Gluten-Free Layered Orange Cake

Extra-Light Gluten-Free Layered Orange Cake is the perfect dessert for the holidays. With two layers of extra moist cake, it’s finished with a zesty, fresh orange frosting and a sweet orange sauce—ideal for any festive occasion or celebration.

A Light and Fluffy Frosting

This gluten-free dessert is far from ordinary. The frosting is light and fluffy, made with cream cheese, fresh orange juice, vanilla, and powdered sugar. It’s used not only to top the cake but also as a filling, complementing the cake’s moist texture with its bright, citrusy flavor.

A Fresh and Vibrant Layered Cake

Layered cakes are always popular, especially for special occasions like the holidays or birthdays. In this dessert, the bright orange flavor and color come naturally from fresh orange juice and orange zest—no artificial food coloring needed. 

Moist and Light Cake Crumb

The cake batter is made with fresh orange juice, olive oil, and buttermilk, which together keep the cake extra moist and light. I also added eggs to give the cake height, contributing to its airy, fluffy texture.

Orange Sauce for Extra Flavor

For an extra burst of orange flavor, I drizzled the cake with a homemade orange sauce. Made primarily with fresh orange juice, this sauce enhances the cake’s citrusy taste, adding a fresh and vibrant color to this gluten-free holiday dessert.

Freezing the Cake Layers?

Yes, you can make the cake layers up to two weeks in advance. After baking, allow the cake to cool completely. Then, place the layers on parchment paper and freeze. Once fully frozen, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap to keep them fresh.

How to Thaw the Cake Layers

When you’re ready to decorate, partially thaw the cake layers first. If you decorate the cake while it’s still frozen, the frosting may crack as the cake expands during thawing. To make decorating easier, I recommend thawing the cake for about 15 minutes before you begin, though you can also let it thaw fully if needed.

Simple and Delicious

No need to worry—I’ve kept this gluten-free dessert recipe simple, without sacrificing texture or flavor. This layered cake has just three easy steps, so it’s straightforward to make, and with excellent results.

start with the cake batter,

You will need two same size round pans. The rest is pretty standard as if you were making any other basic batter, except for the ingredients.

next, the filling and frosting,

I decided to skip a sugary rich butter filling. Instead, I am using frosting to fill the cake. This simplifies the recipe and avoids heavy butter. 

the final step is the 3 minute orange sauce,

The orange sauce is optional, but I highly recommend it if you like an extra fresh orange flavour. The sauce is not too sweet. It is not about adding more sweetness. The frosting is already sweet, so a zesty sauce is just the right finish.

Decorating Layered Cakes

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’m all about simplicity. My cakes may not have intricate designs, and I’m not a professional cake decorator—just like most of us! It’s all about making things easy, delicious, and stress-free.

To fill the cake, spread the frosting almost to the edges of the first layer. Then, place the second layer on top and gently press it down to push the filling out toward the edges. Don’t worry if some frosting oozes out—that’s perfect for using to frost the sides of the cake!

To frost the cake, start with the middle. Then, using a spatula, gently spread the frosting over the cake in one direction. Then, gently push the frosting over the sides and finish frosting the cake.

If you are using the orange sauce, drizzle the sauce over the cake, sprinkle with extra orange zest and add a few thin orange slices to the sides and top of the cake.

Tips on how to cut a layered cake!

Warm the knife up under hot water. Dry the knife and cut. Repeat for each slice and always clean the cake knife between cuts.

In this gluten-free orange layered cake, I used extra frosting for a rich and indulgent finish. The orange frosting is light, zesty, and packed with flavor, making each slice even more delicious. Enjoy!

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Many thanks!

Kristina xx