Plumcake all'Arancia (Orange Loaf Cake). Simple and oh so delicious, this soft, fragrant, dairy-free loaf cake is ideal for breakfast, snack, or light dessert. All you need is eggs, sugar, flour, oil, and a couple of organic oranges, rich in flavor and Vitamin C.
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In the Italian tradition some cakes are suitable for breakfast but double up as snack and dessert.
Plumcake all'Arancia or Orange Loaf Cake
Don't ask me why in Italy we call "Plumcake" this type of sweets since there are no 'plums' involved. It seems like it comes from the English 'Pound Cake', but how it happened that "Pound" arriving in Italy has become "Plum" remains a mystery.
What I can tell you is that it is recognizable not only by its characteristic parallelepiped shape but also by the pillowy softness of the crumb and an unmistakable fragrance.
Let's gather the ingredients
Normally, the ingredients I have, influence my baking and not vice-versa. In the case of this Orange Loaf Cake, I used:
- flour type 0 (which is less refined than the double zero 00). You can use unbleached all-purpose flour, but also spelt flour or whole wheat flour;
- free-range organic eggs;
- organic oranges from the farmers' market, since I am going to use both the juice and the zest;
- organic cane sugar (I used beet sugar I bought in Japan during my last visit). You can use any sugar you have, better if raw or unrefined;
- a vegetable oil or a light olive oil (I often use peanut oil, which is the only vegetable oil I buy and use it for frying and baking);
- organic 'lievito vanigliato', the Italian vanilla-flavored equivalent of baking powder.
Plumcake all'arancia is easy to make
In my apartment in Rome I don't have a stand mixer, but an old handheld mixer that was my mom's. It works perfectly to beat up the eggs and sugar nice and fluffy. Then you need to add the vegetable oil, the orange juice, and the zest and keep beating on low to incorporate. After that, you add the sifted flour and baking powder and stir or beat just until incorporated.
Tips on how to get a soft crumb
- Always sift the flour and all the other dry ingredients in the recipe. In this way, you eliminate any lumps and incorporate more air that will help to get a nice rise of the loaf.
- Add the flour last in your batter. As soon as the flour comes in contact with the liquids it develops gluten. And the more you mix the ingredients the more gluten you develop. The end result will be a dense (read: "hard to swallow") crumb.
- In some cases, to increase the softness, just add a starch (corn starch, potato starch, or rice flour).
- All the ingredients have to be at room temperature, including eggs (and dairy, when using).
- Beat the eggs and sugar for a few minutes until they start to foam and gain volume and fluffiness.
- The oven temperature must be moderate. The best cooking temperature is at 350°F (180°C). And always preheat the oven, at least 15 minutes before baking.
Now that you've made a wonderful batter, the last step is to pour it into a loaf pan greased and floured and wait for it to turn into a tall, golden loaf. You can use any loaf pan, I used a silicone mold. You can also bake it in a round pan. It works great as well.
How do you know it's done?
Since every oven and baking pans are different, I don't always rely on the baking times like they are some set rules. I usually do not leave my baked good unattended for long, instead, I check it often (from the glass door, I mean. Don't open the oven door before the 30 minutes or it will flop). I check the rise, I look for that golden color, and when I think it might be done, I poke it with a wooden skewer to see if it comes out clean. I also engage my sense of smell. My mom always says that you can tell if a cake it's done by the particular aroma coming from the oven. It smells like it's done, she asserts 😉 .
Plumcake all'Arancia, Orange Loaf Cake, is a simple cake that tastes like home to me. It is a cake I've been making for decades and that I could do with my eyes closed. When I am in Rome, my family requests I make it to have it for breakfast, or if we are having people over for an afternoon tea.
Hope you try it. Its soft crumb and delicate orange flavor will brighten your mornings and cheer you up like a ray of sunshine on a cold winter day.
Enjoy!
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Plumcake all'Arancia (Orange Loaf Cake)
Plumcake all'Arancia (Orange Loaf Cake). Simple and oh so delicious, this soft, fragrant loaf cake is ideal for breakfast, snack or light dessert. All you need is eggs, sugar, flour, oil, and a couple of oranges, rich in flavor and Vitamin C.
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 10 slices 1x
Ingredients
- 3 eggs, organic free-range
- 125 g cane sugar (I used beet sugar)
- 100 g vegetable oil (or a light olive oil)
- 2 organic oranges, juice and zest
- 250 g flour type 0 (or unbleached all-purpose, or spelt flour)
- 16 g baking powder (1 package of lievito vanigliato)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (180° C).
- In a bowl, using a handheld mixer, beat the eggs and sugar for a few minutes until foamy and fluffy.
- Add the vegetable oil, the orange juice, and the zest. Beat on low to incorporate.
- Sift the flour and baking powder. Slowly add it to the wet beating on low just until incorporated.
- Pour on a loaf pan greased and floured (I used a silicone mold).
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, but it depends on the oven. Check it after the 30-minute mark with a skewer. If it comes out clean it's done. I always say that you can tell if a cake it's done by the smell coming from the oven. It smells like it's done 😉 .
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes on a rack.
- Unmold, slice, and serve.
Notes
You can have it plain, dust it with powdered sugar, or with a simple syrup (the juice of 1 orange and 50 g of sugar melted on the stove) brushed it on top when still warm.
You can use spelt flour or whole wheat flour.
It freezes well. You can freeze it whole, or half. I even froze individual slices wrapped in plastic and kept in a ziplock bag. Took out of the freezer at night and enjoyed in the morning as if it was freshly baked.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast/Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: orange, organic, vegetable oil, beet sugar, flour, eggs, breakfast, Italian, healthy, snack, kid-friendly, dairy-free
I love baking and kneading dough because it takes me to a happy place in my soul.
Milena says
I wish I had this fragrant loaf in front of me right now:) Love that you use peanut oil in it, it is a favorite! Definitely a great coffee companion, whether at breakfast or any other time of the day that calls for a snack. I'd even enjoy it as dessert as you suggest, paired with a small glass of imperial stout, mmm!
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Thank you, Milena! For me, it works either way, breakfast, snack, dessert. I can imagine with that stout! 🙂
monika says
Hello! Two questions and one comment for you:
250 g flour type 0 (or unbleached all-purpose) - you said we can use spelt flour. Would it also be 250 grams? And can it be whole grain spelt flour?
loaf pan greased and floured (I used a silicone mold) - your pictures show me that your loaf pan is a longer one than my own. Would a 9" by 5" (metal or glass) be ok?
Also - although oranges are an ok source of vitamin C - unfortunately the final cake here will not be rich in this vitamin as heat destroys vitamin C 🙁
Hello! Thank you for your questions and comment.
1) I like to use white spelt, but I've also used whole grain spelt (not in this cake). If you want to use it for this cake, it will probably result in a darker color, a denser texture and a more pronounced nutty spelt flavor. It might also be crumblier and not rise as much, but still delicious.
2) My silicon mold is longer but also thinner, a regular loaf pan will work perfectly. Just, as I say in the recipe, check the cooking time.
Let me know if you try!
Colleen says
Thank you for telling us about origins of the plumcake name. I was kind of wondering why most desserts in Italy had plums. This cake is amazing. I can't wait to make it for the next time I have company and soon, so that I can use fresh oranges. Delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Ah ah, yes, no plums are involved 🙂 . I love it and make it often. Hope you try it!
mimi rippee says
This cake is really lovely! By the way, I made your chicken cacciatore. I didn't take photos! So sorry! But we loved it.
Thank you, Mimi! Oh, so happy to hear that you loved Loreto's chicken cacciatore! It would mean a lot to us if you could go back to the post and rate the recipe! Thank you so much!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
I love that this recipe doesn't call for a lot of ingredients. And the idea of having this for breakfast is so enticing! The smell of a fresh orange loaf in the morning must be amazing!
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Simple flavorful recipes are what I am used to, from my upbringing 🙂 . In the morning, a piece of this cake is amazing! Thank you!
Denise@urbnspice says
I absolutely love seeing the recipes from your upbringing. Those are the very best, aren’t they? And the cute baking tips from your Mom are so familiar to me as well. I can almost smell the fragrance that your beautiful Orange Loaf Cake would emit from your kitchen. I will pin to try very soon. Thank you for sharing this precious family recipe with us., Nicoletta. ????
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The fragrance is great, as is the texture of this simple cake. We love it. Thank you so much!
marilyn @family food around the clock says
this is a most bake for the weekend! my husband and son love taking to work | school a homemade bake. Thank you for sharing 🙂
★★★★★
Thank you! Some people already made it and loved it. It is so easy to make, with good ingredients and lovely to eat, even plain.
Kristen says
I love recipes that can double or triple up and this would be the perfect breakfast or snack for sure. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
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It is great for breakfast but we like it also or snack and dessert 🙂 . Thank you!!
Alma says
Easy, quick and the kids loved it. It's a great idea to slice and freeze.
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Thank you! Happy the kids loved it! Yes, we always freeze some slices, there is only the two of us here ;). Plus, when you defrost it, it is just as good!