This orange marmalade cake is flavorful, moist, and it was a hit at our house! Cake mix hacks are always fun to tweak and this one doesn’t disappoint.
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I searched Pinterest for orange cakes and I found an orange creamsicle layer cake from Fresh April Flours. While her recipe isn’t a cake mix hack, it gave me the idea of using orange marmalade for the cake.
Orange Marmalade Cake
It’s time for this month’s Pinterest Challenge hosted by Erlene from My Pinterventures. This is always a fun blog hop with tons of great ideas and loads of creativity shared!
Let’s meet this month’s Pinterest Challenge hosts!
My Pinterventures • Cookies Coffee and Crafts
Sew Crafty Crochet • Eye Love Knots • My Sweet Things
Across the Boulevard • Suzerspace • Purple Hues and Me
Decorate and More with Tip • Mom Home Guide
Our Unschooling Journey • Intelligent Domestications
Craftify My Love • Life Beyond the Kitchen • K’s Olympic Nest
Teadoddles • Farm Girl Reformed • Simple Nature Decor• Stone Cottage Adventures
To join next month’s #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ August Pinterest Challenge
I have no shame is saying that I often start my cakes with a cake mix. It saves time, effort, and there is less clean up, too. I’ve found that adding in various ingredients to a cake mix can result in lots of delicious flavor combinations. If you’ve seen any of the recipes that we share, you know that we’re all about making things that are quick and easy!
The key ingredient to this orange cake is the marmalade. I had never thought about using marmalade in a cake before, but it’s a great add-in. Orange zest and fresh squeezed juice are also flavor enhancers.
While the cake is baking, make the orange cream cheese filling and frosting. It has more orange marmalade and orange zest in it. One of the ways I altered the inspiration recipe was by using orange extract instead of vanilla as that recipe called for in both the cake and the frosting. I separated out some of the frosting to use for the filling that doesn’t have the orange coloring.
Once the cake layers are done and cool, generously add the orange cream cheese filling to the bottom layer. Top with the second layer.
I wanted my orange cake to have orange frosting. I attempted to combine food coloring gels to get the shade of orange I wanted. That failed. I have shared a recipe for Orange Cream Pie that uses a packet of Kool-Aid for the orange flavor. I decided to give that a try for this frosting. I didn’t want the Kool-Aid flavor to overwhelm the frosting, so I only added about 1/4 of the pack of unsweetened orange Kool-Aid to the frosting. I got the exact shade of orange that I wanted and since I used so little of the packet, the taste isn’t noticeable.
I worried that the orange marmalade might make this a dense, heavy cake, but it didn’t. It was light and moist.
Orange Marmalade Cake
A delicious combination of vanilla cake with orange marmalade. The cream cheese frosting with marmalade is the perfect topping for the cake.
Ingredients
- 1 Vanilla Cake Mix
- 1/2 Cup Orange Marmalade
- 4 Eggs
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter
- 3 tsp Orange Extract
- Zest and Juice from 1/2 of a Navel Orange
- 3/4 Cup Milk
Filling & Frosting
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter (Softened)
- 8 oz Block Cream Cheese (Softened)
- 4 to 5 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tbs Orange Extract
- Zest from 1/2 of Navel Orange
- 2 tsp Juice from Navel Orange
- 1/4 Cup Orange Marmalade
- 1/4 Packet of Unsweetened Orange Kool Aid
Instructions
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Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
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Prepare 2 9" cake pans with spray release.
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Zest a large navel orange. Slice in half and squeeze juice into a small cup. Reserve 2 tsp for frosting.
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In a stand mixer, cream softened butter.
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Add orange marmalade to butter. Mix on medium until combined.
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Add eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition.
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Add one half of the orange zest, extract, and juice. Mix on medium until combined.
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Add 1/2 of the cake mix to bowl.
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Add 1/2 of the milk to bowl.
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Mix on medium until combined and add in the remaining cake mix and milk.
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Continue mixing on medium for two minutes.
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Pour into prepared cake pans and bake. Check cake for doneness after 25 minutes, add more time if needed.
Filling and Frosting
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Cream softened butter and cream cheese in large mixing bowl.
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Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time to mixture. Beat on medium to blend.
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Add orange extract, zest, and 2 tsp orange juice and continue to beat on medium for 1 minute.
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Add orange marmalade and stir by hand to incorporate it into the frosting.
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Separate enough of the frosting for the filling between the cake layers.
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Add 1/4 packet of orange Kool Aid to remaining frosting and stir by hand to incorporate it into the frosting.
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Allow layers to cool completely before adding the filling to the bottom layer. Add top layer and generously frost the top and sides of cake. Store in an air tight container or refrigerate.
This is going into my favorite cakes list in my recipe files. It’s fun to try something new and have it turn out even better than I hoped it would! I added a couple of twisted orange slices to the top for a little embellishment.
Pin Me, Please!
Orange Marmalade Cake
with Marmalade & Cream Cheese Filling and Frosting
Related Products
Now, let’s see what the other hosts have created ⇓⇓
Beverly shares easy, inexpensive craft tutorials, diy projects for the home, coastal decor projects, & thrift store find makeover projects all designed to help you create a beautiful home on a budget.
Claudia says
Wow, this looks delicious and I love orange in cakes. I will be giving this a try soon!
Beverly says
Thank you, Claudia. I hope you’ll love it!
Terrie says
looks yummy, I pinned to make for our dinner group
Beverly says
Thanks, Terrie. I hope your group enjoys it.
Jenny says
What a delicious looking cake! I agree cake mixes are just easier to make, but you can always dress them up.
Beverly says
Thanks! Starting with a cake mix makes things easier!
Mother of 3 says
What a fabulous idea! My son and I tried making an orange creamsicle cake a few years ago using real orange juice and rinds (following someone else’s recipe) and it really lacked flavor. We’ll have to try this! Pinned.
Beverly says
It really adds lots of flavor. The orange extract helps, too. Thanks for the pin!
Shirley Wood says
What a yummy summer dessert and pretty too! I have used Kool Aid to color frostings before too and it makes a beautiful color.
Beverly says
Thanks, Shirley! I was glad that the Kool Aid didn’t alter the flavor. I’ll be using it more often in frostings now.
Kristie Cook says
This looks yummy! I haven’t had an orange creamsicle in forever & now I really need one, ha ha!
Beverly says
Thanks, Kristie!
Karren Haller says
Oh….My…Goodness I came to your front page and saw the cake and skipped by the party!! This looks amazing, I want a piece, please!!
Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts, I sincerely appreciate it!!
HAve a great week!
Kim @Serving Up Southern says
Hi Beverly!
Your cake looks delicious! I love citrus, especially lemon, lime, and orange. I’m pinning this because I want to give it a try. Thanks so much for sharing at Homestyle Gathering. It’s so nice having you at the party! I hope you have a lovely weekend!
>>> Kim
Maria says
You make this look easy! Im not the GREATEST baker! But i could make this! Pinned
Cherryl Ehlenburg says
Your cake is beautiful! It just looks so rich and creamy and delicious!
Masala Vegan says
Love the flavour combination. Found this through the BlOghop party.
Lydia from Life Beyond the Kitchen says
Oh wow does this look good and it brings back memories. My favorite cake growing up was orange with lime jello (a precursor to the Poke Cake, I guess). It had cream cheese frosting, too. My mother would make it for my birthday.
Pili says
It looks yummy, I love to use orange in desserts. Pinning!
Kelli says
This is one time I really wish I could reach into the screen and help myself to. This looks and sounds so delicious! I can’t remember the last time I made a cake though. Pinned this because it is one I want to try.
Erlene says
I love marmalade spread and use it to make chicken. I bet it tastes great inside the cake! Pinned.
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This is beautiful!! And so easy – Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party!
Alexandra says
This cake looks incredible! Love how you’ve done the decorating on the outside. Pinned – perfect for our next family get together.
Habiba says
I love everything citrucy so obviously this cake is a must for me. I already pinned it and I hope I get to bake it soon. As I am not very much into baking, I totally support your cake mix hack. So much less messy, too!
Karren Haller says
YOur cake looks so refreshing!!
Thank you for stopping by last weeks #omhgff for sharing, this week it is my pleasure to feature your post!! Be sure to stop by again!! Have a great weekend!
Karren