Blood Orange Cake

Blood Orange Cake
4.7 from 3 ratings
We found a recipe for a layer cake made with sparkling wine and used that as a base, simply substituting a blood orange soda for the wine. The flavor really came through in the cake and the frosting. Experiment with different sodas such as raspberry, blackberry or grapefruit.This recipe by Carol Mighton Haddix and Lisa Schumacher originally appeared in The Chicago Tribune.
Prep Time
25
minutes
Cook Time
35
minutes
Servings
12
servings
blood orange soda cake
Total time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
  • 3 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 egg whites
  • few drops red food coloring, optional
  • 2 cup blood orange soda, such as san pellegrino, fever tree, lorina or dry
  • 2 cup blood orange soda, such as san pellegrino, fever tree, lorina or dry
  • 1 3/4 cup unsalted butted, softened (1 3/4 sticks)
  • 3 ounce cream cheese, softened
  • 4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • few drops red food coloring, optional
  • grated rind from 2 oranges or orange peel curls, optional
Directions
  1. Heat oven to 350F.
  2. Combine 3 cups flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
  3. Beat 2 sticks unsalted butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar in a mixing bowl with mixer until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  4. Beat in 6 egg whites one at a time. Mix in a few drops red food coloring.
  5. Beat in flour mixture and soda in three alternating additions, starting and ending with flour.
  6. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch pans. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
  7. Cool 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges to loosen cake; invert cakes onto wire rack. Cool.
  8. Heat 2 cups blood orange soda in a saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil; cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
  9. Beat 1 3/4 cups butter and 3 ounces cream cheese in a bowl with a mixer, 1 minute. Gradually add 4 cups confectioners' sugar, reduced soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla and food coloring. Beat until smooth and creamy, adding more confectioners' sugar if too thin.
  10. Place one cake layer on a cake plate; spread half of the frosting over the top. Add top layer; cover with frosting. Sprinkle top with grated orange rind or orange peel curls, if desired.