Orange Cinnamon Pecan Cake for #BundtBakers

The delightful scent of orange fills the air. It is released with a fine mist as the grater scrapes across the orange’s surface. Rubbing the grated zest into sugar releases even more aroma. It’s as if an orchard has suddenly grown in your kitchen. The fragrance is soon joined with that of cinnamon when coated nuts are chopped into bits. That heavenly earthy/citrus combination is adored by many. The flavors are captured and highlighted with an Orange Cinnamon Pecan Cake.

Citrus season, holidays, and game days collide. At least they do with this recipe. Back during the holidays I received a sample of cinnamon spiced pecans from Billie’s Pecans. However they were put aside because I wanted to do something special with them. I knew exactly what it would be when the nuts theme for the inaugural Bundt Bakers event was announced. While the pecans themselves would be great for a holiday or game day snack, a cake made with them is even better. Utilizing orange because of it being in season is a bonus.

The cake has a treat at both ends. One end is crunchy from caramelized cinnamon sugar pecans. The other end is a super moist, even wet-like texture filled with a concentration of orange glaze. Choosing which to enjoy first or last is a difficult task. Start with the middle where the trio of flavors also reside and work your way to the ends.

For the inaugural edition of #BundtBakers, our theme and ingredient of choice is NUTS. We’ve got almonds and walnuts, pistachios and hazelnuts and lots of pecans! All baked into delicious Bundt cakes. Our host is Stacy of Food Lust People Love and she is also the creator and head of this wonderful new baking group. Take a look at the fabulous lineup of recipes from our talented bakers:

• Banana Nut Bread from Veronica at My Catholic Kitchen
• Chocolate Covered Almond Cake from Anne at From My Sweet Heart
• Chubby Hubby Mini Bundts from Kelly at Passion Kneaded
• Glazed Citrus Pistachio Bundt Cake from Laura at The Spiced Life
• Mocha Hazelnut Marble Bundt Cake from Felice at All That’s Left Are the Crumbs
• Orange Cinnamon Pecan Cake from Renee at Magnolia Days
• Pecan Bundt Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Icing from Stacy at Food Lust People Love
• Pistachio Coffee Cardamom Cake from Deepti at Baking Yummies
• Powdered Sugar Pound Cake with Pecans from Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
• Rum Pecan Bundt from Tara at Noshing with the Nolands

What is your favorite citrus and nut combination? Does the smell make you smile as much as the flavor? It does for me especially with baking a cake. Next time I bake Citrus Cocktail Mini Bundt Cakes I think I’ll add some mixed nuts just to have a plethora of lovely scents filling my home.

5 from 1 vote

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Orange Cinnamon Pecan Cake

A recipe for Orange Cinnamon Pecan Cake. It is made with fresh orange juice and zest, cinnamon, and pecans and baked in a bundt pan. It is finished with an orange glaze.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 35 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Author Renee

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 1/2 cup finely chopped cinnamon pecans* or plain
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
• 2/3 cups unsalted butter at room temperature
• 3 large eggs separated
• 3/4 cup whole milk at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

For the glaze:

• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Instructions

For the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan. Sprinkle cinnamon pecans in the pan.
2. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl.
3. Use your fingers to rub the orange zest into the sugar in a small bowl.
4. In a separate large bowl, cream butter using an electric hand mixer on high speed.
5. Gradually add orange-sugar to the butter and beat until light and fluffy.
6. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
7. Combine milk and orange juice in a measuring cup.
8. Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternatively with the milk in two additions, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix.
9. Stir in vanilla extract and 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
10. In a separate bowl using clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter.
11. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and spread evenly in the pan.
12. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
13. Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out cake on to a wire rack and cool completely.*
14. Transfer cake to a serving plate. Use a skewer to poke holes in the top of the cake. Slowly spoon glaze over cake.

For the glaze:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat and stir constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot.

Recipe Notes

*Some pecans may stick to the pan if using sugary cinnamon pecans. The sugar will caramelize and cause some sticking.

Recipe adapted from one in the Southern Living 1983 Annual Recipes cookbook (no longer in print).

What is Bundt Bakers? It’s a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake Bundts with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Bundt Bakers Pinterest board for incredible bundt cake recipes and inspiration.

How is the monthly theme determined? We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

Would you like to join in the fun? If you are a food blogger, just send an email to Stacy at [email protected] or ask to join our private Facebook group.

Disclosure: I received a sample of Billie’s Cinnamon Spiced Pecans at no charge. I was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated or contained within a guest post.