Description
This Orange Glazed Pound Cake is soft, buttery, and bursting with citrus flavor. Each bite combines the rich texture of classic pound cake with the fresh, tangy sweetness of a homemade orange glaze — perfect for brunches, tea parties, or a sunny afternoon treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled (or weighed)
- ½ tsp fine salt
- ½–1 tsp baking powder (optional, for slightly softer crumb)
- 2–3 Tbsp fresh orange zest (from 2–3 oranges)
- 3 Tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Optional Orange Syrup
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp finely grated zest (optional)
Orange Glaze
- 1½ to 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2–3 Tbsp fresh orange juice (to consistency)
- ½–1 tsp finely grated zest
- 1 tsp melted butter or 1–2 tsp milk/cream (optional, for sheen)
Instructions
- Prep: Heat oven to 335–350°F. Grease your loaf pan and line it with a parchment sling.
- Cream: Beat butter until smooth; add sugar and cream for 3–5 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Eggs: Add eggs one by one, mixing on medium-low and scraping down as needed.
- Dry mix: Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder (if using).
- Combine: On low speed, add dry mix in thirds, alternating with orange juice in two additions (plus vanilla). End with dry. Mix just until incorporated.
- Zest: Fold in zest gently.
- Bake: Spread batter in pan, smooth top, and bake 55–75 minutes (start checking at 55). Tent with foil if browning early.
- Cool & (optional) syrup: Cool 10–15 minutes, lift to rack, then brush all over with warm syrup if using. Cool completely.
- Glaze: Whisk glaze to a slow-ribbon consistency. Spoon or pour over the cooled loaf, nudging drip lines. Let it sit before slicing.
- Prep Time: PT20M
- Cook Time: PT1H00M
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 standard loaf
- Calories: 370kcal
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 90mg