Orange Cake

This cake is one of my all-time favorite desserts.  I haven't made it in years because I can't control myself around it.  It is very easy to make and has a wonderful orange flavor.

This recipe is from Paula Deen.  If there is one thing Paula Deen does well, it is desserts.  She calls this recipe orange brownies, but I think that title is confusing since there is no chocolate anywhere in the recipe.  This is a great cake for a spring/summer cookout.  I'd like to experiment with other citrus flavors - lemon and/or lime sound good.  I think that sounds like the perfect excuse to make this again!

Orange Cake
Paula Deen
(Printable Recipe)

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Cake
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
4 eggs
2 tsp pure orange extract
1 tsp grated orange zest

Frosting
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 Tbsp softened butter
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
2 Tbsp orange zest
2 Tbsp orange juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 pan.

Cake:
Stir together flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven, allow to cool.

Frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese together with a hand-held electric mixer. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is all combined and smooth. Beat in the orange zest and juice. Spread over cake and cut into squares.