Upside-Down Ombré Citrus Cake
This gorgeous ombré citrus cake might look elaborate, but it couldn’t be easier to make. Thinly sliced winter citrus is layered in a baking dish and bathed in orange syrup, then an insanely moist, flavorful, and easy cake batter (hint: it involves instant pudding mix) is poured over top . The result is a beautiful, showstopping cake that tastes like an orange creamsicle.
Tasty Team
82% would make again
Total Time
1 hr 20 min
1 hr 20 min
Prep Time
15 minutes
15 min
Cook Time
50 minutes
50 min
Total Time
1 hr 20 min
1 hr 20 min
Prep Time
15 minutes
15 min
Cook Time
50 minutes
50 min
Ingredients
for 12 servings
- nonstick cooking spray, for greasing
Orange Syrup
- ¾ stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 g)
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice (60 mL)
Citrus
- 1 blood orange, thinly sliced
- 1 cara cara orange
- 1 navel orange, thinly sliced
- 1 meyer lemon, thinly sliced
Orange Vanilla Cake Batter
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream (240 g), room temperature
- ½ cup water (120 mL)
- ⅓ cup melted butter (75 g)
- 1 navel orange, zested
- 1 navel orange
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
Nutrition Info
- Calories 354
- Fat 10g
- Carbs 62g
- Fiber 3g
- Sugar 42g
- Protein 4g
Estimated values based on one serving size.
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Generously grease an 8 x 11-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Make the orange syrup: Add the butter, sugar, and orange juice to a small saucepan. Whisk to combine, then cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, 4–5 minutes.
- Pour the orange syrup into the prepared baking dish. Starting from a short side of the baking dish, arrange the blood orange slices vertically, overlapping slightly to fit as many slices as possible (this will help keep the citrus in place during baking). Continue with the cara cara slices, then navel orange slices, then Meyer lemon slices to create an ombré effect.
- Make the cake batter: Add the eggs, sour cream, water, melted butter, orange zest and juice, and vanilla to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add the cake mix and pudding mix and fold with a rubber spatula to incorporate. Pour the batter into the baking dish, spreading evenly.
- Bake the cake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for 15 minutes, then invert onto a serving platter. Let cool completely before slicing and serving.
- Enjoy!
- All your favorite recipes, stored in one place. Download the Tasty app and never lose a recipe again.
