It’s Valentine’s Day and the perfect time to share the love with this delicious orange and vanilla flavored cake. It is absolutely delicious and as moist as can be. The addition of pudding mix creates a nice creamy and yet smooth base for the cake. The texture slightly resembles that of a pound cake but not as dense and the flavors of orange and vanilla are strong without being too overpowering. Loaded down with sweet butter cream frosting and loads of conversation hearts this cake is destined to be your kids and husband’s favorite Valentine Day treat.
I love adding pudding mixes to my bakes goods. I incorporate pudding mix into cookies, breads and yes cakes. It creates a wonderful texture and thickens the cake without being too dense. Some cooks out there swear it doesn’t make a difference and for certain baked goods they are right- it doesn’t, but with the right recipe and the right ingredients adding in pudding can turn an ordinary dessert into something extraordinary.
- 3 sticks unsalted butter
- 3 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 package vanilla pudding mix
- 1 large orange
- ½ cup of orange juice
- 1½ cups of All Purpose flour
- 1½ cups cake flour
- Frosting:
- 4½ cups of confectioners sugar
- 1 stick butter
- 5 TBSP orange juice
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 TBSP milk
- pink food coloring
- * conversation hearts
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grease the pan of your choice. Preferably 8 or 9 inch pan or cupcake pan. Cream together the sugar and butter, then add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and pudding mix along with the zest of the orange. Stir in the flour. Add a ½ cup of orange juice to the cake mixture and mix well.
- Pour into the pan, and bake for 45-50 minutes to an hour. It may need more time depending on your oven.
- To make the frosting: Beat the confectioners' sugar and butter. Add in the vanilla and orange juice and milk to achieve desired consistency.
How adorable. Those little Valentine hearts are precious on your cake and who doesn’t remember them fondly from childhood.
Sam
You can totally see how moist this cake is just from the photos! Plus, it’s such a pretty cake 🙂
This is the sweetest, and I mean sweetest cake I’ve ever seen :). Happy V Day Jessica
I agree about adding the pudding—I’ve found it really makes for a richer moister cake. Love this recipe, as I love the orange-vanilla i.e. creamsicle taste. Happy V-Day!
What a lovely idea and superb cake Belle.
Have a wonderful day.
🙂 Mandy xo
We don’t have pudding in Australia like you use in your recipe. I will have to order it from the USA Foods importer because this is too cute not to make it.
Too adorable for words! I love how it departs from the usual red stuff and chocolate for V-day
really nice!
Awww this is so adorable! Just enough cake – and love the addition of pudding. It looks very moist with a perfect crumb texture! It is a lovely cake perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Too cute!!!
wow this is just gorgeous! I have never seen ‘conversation hearts’ over here..they are such a pretty and playful touch.
Perfect Valentine’s Day dessert! My family would love this beauty!!!
Such a beautiful and lovely cake!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Those ‘conversation hearts’ look so cute. (Don’t Tell – Sweet Pea, etc). Your loved one(s) will come bolting in for this dessert!
This is a cute cake! My kids would be totally gaga over the candy hearts! The simplest are sometimes the best!
Cutest heart cake!! Happy Valentines’ Day 🙂
OMG! This is just so cute! Love the cake!
Ooo this cake does have a nice tight crumb – just like a pound cake! The citrus infusion sounds lovely and the candy heart decorations are so cute!!
awww. how gorgeous! What a pretty treat. x
Prettiest cake ever!
ps: I did comment on this cake a few days ago, but looks like its missing 😀
What an adorable cake and cuty hearts! Love it!
Thanks for sharing! Beautiful presentation, and this would also be great for birthdays, anniversary, or just being sweet to your sweetie!