Sunny Orange Layer Cake

Total Time

Prep: 45 min. Bake: 25 min. + cooling

Makes

14 servings

Updated: Jan. 13, 2023
If you like orange flavor, you'll love this made-from-scratch orange cake recipe. No one will ever believe that you use gelatin as the secret ingredient in both the cake and the frosting.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup shortening
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
  • 2-1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 package (3 ounces) orange gelatin
  • 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/3 cup 2% milk
  • FROSTING:
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange gelatin powder
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange zest. Combine the flour, gelatin, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with orange juice and milk, beating well after each addition.
  2. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, gelatin powder and vanilla until blended.
  4. Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with frosting. Top with remaining cake layer; frost top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 475 calories, 23g fat (10g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 370mg sodium, 63g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein.