Orange Bundt Cake with Banana and Poppy Seeds

Orange Bundt Cake with Banana and Poppy Seeds is a super moist and flavorful citrus cake that is perfect for any and all occasions.

Love the flavor of orange in your sweets and desserts? Me too!! I have plenty of recipes on my site that feature this brightly flavored orange citrus fruit and they all taste like pure sunshine. They are: Kool-Aid Pie with Cream Cheese, Homemade Orange Curd, Orange Cream Puffs, and Orange and Cranberry Ricotta Cookies (to name a few).

The ingredient list:

*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.

• 2 cups buttermilk (or homemade buttermilk substitute)
• ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange zest
• 1 teaspoon orange extract (optional)
• 2 sticks butter (softened)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 over-ripe banana, mashed
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 2 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• fresh orange zest (garnish)
• homemade orange curd for topping (optional)

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• stand mixer or hand mixer
• mixing bowls
• measuring cups and spoons
• citrus zester
• bundt pan
• baking spray
• baking sheet (optional)
• spatula
• pastry blender or fork
• cake tester or toothpick
• kitchen timer
• cake plate

Why this recipe works?

It's got a lovely citrus flavor with a moist tangy crumb thanks to the addition of the mashed bananas and buttermilk.

This cake isn't fussy to make, and the flavor is outstanding!

How this recipe came to be:

This orange bundt cake with bananas and poppy seeds came about because I've been craving oranges like crazy this freezing cold winter, and have been purchasing navel oranges non-stop from the grocery store.

But craving oranges isn't the only reason this incredibly delicious citrus bundt cake came about.

You see, along with all the navel oranges I've been craving, I've also been re-binge-watching the entire series (yep, all the seasons) of the Great British Bake Off which always puts me in the mood to bake like mad!

The combination of those two things led me to create this recipe for Best Orange Bundt Cake with Banana and Poppy Seeds. So if you're ready...On your marks! Get set! BAKE!!

What is the purpose of baking with buttermilk as opposed to regular milk?

• Buttermilk (or a buttermilk substitute) ensures a moist and tender bake by breaking down tough gluten strands in a batter.
• Baking with buttermilk also adds a slight tartness to baked good which is very pleasant to the palate in contrast to many sweet, rich desserts.

What if you don't have buttermilk in the fridge?

What's that? You don't have buttermilk in the fridge but you have all the other ingredients on hand to make this citrus pound cake! Now what?

NO PROBLEM! Did you know you can make your own buttermilk at home?

How to make homemade buttermilk:

• Add 1 tablespoon of white or cider vinegar (lemon juice can also be used) per every cup of regular milk.
• Stir.
• Allow the mixture to sit for at least 5 minutes. 
• Replaces store-bought regular buttermilk for all your favorite baking recipes.

If this cake is so moist, does it need a topping or icing? 

No, not really.

With the addition of the buttermilk and the mashed banana in the batter, a topping or icing isn't actually necessary.

However, if you're looking to really guild-the-lily, and take this citrus bundt cake over the top in regards to flavor and impressive presentation, then homemade orange curd (along with an orange icing glaze) is the perfect sweet and sour topping for this homebaked scratch orange cake you won't soon forget.

The step-by-step photo instructions for making orange bundt cake:

• Preheat the oven to 350-degrees.
• Add the buttermilk into a medium bowl.
• OR (if making homemade buttermilk) stir two tablespoons of vinegar into 2 cups of milk. Set aside.
• Add the zest of two oranges to the buttermilk along with fresh orange juice, and orange extract (optional).
• Stir well. 

• Place two sticks of softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream together with the granulated sugar using the paddle attachment.

• Mash one overly ripe banana and blend it with the creamed butter and sugar mixture.

• Add the buttermilk and orange zest mixture to the bowl and blend until completely combined.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Working in batches, add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the mixing bowl until all the flour has been incorporated.
• Stir the poppy seeds into the batter and blend to combine.

• Incorporate the eggs, one at a time, into the batter blending well after each addition.
• Prepare a bundt pan by spraying liberally with baking spray.
• Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt pan.

• Place the bundt pan on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 75-90 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Allow the cake to cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, and then invert the cake out onto a cake plate to cool completely.

• To make the orange glaze, mix the confectioners sugar with fresh orange juice.
• Whisk until smooth and creamy.
• Top the cake with fresh orange zest while the icing still wet.
• Serve at room temperature.
• Spoon homemade orange curd over cake slices before serving, if desired.
• Enjoy!

Can this cake be frozen?

Yes.

Wrap it well, or store it in an air-tight freezer container for up to 2 months.

How to store this orange bundt cake:

Store this cake, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Additional citrus recipes you'll also enjoy:

*Lemon Drop Cheesecake with Lemon Curd Topping (shown below)

Your family and friends will drop their jaws to the floor when you bring this Lemon Drop Cheesecake to the table! 

*Blueberry Lemon Scones (not shown)

There is nothing like the fresh and flavorful combination of blueberries and lemon. Especially for breakfast. These easy-to-make Blueberry Lemon Scones with Lemon Vanilla Icing are the perfect treat to start any day.

*Avocado Mango Salad with Lime Vinaigrette (shown below)

Heart-Healthy Avocado Mango Salad With Lime Poppy Seed Vinaigrette is a brightly flavored and satisfying salad. It makes a delicious dinner all by itself, or for extra protein why not add some cooked chicken breast or turkey? Your call. Your salad.

*Avocado Orange Salad (not shown)

This retro avocado orange salad is delightfully healthy and delicious. And the orange poppy seed dressing is the perfect finishing touch.

*Orange Cream Eclairs

If you’re looking for a delicious pastry that’s not too difficult to make but impressive to serve, these Orange Cream Eclairs are just the ticket. A word to the wise, however, you may want to make a double batch because they’ll be gobbled up quickly.

*Orange Bundt Cake with Banana and Poppy Seeds (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's recipe for this delicious scratch-orange bundt cake that tastes like sunshine as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!

Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!

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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!