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Orange Lightning Cake

I call it a lightning cake because you make it in a flash. It’s so quick and simple and yet it has an amazing flavour, like something your grandmother might have made, that has everyone coming back for seconds.

Annabel Langbein Media

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Orange Lightning Cake
1 whole orange (unpeeled)
1 tsp baking soda
½ cup water
125g butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup sultanas or raisins
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

© Annabel Langbein Media 
https://www.annabel-langbein.com/recipes/orange-lightning-cake/3408/

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Cook time:: 1 1/4 hours
Serves:: 8

1 whole orange (unpeeled)
1 tsp baking soda
½ cup water
125g butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup sultanas or raisins
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 160°C fanbake. Grease a 20cm-diameter cake tin and line the base with baking paper.

Cut the orange into quarters, remove the seeds and whizz in a food processor until finely chopped. Dissolve baking soda in water and add to the food processor with butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and flour. Whizz to combine. Add sultanas or raisins and walnuts, if using, and stir with a spoon or pulse several times to just combine (don’t whizz them or they will break up).

Pour into prepared cake tin and bake until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (about 1 hour). Orange Lightning Cake will keep in an airtight container for up to a week or can be frozen.

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26 comments

I've just discovered this recipe- so easy and absolutely yum. Re previous comments I found the baking time was correct but I used a 23cm cake tin. I also baked it a second time using vegan substitutes for the eggs and butter and it was delicious. Thank you Annabel😄

Tess63 September 25, 2021

Love it

Keri56NZ August 29, 2021

Is it plain flour of self raising? Can I double the recipe?

amjat April 16, 2021

Tried this with all purpose gluten free flour & it is sensational!

Anie March 30, 2021

Just made it. Did not take an hour, probably about 40 mins . Delicious. Not too sweet which is how I like it but if I had people who liked things sweeter I would put on a cream cheese icing. Very easy to make. Will make it again.

Amdench April 19, 2020

I love this cake. I make it in a slice tin to make it easy to cut up and take to work. I also find 1 hour is too long to bake it. I put cranberries in mine and I cut back a bit on the sugar, as it is so sweet otherwise. Thanks a lot for a really easy go to recipe.

Fat Sparrow September 04, 2019

I make this cake regularly - it's so moreish. I do find that an hour is too long, and it's much more moist if I cut that back to 45 to 50 minutes. I've also started adding just a little baking powder, to make it a bit lighter. I think it's an improvement on an already fabulous cake.

Vanya P August 15, 2019

There was an orange beverage you made on this same episode that I am dying to try but cannot find the recipe. It had orange slices, vodka and rose wine. Any chance I could find how to make that? Thank you so much!!

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daffjeri November 16, 2018

Is it baking soda or baking powder please

Anniegyg November 14, 2018

As uk person do I need plain or sr flour and can I use baking powder, thanks

Caz November 06, 2018

Is the flour SR or plain? Also baking soda bicarb of soda? Thank you

masdav October 30, 2018

is the flour SR or plain

smw September 23, 2018

Is the flour SR or plain? Also baking soda bicarb of soda? Thank you

OzDeb July 30, 2018

Just wondering if this recipe can be doubled, or does it come out better in separate batches? Can't wait to make it ! Looks yummy

Grhounder March 28, 2018

I just made this recipe today. I just knew about your recipes last week and found them interesting. This is the first recipe that I try, and I loved it. Making a list of ingredients so that I can make more of your recipes in the following days.

sophiem March 10, 2018

I jut made this for a quick afternoon tea and replaced the sultanas for chopped up dates. Delicious! And so easy.

Pohuetai February 14, 2018

I absolutely love this cake, not that it needs any alteration, I just like to mix things up, could you use brewed coffee instead of water to dissolve the baking soda or would that cancel it out? I know baking soda neutralizes acids.

cvenhuizen February 02, 2018

Yes!!!! This article is too simple that everybody can learn and make cake after reading this article. Thanks!!! https://www.cakengifts.in/birthday-cakes https://www.cakengifts.in/cake-delivery-in-delhi https://www.cakengifts.in/cake-delivery-in-gurgaon

CakenGiftsin July 11, 2017

"This Orange Lightning Cake recipe is So easy and good, made for family and this cake was a very moist and flavorful cake and my family very very LOVED it". http://www.cakengifts.in/cake-delivery-in-chanakyapuri-delhi

CakenGifts.in May 17, 2017

I baked the cake this morning and had it with lunch, it is one of the best cakes I have ever tasted. I don't know if it will last the week to come.

katherine.hj April 16, 2017

Hi Annabel, I love your cooking series on TV and I have baked your Orange Lightning Cake and it was a hit with my family and also with my good friends! Delicious and so moist and yummy! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us! Your fan, Peggy

PTupaz December 07, 2016

I bake cakes daily and I've burnt my fair share of cakes in 8-inch pans cooked for an hour on 180 C (in a conventional oven). Believe me when I say this should be baked at 170 C for no more than 45 minutes. I'm glad I decided to make this change. The cake turned out to be very moist. It's not a sweet cake. I could do with 2 tbsp extra sugar next time. Also, top this with orange jam while the cake is still hot. That stickiness will make it even more delicious. One more thing! Do not add the flour into the processor. Once you have mixed all the ingredients, tip the mixture into a large bowl and stir in the flour and walnuts until just combined. Do not over stir so as not to develop gluten which toughens the cake.

dianasalha December 05, 2016

First of all thank you sooo much Annabel for this wonderful recipe! I had been looking for a quick bread that would be fast, and delish! Well this is it. It's now my go to coffee cake. I do a little something different, I melt orange marmalade and spread it on top of the bread! and even better! as I write this I'm making a fresh one now for my mother's bridge game with the ladies tomorrow, and have two in the freezer for me. this cake freezes well, all i do thaw the night before, and we'll be having it in the morning, on the way to work.

licos123 September 16, 2016

Delicious and very similar to a cornbread recipe I make. Make up your favorite cornbread, substituting orange juice for the milk. Add grated orange peel, cranberries (roughly chopped) and extra sugar. My husband swears by this recipe and won't go back to regular cornbread.

patidari August 18, 2016

This is such a delicious easy cake to make. The recipe is adaptable as I replaced the sultanas/raisins with cranberries and used a small orange and a tangelo instead of one orange. Thank you.

KayPune August 05, 2016