Fresh Orange Bunt Cake

    If there's one thing we know in Florida, it's oranges! I am SOOOO in love with this cake recipe!  The whole apartment still smells like orange goodness. Nothing compares to the smell of freshly zested oranges. You won't need an electric mixer for this one, just make sure to sift the dry ingredients to make it easier to whisk together.

Fresh Orange Bunt Cake

Ingredients:

For the cake-

- 1 and 1/2 cup of flour

- 1/2 teaspoon of salt

- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

- 1/2 cup of sugar

- 3/4 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice

- 3 tablespoons of orange zest

- 1/2 cup of vegetable oil

- 2 eggs

- 3 tablespoons milk or cream

- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

For the icing-

- 1 tablespoon of orange zest

- 1 tablespoon of fresh squeezed orange juice

- 1 and 1/2 tablespoon of milk

- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the orange juice, zest, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Next, gently whisk in the dry ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix. Pour into a greased bunt pan and bake for 30 minutes. Once baked, let completely cool. Whisk together the icing ingredients and pour over the top of the cake. Slice and enjoy!

Orange Ricotta Cookies

    Have you ever had an orange scone from Panera Bread? That's what these cookies reminded me of! Flavored with fresh orange zest and iced with orange goodness! They are fluffy and fantastic!

Orange Ricotta Cookies

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

- 1 stick of butter, at room temperature

- 1 cup of granulated sugar

- 2 eggs

- 1 cup of ricotta cheese

- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

- the zest of 1 orange

- 2 and 1/2 cups of flour

- 1 teaspoon of baking powder

- 1/2 teaspoon of salt

For the icing:

- 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice

- the zest of 1/2 an orange

- 2 cups of confectioners sugar

    Preheat oven 325 degrees. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the ricotta, vanilla, and orange zest. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Spoon mix the dry ingredients into the large bowl of batter until just combined. Prepare cookie sheets by spraying with non-stick spray. Scoop the cookies, about an inch in diameter and about two inches apart, onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake them for about 20 minutes. Let them cool completely. In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, zest, and confectioners sugar for the icing. Dip each cooled cookie into the icing and set aside to allow the icing to set before serving.