Orange Dreamsicle Cake

Savor the Bright Sweetness of Orange Dreamsicle Cake

Take a journey of flavor with this Orange Dreamsicle Cake recipe. It blends light vanilla cake and citrusy orange in a dreamy dessert. Whether it’s a birthday celebration or a sweet ending to a dinner, this cake delivers. Let’s make a showstopper dessert that feels elegant but is surprisingly doable.

Why You’ll Love This Orange Dreamsicle Cake

This Orange Dreamsicle Cake balances the softness of vanilla cake with creamy orange frosting and glaze. Moreover, it’s reminiscent of those orange creamsicle pops you loved as a kid. Not only does it look festive, but it also tastes decadent. Even beginners will be delighted by the result.

Pro Tips to Nail Your Dreamsicle Cake

1. Measure Accurately: Use a digital scale so each layer is consistent.
2. Room Temperature Ingredients: Let butter, egg whites, and buttermilk sit ahead for better texture.
3. Don’t Overmix: Combine dry and wet ingredients just until smooth so cake stays tender.
4. Chill Before Glazing: Chill the cake slightly so mirror glaze sets quickly and cleanly.
5. Use Thin Layers: Thin cake layers help the ganache and frosting shine; they prevent heaviness.

Orange Dreamsicle Cake Recipe

• Preparation time: ~1 hour (excluding chilling)
• Bake time: 33–35 minutes
• Servings: 12–16
• Equipment: 7" or 8" round pans, piping bags, offset spatula, bowls, wire rack

Ingredients

Vanilla Cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (390 g)
• 3 cups granulated sugar (600 g)
• 2½ teaspoon baking powder (10 g)
• 1 teaspoon fine salt (6 g)
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (226 g)
• 1 cup carton egg whites, room temperature (≈7 egg whites, 235 g)
• 1½ cups buttermilk, room temperature (345 g)
• 2 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil (28 g)
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract or bean paste (8 g)

Orange Creamsicle Ganache Filling

• 750 g white chocolate (≈2 bags white chocolate chips)
• 350 g heavy cream, room temp (1½ cups)
• 1 tablespoon orange extract (18 g)
• Orange gel food coloring, as needed

Orange Buttercream Frosting

• 1½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature (339 g)
• ½ teaspoon fine salt (3 g)
• 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract (9 g)
• 1½ teaspoon orange extract (9 g)
• 6 cups powdered sugar (750 g)
• 2 tablespoon heavy whipping cream (28 g)

Orange Mirror Glaze

• 2 teaspoon powdered gelatin (about 1 envelope, 7 g), bloomed in ¼ cup water
• 1½ cups granulated sugar (300 g)
• ¾ cup water (237 g)
• 2⁄3 cup sweetened condensed milk (200 g)
• 2 cups white chocolate chips (350 g)
• Orange gel food coloring

Orange Cakesicles

• 4 cake tops from leveled vanilla cake layers
• ⅔ cup orange buttercream from above
• 1½ cups melted white chocolate
• Wooden popsicle sticks

Baking the Vanilla Cake Layers

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line three 8″ or four 7″ pans with parchment.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly mixed.
3. Add softened butter slowly into dry mixture on low speed until crumbly.
4. Pour in egg whites and mix just until incorporated. Then add buttermilk in two steps, mixing gently.
5. Add the oil and vanilla, mixing until the batter is uniform.
6. Scrape down bowl sides, then beat briefly to ensure everything blends.
7. Divide batter evenly among pans (use a digital scale for precision).
8. Bake 33–35 minutes or until toothpick yields a few moist crumbs.
9. Let pans cool 10 minutes. Run a spatula around edges, then transfer cakes to a rack.
10. Freeze for 30 minutes to accelerate cooling and ease leveling.

Level the tops just before assembling, or freeze layers and thaw briefly before use.

Making the Orange Creamsicle Ganache

1. Place white chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
2. Heat heavy cream until gently bubbling (microwave or stovetop).
3. Pour cream over chocolate and let sit 1–2 minutes.
4. Stir gently until mixture is smooth and glossy.
5. Fold in orange extract and gel coloring.
6. Transfer to a shallow dish to cool.
7. Chill until the ganache thickens to a peanut-butter consistency (~20 minutes).

Orange Buttercream Frosting

1. Beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds until silky.
2. Add vanilla, orange extract, and salt; mix on low until combined.
3. Gradually add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time.
4. Halfway, add the heavy cream and continue mixing.
5. If frosting is too thick, add cream teaspoon by teaspoon.
6. If too thin, add powdered sugar in small increments.

Preparing the Orange Mirror Glaze

1. Bloom gelatin in ¼ cup water and set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix sugar, water, and condensed milk.
3. Heat this mixture briefly until just simmering.
4. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved.
5. Melt white chocolate chips and stir into the warm mixture.
6. Whisk until smooth, then add orange coloring.
7. Let glaze cool slightly before use (aim for ~90–95 °F).

Crafting the Orange Cakesicles

1. Crumble cake tops and mix with ⅔ cup orange buttercream.
2. Press mixture into popsicle molds (makes six).
3. Insert wooden sticks and freeze for 20 minutes.
4. Dip each chilled cakesicle into melted white chocolate and let set.
5. Dip again in mirror glaze and place on a wire rack.
6. Pierce a hole at the bottom of each cakesicle to ease skewering.

Cake Assembly

1. Place one cake layer on a cake board with a dab of frosting to secure it.
2. Pipe and spread an even layer of orange ganache between layers.
3. Coat the cake lightly with ganache for crumb control, then chill.
4. Apply a thick layer of buttercream icing and smooth with a bench scraper.
5. Insert five bamboo skewers around the top to support cakesicles.
6. Chill the cake again for 10 minutes.
7. Spoon mirror glaze around skewers so the glaze drips beautifully.
8. Gently attach each cakesicle onto its skewer using the pre-made hole.

Ready to Enjoy Your Orange Dreamsicle Cake

This Orange Dreamsicle Cake is a stunning dessert with layers, glaze, and popsicle accents. Serve at room temperature so flavors shine. It’s perfect for birthdays, showers, or any sweet celebration.

Want to try another dessert recipe next? You might also love a moist bundt cake like in the Bundt Cake Breakfast or a fruity Peaches and Cream Cake for variety. For savory sides to pair, check out the Easy Taco Soup with Ranch or comfort favorites like Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy.

Enjoy baking and celebrating with your own magical Orange Dreamsicle Cake!

Take a journey of flavor with this Orange Dreamsicle Cake recipe. It blends light vanilla cake and citrusy orange in a dreamy dessert.

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