Aunt Sue’s Orange Juice Cake ~ From Danielle Dykman
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Gratefully,
Christy
This recipe for an Orange Juice Cake was passed down to me by my Aunt Sue, about a year ago. My Aunt Sue and I have always been very close, when I was a little girl she loved to take the curling iron to my hair and add a dab of makeup to my face then take me through every room in her house (except the bathroom of course) and take tons of pictures of me. She always wanted a daughter, but had 2 sons instead. So as her only nieces, my sister and I were obligated to get dolled up by her, at least once a week. I have always been told I look like Aunt Sue’s daughter instead of my momma’s, but I love my momma! 🙂
The recipe itself it special to me because it is my grandpa’s favorite cake ever! I have been my grandpa’s girl since I can remember. My dad passed away when I was 7 years old, and I do believe my Pa made a special effort to not let me feel left out at any time. During the long summers as a child my cousins ( all boys) and I would love to go play and wade around in the creek. He was usually busy during the day and would persistently tell them boys “No!” But all I had to do is walk up to him, put my little hand in his and give him that sweet “Papa, can we go to the creek?” and it worked every time.
About 4 years ago while I was home for the summer from college, I was helping Ma and Aunt Sue cut and freeze corn out of the garden. Pa walked in the kitchen holding his chest. He thought he had heartburn and being stubborn went on to bed. He woke up the next morning, drove himself to the hospital and found out he had a heart attack. He was sent on to a larger hospital and ended up having a triple bypass. This was probably the scariest time I had experienced since my own dad died. But Pa made it through and the only thing he wanted to eat was this darn orange juice cake (despite being told to watch his diet). He said if he was gonna die, he was gonna die happy and full. (Thats my pa! hehe).
So since I love my Pa so very much I make him this cake every chance I get. He always makes sure to tell me how good it is too.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 box butter yellow cake mix
- 1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup veggie oil
- 1 cup orange juice brand does matter here, cheap stuff doesn't taste as good.
- 1 cup chopped pecans
For the Glaze
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 stick butter/margarine
- 1/4 cup orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bundt pan. Sprinkle pecans in bottom.
- Mix all cake ingredients together and stir till smooth. Pour in bundt pan and bake 33-43 minutes (or till your knife comes out clean).
- Put glaze ingredients in a sauce pan and cook over medium/high heat for 4 or 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Poke a few (4 or 5) holes with a knife in the bottom of the cake (while its still in the pan) and pour the glaze over it.
- Let cake cool for 10 minutes after this before turning out onto a plate.
- Slice and eat, warm or cold, its oh so good.
Hope you enjoy!
Danielle Dykman
In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.
~Margaret Atwood
I really need more quotes so if you have a moment, please hop on over to our “Give A Penny” page and leave your favorite inspirational, motivational, or otherwise uplifting quote. Thank you so much! Gratefully, Christy
Some day, I hope to learn to type properly. My comment was a mess!
This sounds delish. It’s like my mother-in-law’s Apricot Nectar Cake. Same technique. I always cake that goodt had to be complicated to make till she let me in on her secret – use a mix! I love it. We’ll be trying the orange juice version right away.
This sounds great! I have one question – are you supposed to use granulated sugar or confectioners sugar? When my Granny made glazes like this she used confectioners sugar. Thanks!
This one uses granulated.
This cake sounds really good. I was looking for something new to make for my friends birthday, so I think I am going to give this a try.
Danielle – I am glad to hear your Pa is doing well. My aunt never had any children, so growing up I would spend my weekends with her. To this day she still tells everyone that I am really her child. It’s nice to have two moms. : )
I just love Christy;s website. Have been collecting the recipes for over a year . I have a question about this orange cake.It sounds yummy, can I bake it in a tube pan and can I use Splenda insyead of real sugar for the glaze? Would love to make this soon. Love, Jane.
Hey Jane! You sure can make it in a tube pan and use Splenda for the glaze.
I first made this cake about 5 years ago for my then 5 yr. old great-grandson.
He loved it and now calls it his “Birthday Cake”.
Of course, I am asked to make it every August!
Sometimes, instead of using orange juice, I substitute Apricot Nectar.
The best orange cake I had was nearly 30 years ago at my grandmother’s for Thanksgiving. It was also the 1st time I ever had the cake. I remember it like it was yesterday. Each birthday that I was in college, I asked my grandmother to mail me an orange cake. She did so faithfully, but it was nothing close to the first one (which makes me think that a friend of hers made it).
It’s a tradition with me to this day to have an orange cake during my birthday month– and guess what? THIS is my birthday month! (I have a box mix sitting on my counter right now for orange cake that I was going to make.) Guess what I’m going to do instead? Thank you Danielle and Christy– right on time for my birthday!
You can bet I will be serving this as a dessert for Easter. Sounds so yummy.
And Danielle, I think you resemble your Aunt Sue very much in the picture. Thanks for sharing the recipe.