Pan d'Arancia Recipe: Sicilian Whole Orange Cake Classic 2026

Pan d'Arancia is a traditional Sicilian cake that uses whole oranges for an incredibly moist, fragrant crumb. The entire fruit goes in, peel and all, giving the cake a deep citrus flavor you simply cannot get from juice or zest alone. It is one of those Italian desserts that looks and tastes impressive yet comes together with minimal effort.

Because the whole orange is used, the quality of the fruit matters most. Winter is the ideal season, when oranges are at their sweetest and most aromatic. Choose untreated oranges or wash them very thoroughly to remove any residue before you begin.

This cake is wonderful for breakfast alongside a coffee, or as a sweet afternoon treat when guests drop by. It keeps well for days and the flavor only improves as it sits.

Ingredients for Pan d'Arancia

This recipe makes 12 servings.

• 1 orange, about 250 g
• 125 ml sunflower oil
• 2 medium eggs
• 150 g sugar
• 200 g wheat flour
• 10 g baking powder

How to Make Pan d'Arancia Step by Step

1. Blend the Whole Orange

First, wash 1 orange very well, cut it into pieces, and remove any seeds. Blend it in a blender until you have a smooth puree. Using the whole fruit, peel included, is what gives this cake its signature character.

2. Add the Oil, Eggs and Sugar

Next, add 125 ml sunflower oil, 2 medium eggs, and 150 g sugar to the blender and blend again. At this point, preheat the oven so it reaches the right temperature by the time you are ready to bake.

3. Incorporate the Flour and Baking Powder

Add 200 g wheat flour and 10 g baking powder to the mixture, and blend again very briefly, just until everything is combined and the batter is smooth. If you overmix, the cake will lose the juiciness that defines it, so a safer option is to fold in the flour with a spatula.

4. Pour the Batter into the Mold

Line an elongated mold with parchment paper and pour the pan d'arancia batter into it. To line the mold, we wet the parchment paper with water so it adapts perfectly, though you can also line it traditionally or simply grease it with butter and lightly flour it.

5. Bake the Cake

Bake at 180 °C for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes in the mold on a wire rack.

6. Unmold and Cool Completely

After those 5 minutes, take the pan d'arancia out of the mold and let it cool completely on a wire rack. Once cold, you can slice it into portions and enjoy this surprising Italian sweet.

Tips for the Best Pan d'Arancia

Choose the Right Oranges

The secret to this recipe is the quality of the oranges. Winter is the best time to make it, when the fruit is in season and at peak sweetness. Since the whole orange is used, pick untreated fruit or wash it very thoroughly to remove any residue.

Do Not Overmix the Batter

Blend the flour and baking powder into the batter for only a moment, just until combined. Overmixing will make the cake lose its characteristic juiciness. If you want to be extra safe, fold the flour in by hand with a spatula instead.

Adapt the Mold to Your Kitchen

Traditionally, pan d'arancia is baked in an elongated mold, but you can also use a round 20 cm mold. If you do, adjust the baking time and check doneness with the toothpick test described in the steps above.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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