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Blood Orange Pound Cake is the pretty pink twist on the classic recipe. Citrus zest inside and juice for the glaze not only make for a pretty cake but a flavorful citrus one as well.
I posted this recipe on the Instagram yesterday but figured Iโd put it right here too so itโs easily printable and readable.
I also wanted to say hello and tell you that Iโm currently knee-deep in finalizing my Valentineโs Day content for this year and am INCREDIBLY excited about it all. There is a sheet cake for two, some cupcakes with a fun surprise inside and a few other cute and delicious things. Iโm thinking of adding something savory in the mix. But then Iโm done! I canโt wait.
When I walk around the neighborhood, I’m sort of surprised that a lot of the houses are decorated for Valentineโs Day. Iโve never seen such a thing before. I dunno if these people are bored or just really good homemakers. WHO KNOWS. But Iโm here for it. They have heart wreaths hanging on their doors.
Another thing that is thriving in the neighborhood is all the winter citrus hanging from the trees. Itโs all gorgeous. Everything from blood oranges to cara caras to little kumquat bushes. Theyโre all so pretty.
I didnโt steal these blood oranges from a neighborโI bought themโbut feel free to take some from a neighbor and make this cake! I said itโs ok!
How to Make Blood Orange Pound Cake:
- Mix together the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder to thoroughly combine and get rid of any lumps.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Beat the sugar with the butter and orange zest. This will help the zest really infuse throughout the cake.
- Add the eggs. One at a time, then beating for a minute or two, this helps the cake become nice and fluffy!
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Alternate between the milk and flour, mixing just until the flour is combined.
- Bake. Add the batter to a pan and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from pan and cool. Wait only 10 minutes then flip the pan over on a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Make the Glaze. Whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and blood orange juice to make the glaze, making sure the glaze isn’t too thin.
- Finish the cake and serve. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake. Wait for the glaze to set then garnish with orange slices.
How to Freeze Pound Cake:
To freeze, slice the pound cake down and wrap slices in plastic wrap. To thaw, just take out of the freezer and sit out at room temperature until thawed.
Blood Orange Pound Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Pound Cake:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups white granulated sugar
- Zest from 1 blood orange, about 1 teaspoon
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Glaze:
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons fresh blood orange juice
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 blood orange, sliced, as garnish
Instructions
To Make the Pound Cake:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease a 6-cup bundt pan with cooking spray. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
- To the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment (you can also do this in a medium bowl with an electric hand mixer), add the softened butter, sugar and blood orange zest; beat for about 5 minutes, until pale in color. Mix in one egg at a time, being sure each egg is incorporated before adding another. Turn mixer to high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix.
- Fold flour mixture into butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Pour the pound cake batter into the prepared bundt pan and transfer to the oven to bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 5 minutes in the pan and then invert onto a cooling rack.
To Make the Glaze:
- While the pound cake is cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar, blood orange juice and milk. If glaze is too thick, add the additional tablespoon of juice. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake and garnish with blood orange slices.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know on Instagram!
Looking for more cake recipes? Here are some of my favorites:
Where did you get this bundt pan from? love the shape, so chic
Can you use a round cake pan if you donโt have a bundt cake pan instead or no?
Hmm…I think it might be too much cake batter. I would use a 9×5-inch loaf pan if you have it! That should be a perfect fit.
I have made this cake one other time, and while it was good; it definitely lacked any good orange flavor. I made it again today, with some changes, and it was soooooo good! I used the zest of 2 oranges, omitted the milk and used 1/2c of the juice from the orange. The batter itself was delicious! Don’t get me wrong, the recipe for the cake is nice, but it needed more orange flavor. No one knew it was blood orange without the garnish.
Can you use a loaf pan too or will it be too much cake?
I was able to get 2 loaves out of it.
This looks so good and I definitely want to try making this! I have only tried making a corn and coconut pound cake before from Maria Liberati. It was super tasty as well! The link to this: http://www.marialiberati.com/2018/06/09/a-corny-poundcake-to-celebrate-national-corn-on-the-cob-day/