Orange Dreamsicle Cake

This light and flavorful citrus cake is a throwback to everyone's favorite childhood ice cream treat: the Dreamsicle! This cake is sure to be the hit of any summertime party.

Orange Dreamsicle Cake
Yield: 2 layer cake

** Note: This recipe needs to be made one day in advance! **

Ingredients
Cake:

• 1 1/2 sticks (12 Tbsp) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 Tbsp orange extract
• 2 1/4 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Filling:

• 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 tsp orange extract

Frosting:

• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp clear vanilla extract
• 1 tsp orange extract
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 6 cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, line with parchment paper, then grease parchment paper; set aside.
2. Using stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add eggs and mix well. Beat in orange juice, milk, and orange extract. (Scrape sides and bottom of bowl as needed.) Add dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans.
3. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Allow cakes to cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out from pans, remove & discard parchment paper, and cool completely on wire racks. Cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
4. Once cakes are cooled, prepare filling. In stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, combine pudding mix, whipping cream, and orange extract on high speed until thick and fluffy. Set aside for assembly.
5. In stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, cream together butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla and orange extracts. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until blended. Continue at high speed until smooth and creamy.
6. To assemble cake, place one cake layer (dome side down) on platter, spread with filling (use all of it and make sure layer is even!), place second cake layer (dome side up) on top of filling, and spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Pipe additional decorations, if desired. (There will be plenty of frosting leftover!)
7. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving.

Recipe adapted from My Cake School.