Gluten Free Orange Cake

If you're looking for something a little different for dessert, may I suggest this gluten free orange cake. It's is filled with tangy orange flavor and topped off with perfect dairy free cream cheese recipe. I've made this recipe with standard navel oranges, but something like blood oranges would also be delicious here.

If you love orange flavored bakes, check out my recipe for orange cranberry muffins, blood orange pound cake or these amazing orange shortbread cookies.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It is filled with orange flavor!
• It's gluten free and dairy free.
• Perfect for a special celebration.

Ingredient Notes

This cake is made of a handful of simple ingredients, but packs a lot of orange flavor.

• Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour Blend - I use Bob's Red Mill brand flour for most of my recipes. You can use the flour blend of your choice, but ensure it contains xanthan gum or a similar binder.
• Orange Zest - This is where the orange flavor comes from in the cake, so don't be tempted to skip this step.
• Oil - I use olive oil in my baking, but any light flavored cooking oil will work fine. Oil allows cake batter to emulsify and hold more liquid, creating a moister end result. Don't be tempted to replace with butter.
• Eggs - Since this recipe calls for 4 eggs, I wouldn't attempt an egg replacement here.
• Non Dairy Milk - I have used unsweetened coconut milk (the kind in the carton) but any non-dairy milk should work fine. If you're not dairy free, you can use regular milk in the same measure.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Instructions

Before mixing your batter, grease and line your cake pans to ensure a good release.

STEP 1: Use your fingers to rub the orange zest into the sugar imparted the oil which will give the cake lots of orange flavor.

STEP 2: Combine the orange sugar and oil together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat for 2-3 minutes on medium speed. It should resemble wet sand.

STEP 3: Add the vanilla. Then add the eggs one at a time, beating for 60 seconds between each addition.

STEP 4: Mix the orange juice and milk together. Turn the mixer to the lowest speed, add half of the flour followed by half of the juice/milk. Then repeat with the remaining ingredients. Divide the batter evenly into your prepared cake pans and bake.

How to make orange cream cheese frosting

This cake uses an orange flavored dairy free cream cheese frosting, which is amazing. It's a little twist on traditional cream cheese frosting.

To make orange cream cheese frosting you will need: vegan butter, vegan cream cheese, orange juice, orange zest and powdered sugar.

STEP 1: Beat the cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer.

STEP 2: Turn the mixer to low speed and add the orange zest and powdered sugar. Mix until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. It will be like thick paste.

STEP 3: Add the orange juice and continue to mix until the frosting is smooth.

STEP 4: Turn the mixer to high speed and beat for about 5 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.

Storage

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Because of the cream cheese in the frosting, this cake must be refrigerated. It will last for 3-4 days.

You can also freeze this cake. Cut individual slices and wrap them each in plastic wrap. Then place the wrapped slices inside a freezer bag or freezer safe container.

Bring to room temperature before serving.