Jello Cake is a favorite at Oh Sweet Basil and this Orange Jello Cake is no different! It is easy to make and everyone will love the zesty orange flavor!
I have to confess, making cakes is not one of my favorite things to do. Like why do you need so many tools for one recipe?! All the spatulas, and scrapers, and turn table thingy, and so much butter! I will make them but honestly, dressing up a box cake mix is the way to go for quick and easy family dessert night!
You all have loved our Lemon Jello Cake, so I know you’re going to devour this orange Jello cake. It is LOADED with bright and zesty orange flavor, and we are saving a bunch of time, steps, and equipment needed and using a box cake mix.
Trust me, you’ll never know the difference!
Ingredients Needed for Orange Jello Cake
Because we are keeping things simple with a box cake mix, our ingredient list is short and sweet (pun! ha!):
For the Cake
- Orange or White Cake Mix
- Eggs
- Water (should this even appear on ingredients lists? Thoughts?)
- Vegetable Oil
- Orange Jello Packet
For The Icing
- Juice from 2 Oranges
- Powdered Sugar
How to Make Orange Jello Cake
Here are the basic steps for making this delicious cake. For all the details, scroll down to the full recipe card.
- Prep: preheat oven, spray and flour baking dish
- Batter: add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix together, pour into prepared baking dish
- Add the dry cake mix and the dry Jello powder
- Bake: 27-30 minutes at 350 degrees F
- Icing: combine the orange juice and powdered sugar, prick the finished cake all over with a fork and then pour the icing all over the top of the cake
- If you want a little more substantial frosting on this cake, head to our Frosted Lemon Jello Cake post and follow the instructions there using orange frosting.
PRO TIP: You have to use regular Jello, no sugar-free or alternative.
Can I Add Dry Jello to a Cake Mix?
Yes! This recipe calls for you to mix the cake mix, dry jello mix, and a couple other ingredients together. This combination gives you a light and tender cake but packed with so much orange flavor goodness!
This is not a poke cake where you poke holes all over a cake and then pour the prepared liquid Jello all over it. For this recipe you will just use the dry Jello powder.
Does Jello Cake Need To Be Refrigerated?
Jello cake should be refrigerated because Jell-o needs to be refrigerated to keep its consistency and it just tastes better when it is chilled. This cake can be kept for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
Can Cake Be Frozen?
Cake should be covered with plastic wrap and foil before freezing, and can be frozen for 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Why Does Cake Fall In The Middle?
Over beating the batter or too much moisture in the cake batter will cause a cake to fall in the middle.
Opening the oven door to check on a cake before the baking time is up, could also cause the cake to fall.
Moist, tender, simple with the bright flavor of orange in every bite, this Orange Jello Cake is going to be a hit at your next family gathering and is perfect for any season.
More Orange Desserts and Cakes You Will Love!
- Orange Cinnamon Butter Flake Rolls
- Orange Cranberry Glazed Poppy Seed Bread
- Lemon Mandarin Orange Jello Salad
- Orange Creamsicle Cookies
- Orange Rolls
- Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake
- Frosted Lemon Jello Cake
- Strawberry Jello Cake
- Lemon Jello Cake
- Pineapple Crush Jello Cake
- All our CAKE RECIPES!
Orange Jello Cake
Description
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 Box Cake Mix, Orange or white cake mix, regular size,
- 4 Eggs, large
- 1 1/3 Cups Water
- 2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Package Orange Jello, (small box — 3 oz)*
Icing
- 2 Oranges, Juiced
- 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
Instructions
For The Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and sprinkle with flour.
- Tip and tap the edges of the cake pan to coat it with flour.
- In the bowl of a mixer, mix the cake mix, eggs, water, oil and jello together.
- Pour into the greased and floured pan.
- Bake for 27-30 minutes. While the cake is in the oven, prep the icing (see Notes below).
- When cake is done, prick with a fork while still hot.
- Immediately pour orange icing over top.
For The Icing
- In a small bowl, mix the orange juice and powdered sugar until smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
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Sandi Curry
I am wondering how it would taste if you sub orange juice for the water ? Have you tried that ? Thanks .
Sweet Basil
Hi Sandi! Hmmmmm…good question. I have not tried that. It would be interesting to try it. I just worry about there being too much acid and too much sugar/sweetness if orange juice was used. It would definitely bump up the flavor though.
Paula
I made the cake using orange juice instead of water and turned out great. My family loved it, and no one thought it was too sweet.
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to here that! And thank you for for the feedback on using orange juice!
lynda jones
I used to bake this cake for friends going on vacation or moving. We were Navy so lots of friends moved. I used a tube pan and no icing. This way they could eat it in the car while traveling without the sticky icing. Super good.
Sweet Basil
Love to hear this! Thank you so much Lynda!
Jennifer
Why won’t sugar free jello work? Just curious
Sweet Basil
Hi Jennifer! I actually have no idea why it doesn’t work, at least the science behind it, but I tried it and it just didn’t turn out well.
George Moy
I did make the orange jello cake like the recipe came for and its just wonderful,it reminds me of a cake I brought from a department store,Hudson’s they sold this cake call sunshine cake its a round 9’inch cake with a hole in the middle the sides and the surface is flat like B.C.’s wheel it has yellow fondant frosting (like store brought cupcakes) but when you cut and eat it the frosting and cake is soft and moist this cake cost $3 dollars you couldn’t cakes like this at the store because the cooks in Hudson restaurant were people who came from cooking school.so I’m glad that you have this recipe because other recipes for sunshine cakes are more like a pineapple,orange cake. Not quite the same I wonder if you know how to make a tuxedo cake? Its a cake offered at Honey Bake Ham.its a vanilla/chocolate two layered cake.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback George! I love that this cake brought such memories for you! I’m not familiar with that tuxedo cake, but we do have a killer chocolate cake recipe (https://ohsweetbasil.com/the-most-perfect-moist-chocolate-cake-recipe/).
George Moy
Can you use orange juice (from a container) for making the glaze for the top of the cake?
Sweet Basil
Hi George! Yes! Just be aware of the sugar content so that the glaze doesn’t get too sweet. Store bought orange juice tends to have quite a bit of sugar. Enjoy!
George Moy
Can these cake recipe be made in 9’inch round cake pans too?
Sweet Basil
Hi George! Yes, you can do two 9 inch round too. Check the cakes after baking 25 minutes. They will probably need less baking time.
George Moy
Do you have any recipe for making a cake using water melon flavor jello?
George Moy
Do you have any recipe for making a cake using water melon flavor jello? Because I hate to toss out a good box of jello that doesn’t set up well when I make it.
Sweet Basil
Hi George! You can use this same recipe, just swap out the orange jello for the watermelon and use a white cake mix. For the icing, omit the orange juice. It will be delicious!
George Moy
Can you use orange juice (from a container) for making the glaze for the top of the cake?
Sweet Basil
Yes, for sure! Just make sure it’s pure orange juice and a sure sugared up OJ. Simply Orange works well.
T
My grandma made me this cake growing up. She told me it was my mom’s favorite when she was little. Instead of using oranges in the frosting, we’d use lemon juice and make it more if a glaze so it would absorb in the cake and just was delicious! Making for my friends birthday tonight and I hope she loves it as much as I do.
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to hear this! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment and happy birthday to your friend!
Gail McIntosh
Can you use buttermilk in place of the water in this cake?
Sweet Basil
Hi Gail! No, I wouldn’t recommend it. There is already dairy in the the cake mix.
Maria
Sorry, Cake was raw in middle. Sunken in, did not raise. To much liquid in recipe, batter was “watery” 1-1/3 cup water? 2/3 cup oil ?? I followed directions exactly, I’m a baker Has anyone else had a problem with this recipe?
Sweet Basil
Hi Maria! It is the same amount of water and oil as all our jello cakes and they usually turn out just fine. Overmixing can cause a cake to fall in the middle. I’m so sorry it didn’t turn out correctly!
Cheri
This cake was delicious. Would make it again. The question I have is, the amount of juice from the oranges is not specific. How much juice is needed?
Thank you
Sweet Basil
Hi Cheri! An orange generally has about 1/4-1/3 cup of orange juice in it. So you’ll want about 1/2-2/3 cup of juice for the icing. So glad you enjoyed the cake!!
Annie Toivonen
Hi,
Could these Jell-O cake receipts baked in a Bundt pan?
Sweet Basil
Hi Annie! Yes, it can definitely be baked in a bundt pan. It will probably need to be baked a little longer than the listed bake time.
Shirley Younkin
Thank you for all your great tasting desserts. Keep them coming.
Sweet Basil
You’re welcome! Thank you for the feedback and support!
Marianne Freitas
Could I use this recipe for cupcakes? It looks so delicious I cannot wait to try it!
Sweet Basil
Absolutely!! Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3-3/4 full and bake for 18-20 minutes.