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Orange Crunch Cake

Ingredients

  • For the crunch layer:
  • 1 cup graham crackers 7 sheets
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • For the cake:
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • cup canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoon orange zest
  • 3 large eggs
  • For the frosting:
  • 8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoon freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions

  • To make the crunch:
  • Place graham crackers in food processor and pulse until coarsley ground. Add them to almonds and brown sugar and stir with fork to mix.
  • Add butter, then use fork or fingers to mix together until everything is mixed.
  • Lightly grease 2 9-inch cake pans, and divide crunch mixture evenly between the two pans.
  • Spread the crunch mixture evenly among the bottom of the pans, then lightly press it down.
  • Set aside.
  • To make the cake:
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt and stir well.
  • Set aside.
  • In a large bowl with electric mixer, beat together sugar, milk, orange juice, oil, vanilla, and zest.
  • Add the eggs and mix to combine.
  • Slowly add in dry ingredients and mix until almost combined.
  • Then remove electric mixer paddle, and finish stirring with wooden spoon.
  • Don't overmix.
  • Divide the batter evenly among the two prepared pans.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until a knife inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.
  • Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes.
  • Run a knife along the sides of each cake then carefully remove them from the pans by inverting the pans onto a cooling rack.
  • Let the cakes completely cool, about an hour.
  • To make the frosting:
  • Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  • Add orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
  • To assemble the cake:
  • Take one cake and place it crunch side up.
  • Spread a thick layer of frosting along crunch layer, allowing it to run over the edge to make sure entire top is frosted.
  • Place second cake crunch side down on top of frosting.
  • Finish frosting entire cake with remaining frosting.
  • I let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to let the frosting "set up" a bit before serving, but this can be served right away.
  • Enjoy!