Cakes Spring Winter

Citrus Bundt Cake

Citrus Bundt Cake | The Vanilla Bean Blog

‘What we call the beginning is often the end
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.’ – TS Eliot, Four Quartets

Somehow we’re back to blood oranges. A year ago I made doughnuts with them, and quick bread. I’m not quite sure where the time went – months have flown by, with so many changes, yet somehow it is all a blur.

This citrus Bundt cake is adapted from Yossy’s beautiful book (affiliate link) Sweeter Off the Vine (the doughnuts mentioned above are found among its pages, too). I find myself taking far too many trips to the refrigerator to sneak another sliver; the sweet, tart flavors and pieces of citrus flesh scattered throughout the cake (Yossy describes them as ‘jammy pockets’) are worth any extra indulgence on my part. If you don’t have Sweeter Off the Vine, I highly recommend it. It’s a stunning collection of recipes and photographs, and everything turns out delicious.

Citrus Bundt Cake | The Vanilla Bean Blog

NOTE: My changes from Yossy’s cake were to use blood oranges instead of Meyer lemons in the cake. I also added 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (not noted in the recipe here). I store this in the fridge because I like to eat it cold, but it can be stored at room temperature.

More Citrus Recipes:

swirled bundt cake on parchment paper

Citrus Bundt Cake with Glaze

Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Sweet, tart flavors and pieces of citrus flesh scattered throughout this tender bundt cake! Topped with a meyer lemon glaze.
Sarah Kieffer
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 medium grapefruit
  • 2 blood oranges
  • 3 cups 600g granulated sugar
  • 3 cups 375g all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup 225g unsalted butter softened
  • 6 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup 225g sour cream at room temperature

Lemon Glaze

  • 2 medium Meyer lemons regular lemons will work, too
  • 3 cups 360g confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

  • Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325ºF (160ºC). Butter and flour a 10-inch tube or Bundt pan very thoroughly.

To make the cake

  • Scrub the grapefruit and blood oranges with warm soapy water to remove any excess wax, then dry the fruit. Put the sugar into a medium bowl and zest the grapefruit and blood oranges directly into the sugar. Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until evenly distributed and fragrant.
  • Supreme the grapefruit and oranges: Cut the tops and bottoms off of all the fruits, then cut the white pith away from the outside of the fruit. Over a bowl, carefully cut the wedges of fruit away from the membrane, letting the fruit and juices fall into the bowl. Remove any seeds that have fallen in and gently break up the fruit into 1/2-inch pieces.
  • Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, mix the butter on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add half of the sugar and zest mixture and turn the mixer up to medium high. Mix for 2 minutes, then add the remaining sugar and mix for 4 minutes, making sure to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula periodically. The butter and sugar should be very light, fluffy, and fragrant.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing for about 30 seconds after each addition. Periodically stop the mixer and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
  • On low speed, add the sour cream (and vanilla, if using) followed by the flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the fruit segments and juices. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap the pan lightly on the counter to remove any large air bubbles.
  • Bake the cake until it is golden and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 60 to 75 minutes, depending on the pan. Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then carefully unmold it onto a rack to cool a bit more before glazing.

To make the glaze

  • Zest and juice the lemons. Add the zest, confectioners’ sugar, and a pinch of salt to a bowl. Whisk in about 6 tablespoons of the lemon juice. You want the glaze to be thick, but pourable. If the glaze seems too thick to pour, add a few more drops of lemon juice.
  • When the cake has mostly cooled, use a skewer to poke a few holes into its surface. Drizzle half of the glaze on top of the cake, let it soak in for about 20 minutes, then whisk the remaining glaze until smooth and pour it over the top of the cake. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving.
  • Store leftover citrus bundt cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
  • Reply
    Lori
    Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 6:51 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing!! Wonderful flavor and moist, soft crumb.

  • Reply
    Lori
    Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 12:38 pm

    I really want to make this cake, as it sounds amazing. The variety of reviews suggest that the recipe needs juice quantities listed. My home state (California) ‘medium’ size can vary widely by area of the county, and the amount of juice that can be extracted can also vary.

    Thanks so much for all the wonderful recipes and combinations of flavors! I’ve made many, many of your recipes and several have been added to the family favs list.

  • Reply
    Mariah
    Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 11:08 pm

    I have now made this cake 2 times with the exact same Bundt pan and I have not once been successful in getting it out of the pan. I have VERY thoroughly greased the pan and I have never had issues with this pan for other Bundt cakes I’ve made. When I baked the cake there was a bit too much batter that it puffed up way over the top too. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong in terms of being able to get the cake out of the pan. I’m so disappointed because the cake tastes amazing, but I’m so frustrated with it looking like garbage. Please help!

  • Reply
    connie
    Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 3:17 pm

    5 stars
    sarah thank you this, cake was delicious!!
    I just preordered your new book, cant wait until may
    I have everyone of your books, BUT, I still like to go online, and try what you are posting.
    connie

  • Reply
    Betsyros
    Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:10 am

    5 stars
    This looks fabulous. I am away from my home – where I have 5 bundt pans – and I am so frustrated that I can’t run to my kitchen and make this beauty. I love bundt cakes and you are over the top with this one!

  • Reply
    Holland
    Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 3:47 pm

    Finally made this last night, and it’s so delicious! I was a little worried it was underbaked but I think I just made it over the line. I was a little unsure how much juice from the grapefruit and oranges to include. I squeezed all the juice from the pulp when I was supremed the fruit, but a target amount of juice might be nice? I wondered if I was adding too much hydration to the batter, or if I were to make it again it might not turn out the same because the juice amount was different.
    I love the bundt it’s so beautiful, but also want to try this recipe as a muffin!

  • Reply
    Vickie
    Friday, February 25, 2022 at 8:08 am

    Can I use navel oranges? Would citrus proportions be the same regardless of citrus type used?

    • Reply
      Sarah Kieffer
      Friday, February 25, 2022 at 2:37 pm

      yes, they will work! same proportions.

  • Reply
    Kathy
    Friday, April 7, 2017 at 4:30 pm

    I’m an experienced baker and this cake was an epic fail for me today! It fell while it was cooling and was raw inside after 75 mins and the bottom crust browned.

    With 6 eggs, I think this cake needs baking powder added as a 1/2 tsp of soda just isn’t enough leavening for the weight of the batter.

    The crust that did cook tasted yummy, though. Glad other’s had luck with it, but I won’t attempt this again. 🙁

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Friday, April 14, 2017 at 8:13 pm

      Hi Kathy – I’m so sorry you had trouble with the cake! I did rise fine for me with just the 1/2 teaspoon of soda, and I’ve made it a few times now with no problems. Do you live in a high altitude area? Or is your oven temperature maybe off a bit? That could affect the outcome of the cake, too. Thanks for coming back and letting me know! And happy baking to you. 🙂

  • Reply
    Valeria | Life Love Food
    Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 12:13 pm

    I absolutely adore all kinds of citrus cakes. This sounds heavenly and I’m hoping I’ll be able to give it a try before orange season is over for good (soon, too soon). xx

  • Reply
    Savitha
    Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 4:56 am

    Sounds exciting !!!
    Just loved it :):):)

  • Reply
    Sylvia
    Monday, March 13, 2017 at 1:45 am

    Cake is delicious! I did a little less sugar (like 1/2 cup less) because I felt like it was a lot and it came out just to my liking. The fruit pieces create an interesting texture which I found some people like and some people dont but overall the flavor of citrus is definitely there and the cake is moist and tasty!

  • Reply
    Heidi
    Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 10:30 pm

    This cake looks so amazing but I have a question about the pan. The Heritage pan is my favorite because the pattern is so striking, however, every cake I have made in it tends to be very dry at the top of the swirls. Have you noticed this and/or can you give some advice on how to avoid it? If I remove the cake from the oven sooner, the center is still very wet.

  • Reply
    Shelly @ Vegetarian 'Ventures
    Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm

    Oh how I wish I had a slice of this right now for an afternoon snack. I’ve loved everything I’ve baked from Yossy’s book and I am now going to have to add this to the list!

  • Reply
    Claudia | The Brick Ktichen
    Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    That’s when you know it’s a winner- when you keep going back for sliver after sliver, when maybe you should have just cut a couple of full pieces. Although slow slivers are more satisfying somehow, I think. You’re back to blood oranges and down here we’re back to the last of the stonefruit – saving this recipe for when winter arrives though! And that is a BEAUTIFUL cake tin <3

  • Reply
    bella
    Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    I love yossy’s work and your variation sounds delightful! that t.s. elliot poem is one of my favorites as well!

  • Reply
    Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today
    Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 9:42 pm

    It is truly tempting and I love blood oranges

  • Reply
    michelle @ hummingbird high
    Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 9:32 pm

    beautiful, sarah! i’ve had this recipe bookmarked in yossy’s cookbook for ages. this might just push me to actually make it this weekend. xo

  • Reply
    Allyson (Considering The Radish)
    Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 9:21 am

    I need this cake in my life- and this bundt pan. I will have to make this in the short amount of time that blood oranges are still hanging around.

  • Reply
    Suzanne
    Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 8:56 am

    This recipe sounds fantastic and your pictures are just gorgeous. Can you clarify the step where you add sour cream and milk because I don’t see milk in the ingredients list? Also, is this the step where you added the vanilla? The last line of the recipe says the cake can be stored airtight at room temp but you write that you get it from the fridge – is this just a personal preference for cold cake or does it need to be kept in the fridge? I’m looking forward to making this as soon as I can get my hands on some blood oranges. Thanks!

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 9:48 am

      Hi Suzanne – the milk is a typo, sorry! It’s just sour cream. And I do add the vanilla with the sour cream (I fixed both in the post, thanks for pointing that out!). I do keep mine in the fridge because I like eating it cold, but it stores just fine at room temp. I hope you like the cake – let me know how it turns out for you.

      • Reply
        Suzanne
        Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 2:06 pm

        I finally got the blood oranges and I’m making the cake this afternoon! Thanks so much for answering!

      • Reply
        Suzanne
        Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 7:58 pm

        Oh my goodness, the flavor of this cake is outstanding! One of my daughters gave it a 5/5 and the other a “strong 4 1/2” and that was despite it being slightly underbaked. (My history with telling when bundt type cakes are done is a bit spotty.) I would never have thought of putting grapefruit in a cake, such a good idea!

        • Reply
          Sarah
          Friday, March 10, 2017 at 11:12 am

          I’m so glad you liked it! I loved the pockets of fruit – what a brilliant idea from Yossy. 🙂

  • Reply
    Sara Forte
    Monday, March 6, 2017 at 11:35 pm

    Oh man. My mother in law gave me a bundt pan for Christmas and I still haven’t taken the tags off because we don’t often have a reason for that large of a cake. I thought I may just give it away. Alas, here is your cake and it looks so dreamy. I need to keep the pan. You and Yossy are my most trusted baking go-tos. And I probably should own a bundt pan regardless of storage real estate issues.
    Anyway. Can’t wait for an excuse to make this.

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 9:49 am

      You need to keep the pan. 😉 And I would say that there is always a reason for that large of a cake, ha. You could always see it as an excuse to share with the neighbors? xx

    • Reply
      Margot
      Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      I slice and freeze whatever I don’t want to eat now or share with friends/neighbors. Most of us would like a slice or two of something heavenly to eat rather than the whole cake. ??

  • Reply
    Genevieve
    Monday, March 6, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    I love that T.S. Eliot poem. And I love all of Yossy’s work! It is always so beautiful. This cake sounds right up my alley- I love citrus in baked goods <3

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 9:50 am

      I love that poem, too.

  • Reply
    yossy
    Monday, March 6, 2017 at 9:02 am

    <3 <3 <3

  • Reply
    Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek
    Monday, March 6, 2017 at 5:50 am

    This cake looks right up my alley! I love the idea of those jammy pockets. Will have to try before blood oranges go out of season! xoxo

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