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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!
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.1 Box Cake Mix, 4 Eggs, 1 1/3 Cups Water, 2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil, 1 Package Orange Jello
- 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.2 Oranges, 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Can you use orange juice (from a container) for making the glaze for the top of the cake?
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!
Can these cake recipe be made in 9’inch round cake pans too?
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.
Do you have any recipe for making a cake using water melon flavor jello?
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.
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!
Can you use orange juice (from a container) for making the glaze for the top of the cake?
Yes, for sure! Just make sure it’s pure orange juice and a sure sugared up OJ. Simply Orange works well.
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.
Yay! Love to hear this! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment and happy birthday to your friend!
Can you use buttermilk in place of the water in this cake?
Hi Gail! No, I wouldn’t recommend it. There is already dairy in the the cake mix.
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?
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!
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
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!!
Hi,
Could these Jell-O cake receipts baked in a Bundt pan?
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.
Thank you for all your great tasting desserts. Keep them coming.
You’re welcome! Thank you for the feedback and support!
Could I use this recipe for cupcakes? It looks so delicious I cannot wait to try it!
Absolutely!! Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3-3/4 full and bake for 18-20 minutes.