This Vegan Orange Cardamom Loaf Cake is packed with fresh orange zest and juice! The cake is tender and moist and so easy to make. And the orange glaze puts it over the top!
It is officially citrus season! And while I already have a bunch of Vegan Lemon Desserts, I'm working on expanding my orange recipes. I already have an absolutely delicious Orange Olive Oil Cake recipe and Vegan Cranberry Orange Scones recipe, but I think it's time to add a few more options.
And this Vegan Orange Cardamom Loaf Cake is a delicious and easy orange dessert! It is mixed together by hand in a bowl and bakes up super tender and moist. And the flavor combination of cardamom and orange is absolutely perfect!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe is super easy, so it's perfect for beginner bakers!
- The combination of orange and cardamom is perfection.
- This Orange Cardamom Loaf Cake is vegan, dairy-free and eggless, so anyone can enjoy it.
- The cake bakes up super moist and tender.
- And most importantly, it's absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
Orange: This recipe contains orange zest and orange juice for a flavorful and delicious loaf cake. But for a cake that uses whole slices, make my Orange Upside Down Cake!
Ground Cardamom: Orange and cardamom are a match made in heaven! After you make this cake, you have to try my Orange Cardamom Cookies.
Canola Oil: Canola oil keeps this loaf cake super moist. You can also use vegetable oil or any other neutral oil. Do not use coconut oil!
Non-Dairy Milk: I used oat milk, but any non-dairy milk will work.
Instructions
Step 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, canola oil, non-dairy milk, orange juice, applesauce, orange zest and vanilla. Whisk well to combine.
Step 2. Next, add flour, ground cardamom, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt. Whisk to form the batter.
Step 3. Pour the cake batter into a prepared 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch loaf pan. Use the back of a spatula to spread the batter evenly.
Then, bake the Vegan Orange Cardamom Loaf Cake in a 350* F oven for about 1 hour.
Step 4. Allow the cake to cool for at least 30 minutes, then make the orange glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, orange juice and orange zest.
Spoon the glaze over the cake and spread it out evenly. Finally, allow the glaze to set for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Recipe FAQs
To store, slice the cake and place the slices in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Or freeze for up to a month.
Canola oil or other neutral oils makes a cake super moist.
And so does sugar! I know it sounds weird, but sugar is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture from its surroundings. So, using the proper amount of sugar in a baked good will keep it moist for days.
The shape! A loaf cake is baked in a loaf pan and a cake is usually baked in a round or square pan.
A loaf cake is usually a little bit more dense, but it should still be as tender and moist as any other shape of cake.
Expert Recipe Tips
Be sure to zest the oranges before juicing them!
Use a toothpick to test the Vegan Orange Cardamom Loaf Cake for doneness! Do not just go by color. The toothpick should come out completely clean.
My favorite loaf pan is this one by USA Pans.
Looking for More Loaf Cake Recipes?
If you tried this Vegan Orange Cardamom Loaf Cake recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
📖 Recipe
Orange Cardamom Loaf Cake
Equipment
- 1 8 ½ X 4 ½ Loaf Pan
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Whisk
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
For the Orange Cardamom Cake
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoon Ground Cardamom
- 1 ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ Cup Canola Oil
- ½ Cup Non-Dairy Milk
- ¼ Cup Orange Juice See Note!
- ¼ Cup Applesauce
- 2 teaspoon Orange Zest This is the zest of about 1 large orange
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
For the Orange Glaze
- 1 Cup Powdered Sugar, sifted
- 5 teaspoon Orange Juice
- ¼ teaspoon Orange Zest
Instructions
To Make the Orange Cardamom Cake
- Preheat oven to 350* F. Grease an 8 ½ inch x 4 ¼ inch loaf pan with coconut oil or pan spray and insert a parchment sling for easy cake removal.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk and set aside.2 Cups All-Purpose Flour, 2 teaspoon Ground Cardamom, 1 ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder, ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, canola oil, non-dairy milk, orange juice, apple sauce, orange zest and vanilla. Whisk to combine, then add the dry ingredients and whisk to form the batter.1 Cup Granulated Sugar, ½ Cup Canola Oil, ½ Cup Non-Dairy Milk, ¼ Cup Orange Juice, 2 teaspoon Orange Zest, 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, ¼ Cup Applesauce
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and use a spatula to even the top out. Bake in a 350* F oven for 58-62 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for about 30 minutes before glazing.
Make the Orange Glaze
- In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Whisk until completely smooth.1 Cup Powdered Sugar, sifted, 5 teaspoon Orange Juice, ¼ teaspoon Orange Zest
- Remove the cake from the loaf pan and place it onto a wire cooling rack. Place a sheet pan underneath the rack to catch any dripping glaze. Then, spoon the glaze over the loaf.
- Allow the glaze to set for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Margaret
This was absolutely delicious. Just want to point out, though, that you mention salt in the recipe instructions but did not include it in the ingredient list. I added a big old pinch of salt and it turned out great. Needed a bit more orange juice to get the icing to the proper consistency. Thank you for sharing.