper than average.
- If it isn’t cooked through, continue baking in five minute increments. It is very easy to overcook the bottom(the actual top) of this cake.
- Once your kabob stick comes out clean, remove the cake from the oven and place on a cool surface.
- Allow it to cool for 15 minutes.
- Then put a plate on the top of the cake and flip the pan over.
- Let cool for another hour.
Frosting Steps:
- Add your room temperature cream cheese into your large bowl. Mash it just a bit with a fork or spoon.
- Add your vanilla and sugar.
- Melt your butter in the microwave in 30 second increments. Once melted add to the bowl.
- Mix everything together with your handheld mixer until it is smooth and creamy.
- Add your frosting to your decorating bottles or bags.
- Frost your cake in your favorite way.
- Top with your orange zest.
Slice and enjoy!
Happy eating, friends!
For more delicious desserts, check out our desserts page.
That sounds heavenly! I wish I could just sit here and lick all the frosting off lol. I can’t wait to make this cake 🙂
Looks yummy! I’m sure I could eat the whole thing! Love orange dreamsicle ice cream pops!
This looks really good to eat, I’ve been wanting to buy a Bundt cake pan for quite some time now. I never heard of someone adding pudding mix to cake at that it makes it tasty
Don’t you love making BIST cakes? This one might be my summer go to this year!
That should be bundt cakes!
That looks so good! I love anything citrusy! Your photos are beautiful as well! Certainly makes your cake look delicious!
This looks so gorgeous! And so Easter appropriate, absolutely love the look of it and I bet it tastes beautiful too! x
I’m the same way when it comes to baking. It’s such a science that I find it more of challenge in the whip it up department. Loving this cake. It is truly stunning and sounds so delicious.
Oh my goodness! This looks SO good. I am for sure going to have to try this out. I bet its amazing!
I saw this pop up on my Pinterest feed and absolutely need to try it. It looks like the perfect cake for a Mother’s Day brunch!
This sounds so yummy! Pinning it now- this is perfect for Easter dinner. You make it look really easy to make too! Thanks for the recipe.
This looks like a fun summer dessert. I am going to try this one for sure. It looks so good!
I love dreamsicles and anything with cream cheese icing is a winner for me. My whole family would love this desert.
Ooh this looks so delicious! I love orange in cake, this would be perfect for Easter dessert
This looks like a cake that my kids will enjoy and I sure would love to make this for them. I love citrus flavors during Spring and Summer! I’m definitely keeping the recipe!
This bundt cake is seriously gorgeous! I would love to have a slice of it right now.
Looks amazing! Would love to have some of the cake now while watching TV 🙂
What a refreshing cake. This recipe is so perfect for Spring time!
You had me at orange dreamsicle!! One of my all-time favorite flavors!
This cake sounds amazing! Orange Creamsicle Pops were my favorite when I was a kid. Pinning this recipe to make this weekend!
I cannot bake well at all. If this tastes as good as it sounds and looks I’m willing to try. With pudding, orange, cream cheese and powdered sugar how could this cake and frosting be anything but amazing?
Oh my, this cake looks so delicious! I love the citrus in it, and can’t wait to try it out myself!
This looks delicious! Cream cheese frosting is my favorite!
This sounds delicious and looks pretty too! Would make for a great centre piece on the Easter table!
I have a bundt cake mould that I barely ever use – This recipe would be perfect to finally use it again!
This sounds amazing. I’m basically drooling just reading about it and the photos are absolutely beautiful. If it tastes half as good as it looks, I’m sure it’s a winner!
My mouth is literally watering right now, this looks incredible! What a perfect springtime cake.
It looks so pretty! I love orange flavoring. It gives a nice citrus and spring taste to baking recipes. I had some glazed rolls once with a sugar orange glaze on top. They were delicious!
I just LOVE your photography and graphics! You truly have a gift for food photography (it’s not easy!). I’m right with you on the “can’t just throw things together” while baking comment… Every time I try to get creative it goes wrong. Will definitely need to give this a go though!
this looks so amazing! I’ll eat the whole thing!
This sounds and looks so heavenly! I love bundt cakes too!
This cake looks absolutely delicious.
I’ve always loved cakes and this one’s simply perfect for Spring and Summer! I’m sure the kids will love it as well. Definitely a recipe that’s worth keeping.
I made something similar to this once, but in cupcake form. I like the idea of a bundt cake! Looks yummy!
Oh my gosh that looks amazing! I would always get a dreamsicle at school in jr high!
I used to get dreamsicles in jr high all the time! this looks amazing!!
This look so good! I bet it would be perfect for Easter tomorrow afternoon.
It looks yummy and delicious. I will love to prepare this cake on my birthday.