Citrus-Spiced Sour Cream Cake with Orange-Clove Cream Cheese Frosting
This delightful Citrus-Spiced Sour Cream Cake is the perfect alternative for those looking to skip traditional pumpkin flavors while still capturing the essence of fall. Featuring a moist and flavorful cake made from an easy boxed mix enhanced with aromatic spices and creamy sour cream, it's the ultimate celebration dessert for Thanksgiving or any festive gathering. Topped with a luscious Orange-Clove Cream Cheese Frosting, this cake offers a refreshing citrus twist that beautifully complements the warm spices. Each bite is sure to transport you to a cozy autumn day, making this cake a must-try for your dessert table!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
14
Ingredients
Ingredients
Boxed Cake Mix
14 1/2 ounces (Choose Orange, White, or Yellow.)
Cinnamon
2 teaspoons (Ground.)
Clove
1 teaspoon (Ground.)
Nutmeg
1 teaspoon (Ground.)
Allspice
1 teaspoon (Ground.)
Fresh Ginger
1 teaspoon (Grated.)
Sour Cream
1 cup (Room temperature.)
Milk
1/3 cup (Room temperature.)
Oil
1/4 cup (Vegetable or canola.)
Eggs
3 (Room temperature.)
Cream Cheese
2 (8 ounce) packages (At room temperature.)
Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 cups (Sifted.)
Oranges
2 (Zested and juiced.)
Cloves
2 teaspoons (Ground.)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven according to the cake mix package instructions.
2
In a large mixing bowl, sift the boxed cake mix together with the cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and grated fresh ginger.
3
Add the sour cream, milk, oil, and eggs to the dry ingredients. Mix at low speed until the dry ingredients are incorporated, then increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes until the batter is smooth.
4
Pour the batter into two 9-inch round cake pans, ensuring they are properly greased or lined with parchment paper.
5
Bake according to the instructions on the cake mix package. Once done, remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans before transferring to a wire rack.
6
While the cakes cool, prepare the icing. In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese with the zest of two oranges and 1 tablespoon of orange juice. Mix until smooth and creamy.
7
Gradually incorporate the powdered sugar into the cream cheese mixture until you reach your desired consistency and sweetness.
8
Once the cakes are completely cool, layer them with a generous amount of orange-clove icing between the layers and on top. Decorate as desired, and enjoy the delightful contrast of flavors!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main flavor profile of the Citrus-Spiced Sour Cream Cake?
The cake features a moist citrus-spiced profile with aromatic spices like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger, complemented by an orange-clove cream cheese frosting.
Is this cake a good alternative to pumpkin desserts?
Yes, it is designed as a perfect alternative for those who want to capture the essence of fall without using traditional pumpkin flavors.
What type of boxed cake mix should I use?
You can use a 14 1/2 ounce boxed cake mix in Orange, White, or Yellow flavors.
How much cinnamon is included in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
What spices are sifted with the cake mix?
The cake mix is sifted with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and grated fresh ginger.
How much fresh ginger is needed?
You will need 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger.
What role does sour cream play in this recipe?
Sour cream adds moisture and a creamy texture to the cake batter.
How much sour cream should I use?
The recipe requires 1 cup of room temperature sour cream.
Can I use any type of milk?
The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of milk at room temperature.
What kind of oil is recommended for the cake?
You can use 1/4 cup of vegetable or canola oil.
How many eggs are required for the batter?
The recipe requires 3 eggs at room temperature.
How long should I beat the cake batter on high speed?
After incorporating the dry ingredients at low speed, increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes until smooth.
What size pans are needed for baking?
The batter should be poured into two 9-inch round cake pans.
How should the cake pans be prepared?
The pans should be properly greased or lined with parchment paper.
What is the recommended cooling process for the cakes?
Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans before transferring them to a wire rack.
What are the primary ingredients in the frosting?
The frosting is made from cream cheese, orange zest, orange juice, powdered sugar, and ground cloves.
How much cream cheese is needed for the frosting?
The recipe uses two 8-ounce packages of cream cheese at room temperature.
How many oranges are needed for the icing?
You will need the zest of two oranges and 1 tablespoon of orange juice.
How much powdered sugar is used in the frosting?
The recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of sifted powdered sugar, added gradually to reach the desired consistency.
What spice is added specifically to the cream cheese frosting?
2 teaspoons of ground cloves are added to the icing.
How should the icing be applied to the cake?
Layer a generous amount of orange-clove icing between the cake layers and on the top.
Is this recipe considered easy to make?
Yes, it is tagged as an easy recipe because it utilizes a boxed cake mix as a base.
Can I use ground ginger instead of fresh ginger?
The recipe specifies 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger for the best aromatic results.
What is the amount of nutmeg and allspice required?
The recipe requires 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of ground allspice.
Should the dairy ingredients be cold or room temperature?
The sour cream, milk, eggs, and cream cheese should all be at room temperature for optimal mixing.
What is the first step in the instructions?
The first step is to preheat your oven according to the instructions on the cake mix package.
How do I ensure the frosting is smooth?
Mix the cream cheese with the orange zest and juice until smooth and creamy before adding the sugar.
What should I do if the cake is still warm?
Wait until the cakes are completely cool before applying the orange-clove icing.
Does the recipe include instructions for decoration?
The instructions suggest decorating the cake as desired after frosting the layers.
What holidays is this cake especially suited for?
It is described as an ultimate celebration dessert for Thanksgiving or any festive gathering.