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
Could NOT get the cake to come out of the bundt pan for anything! But who cares? This cake is delicious. We are just standing over the bundt pan digging away with our spoons! 😉
LOL, I am glad you like it!!
I bake all the time . My bundt pan is a very heavy Nordic. The oj cake was delicious but parts of it fell apart. I cut what I could in slices. All the comments were so positive but it did seem like a lot of glaze. I unmolded it when I saw all the glaze was saturated. Has anyone else had this experience. I would like to make it again but am leery.
What about a chocolate or hazelnut spread glaze?
My boyfriend requested this cake for his birthday this weekend and we don’t have a bundt pan. Is it okay to bake it in a regular cake pan and any suggestions for how that would change baking time/glazing?
I’ve never made it in a regular pan but it should work. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you from experience how to adjust the time but I would check it about fifteen to twenty minutes early to see if it is done. Be careful, because this is an old fashioned recipe and has to be followed exactly – and excessive checking for doneness may cause the cake to sink in the middle 🙂
Tell your boyfriend Happy Early Birthday!
Update from last year: I bought the bundt pan, skipped the pecans and this cake was amazing! I’m back looking at the recipe again because my boyfriend LOVED it so much he requested it for his birthday again this year. Thanks for sharing!
Have always loved this cake. My mother made it from the recipe Anita Bryant published in her book “Bless This Food: The Anita Bryant Family Cookbook” back in the 70s. I’ve run across so many people through the years that have claimed it as their family favorite, but no one has ever admitted where the recipe came from! When Anita lost everything in Florida she moved to Selma, Alabama where she baked these cakes frequently and gave them to friends. Delicious recipe!
I found it quite upsetting to find even your recipe handed down by Aunt Sue uses a yellow cake mix. What is it? It must be full of chemicals why not just buy the cake and done with it – all I wanted was a recipe for orange juice cake but something homemade and not half concocted in a factory!
Dear Sandra, Your precious life is far too short and joy filled for you to be getting all upset over how some folks make a cake in Alabama.
Take a deep breath and be blessed!
Life is good and if you let it – it gets even better!
Gratefully,
Christy
Side note to Danielle: Thank you again for so graciously sharing this recipe from your sweet Aunt Sue! I know we all appreciate it!
Organic cake mixes are available now in most grocery stores. I find them to be just as good, and they don’t have all the unhealthy ingredients in them. Plus, I love the convenience of a mix!
I have to say I absolutely love how you handled such an ugly comment.
Your reply has been inspiring! Thank you again for sharing aunt Sue’s story and her delicious recipe. Just ask my husband
“what do you think”
He said that is definitely a do-over!
Thank you, and God bless.
Angela
Seriously??? If you have nothing nice to say, simply don’t say a word!!! There are 100 recipes for orange juice cake! Why stop here and leave such an ugly comment? I just baked aunt Sue’s orange juice bundt cake and it was absolutely delish!
Thank you for sharing your story and aunt Sue’s recipe. Most of us work a full-time job, running kids to sports events etc. Not only was this recipe wonderful, it was easy enough that I could bake and enjoy with my family on those busy evenings. Please don’t let others uncalled for, unappreciative,
Comments ever stop you from sharing your WONDERFUL SOUTHERN family recipes.
Dear Sandra,
I found it quite upsetting and frankly a shame to read such an ugly and unappreciative comment from a grown woman. Maybe you were raised in a barn, but from now on if you cannot say anything nice please do us all a favor and don’t say anything at all. Instead of a cake recipe what you need to be searching for is how to reply kindly to someone that is nice enough to share such treasured recipes and charming stories from their family ,which I am certain, they hold dear to their heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Aunt Sue’s stories and the Orange Juice cake recipe was absolutely FABULOUS as well as loved by many.
In Closing Sandra, All I can say to you is…..BLESS YOUR HEART !!
JJ, can I keep you? 😀
The recipe says to stir well. Can an electric mixer be used?
It sure can, Carol! Hope you enjoy it!