Orange-Scented Buttermilk Cake Loaves

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The solution to baking for 20 is to stick with easy desserts like this moist buttermilk cake, which can be made a day in advance.

Orange-Scented Buttermilk Cake Loaves
Photo: © Michael Turek
Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs
Yield:
3 8-by-4-inch loaves

Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups cake flour, sifted, plus more for dusting

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 cups granulated sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest

  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature

  • 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, at room temperature

  • powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray three 8-by-4-inch loaf pans (disposable are fine) with vegetable oil cooking spray, dust with flour and arrange them on a baking sheet.

  2. In a medium bowl, whisk the cake flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the sugar and orange zest at medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between additions and scraping down the side of the bowl. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla. At low speed, beat in the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the dry ingredients; gently fold just until blended.

  3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the tops; gently tap once to release any air. Bake the loaves for about 45 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center of each loaf comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.

  4. Transfer the loaves to a rack for 20 minutes, then turn them out onto the rack and set them right side up to cool. Dust with powdered sugar, slice and serve.

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