Orange Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Orange Brownies Recipe – homemade blondies with orange juice and orange zest – topped with a homemade orange cream cheese frosting. My favorite dessert. Super simple to make and they are to-die-for delicious! One bite and you will be blown away. This makes a lot of brownies. It is a great make-ahead recipe for parties and potlucks! #brownies #blondies #cake #orange #dessert

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Orange Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe is a cross between cake and brownies/blondies. It doesn’t rise as much as a cake, but there is no chocolate so can it be a brownie? The texture is more like a cake-like brownie, so I call these Orange Brownies. Whatever you call this, it is one of my all-time favorite desserts.  I haven’t made it in years because I can’t control myself around it. I end up eating almost the whole batch. It is very easy to make and has a wonderful orange flavor.

How to Make Paula Deen’s Orange Brownies

This dessert is very easy to make. Start with the brownie/cake batter. Sift together flour, sugar and salt. Add softened butter, orange extract, and fresh orange zest. Mix well and pour batter into a baking dish and bake.

Once the brownies are baked and cooled, make the frosting. Mix together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, fresh orange juice, and orange zest. Spread the frosting over the brownies and cut into squares.

  • This does not rise up like a cake. This is more like a brownie/blondie batter.
  • I don’t have orange extract. Can I use orange juice? Sure. It won’t have as much orange flavor, so you may want to add extra orange zest.
  • I don’t have fresh oranges. Can I use bottled orange juice? Yes. You may want to add a little orange extract to replace the extra flavor from the zest.
  • Can I use low-fat cream cheese? Sure! I think low-fat cream cheese would work fine. I usually stay away from fat-free cream cheese in baking recipes as it doesn’t mix well.
  • Can I bake half a batch of brownies? Yes. You can make a half batch in an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch pan. The cooking time will be close to the same as a whole batch.
  • Can make the brownies ahead of time and store the brownies in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Orange Brownies are Great for a Crowd

This is a great dessert for a cookout, potluck, or holiday dinner. You can cut the brownies into as many squares as you need to feed everyone. This is a pretty sweet dessert, so I always cut it into small squares. One bite and they will all be back for more! These are to-die-for!

Just in cake orange brownies aren’t your thing, here are a few more of our favorite brownie recipes from the blog:

Bisquick Brownies

Bisquick Brownies – hands-down the BEST brownies EVER! Super easy to make and they taste great. Chocolate chips, butter, brown…

Fat Witch Brownies

Original Fat Witch Brownie Recipe – hands-down the most delicious brownies I’ve ever eaten! Recipe from the famous New York…

Glazed Lemon Brownies

Easy Lemon Brownies Recipe – homemade blondies with lemon juice and lemon zest – topped with a sweet lemon glaze.…

plate of orange brownies

Paula Deen’s Orange Brownies

Yield: 2 dozen
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Orange Brownies Recipe – homemade cake blondies with orange juice and orange zest – topped with a homemade orange cream cheese frosting. My favorite dessert. Super simple to make and they are to-die-for delicious! One bite and you will be blown away. Makes a lot of brownies. Great for parties and potlucks! #brownies #blondies #cake #orange #dessert

Ingredients:

Cake

  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp pure orange extract
  • 1 tsp grated orange zest

Frosting

  • 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
  • 4 Tbsp softened butter
  • 1 (1-lb) box confectioners' sugar
  • 2 Tbsp orange zest
  • 2 Tbsp orange juice

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 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.

Notes:

This does not rise up like a cake. This is more like a brownie/blondie batter.
Can use orange juice instead of the orange extract. It won’t have as much orange flavor, so you may want to add extra orange zest.
Can use bottled orange juice instead of fresh. You may want to add a little orange extract to replace the extra flavor from the zest.
I think low-fat cream cheese would work fine. I usually stay away from fat-free cream cheese in baking recipes as it doesn’t mix well.
You can make a half batch in an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch pan. The cooking time will be close to the same as a whole batch.
Can make the brownies ahead of time and store the brownies in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Steph

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plate of orange brownies
plate of orange brownies

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Comments

  1. Thank you for this delicious recipe! I live at 5600 elevation. The center of it collapsed which sometimes happens living up here. Some recipes have elevation adjustments. Wondering if you would have one. I will definitely make this again. It is so delicious.

  2. Can you please tell me if 1 1/2 cups of flour is the right amt for a 9×13 pan, seems that would be for a smaller pan… Thanks

  3. Hi All. I'd love to give this cake a try. Just a question – I note that there is no raising agent ie no baking powder or baking soda. Is this correct? Thanks. Kim

  4. I've made something like this with lemons and instead of cream cheese frosting I made a lemon glaze and I ate the entire pan, so orange with cream cheese frosting….brake out the sweatpants 🙂 🙂 I will be making this but it will be cupcakes 🙂

  5. I am planning to make this great looking cake ASAP! Does this need to be refrigerated after frosting or is countertop in a cake stand with lid ok for storage?

  6. I already had to squish into these britches I'm wearing today!

    I can see no control in my future either if I make this.

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