Looking for a unique cake to serve at the next bridal shower, night in with friends, or even just a family dinner? This zesty grapefruit vanilla cake is bursting with mouthwatering flavor and luscious texture!
This unique twist on lemon poppy seed cake is sure to please even the most dedicated dessert traditionalists.
With just the right amount of smooth vanilla to balance the bright flavors of grapefruit, this cake is the perfect kind of sweet. Everyday ingredients make this cake a cinch to whip up.
Frosted in simple, elegant white icing that delivers just the right hint of citrusy flavor and decorated with beautiful, edible flowers, this grapefruit vanilla cake looks like it took hours to make. Tiny poppy seeds and vanilla bean specks add delicate texture to each bite.
From simplicity to flavor to texture, this dessert if full of surprises, and is the perfect blend of complimentary tastes and features. You and your guests will be glad you gave it a try!
Accidentally over-baked your cake? No worries! Follow this tutorial to make your cake moist after baking.
What did you think of my unique bundt cake? If you gave it a try, let me know in the comments!
Grapefruit Vanilla Cake
Ingredients
- Zest of 1 grapefruit
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup grapefruit juice
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla powder
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 2/3 cup cooking oil
- 1 tbsp. poppy seeds
- Edible flowers - optional
Icing:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. grapefruit juice - you can add a bit more or less depending on how firm you’d like the icing
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla powder - or 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Butter and flour a bundt cake pan.
- In a bowl, combine grapefruit zest and sugar and rub with your fingers until it looks like wet sand.Zest of 1 grapefruit, 1 cup sugar
- Whisk in buttermilk, vanilla, grapefruit juice and eggs. Whisk until it’s very smooth.1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/2 cup grapefruit juice, 3 large eggs
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla powder and salt. Add dry ingredients into the batter, then pour in oil and poppy seeds. Mix carefully until smooth.1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 ½ tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. vanilla powder, 1/4 tsp. sea salt, 2/3 cup cooking oil, 1 tbsp. poppy seeds
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, about 1 hour. Let it sit and cool.
- In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar with the grapefruit juice and vanilla and whisk until you get a soft cream (you can add a bit more or less grapefruit juice depending on how thick you like the icing).1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2 tsp. grapefruit juice
- Pour the icing over the cake and decorate with with edible flowers.
Equipment
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Looking for dinner ideas? Try our Beef Tenderloin with Bourbon & Mushroom Sauce