Ingredients

The following ingredients have 11 Servings
  • 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 6 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
  • 4 Tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 4 Tbsp heavy cream or milk

Instruction

  • Preheat oven to 350F Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, putting a round of parchment paper at the bottom of each one.
  • Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt and set aside.
  • Put the granulated sugar and orange zest into a food processor and process until moist, pale orange, and no large pieces of zest remain. This will take under a minute.
  • Cream the butter and your newly created orange sugar together in a stand mixer for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the machine as necessary.
  • Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl in between each addition.
  • Turn the mixer to low and add the flour mixture, and just before it's completely mixed in, add the buttermilk and orange juice. Blend until combined, but don't over-mix. I like to finish by hand to get everything incorporated. Pay special attention to the bottom of the bowl.
  • Divide the batter equally between the two prepared pans and spread out evenly. Bake in the center of the oven for about 35 minutes, or until the cake springs back when touched lightly, and is just beginning to pull away from the edges of the pan.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes before turning out of the pans. Let the layers cool completely (completely!) before frosting.
  • To make the frosting beat the butter gradually with the confectioner's sugar, adding the orange juice, vanilla, and enough cream to thin it to a nice spreadable consistency. If the frosting seems too thin, add a bit more sugar, and if it seems too thick, add a touch of cream. If your frosting is very lumpy, you can process it briefly in a food processor, it creates a perfectly silky texture.