Orange Sunflower Sheet Cake

This post was sponsored by Sunbutter Sunflower Seed Butter

No quick breakfast recipe this month! For those of use who are fortunate to be able to stay at home or work from home during COVID-19, we seem to be catching up on our slow process, long haul cooking and baking. It’s a joy to see. For anyone who always wanted to try homemade pasta or gnocchi or that beautiful cake they saw on Cherry Bombe, now is the time. In honor of that, I have put together a sheet cake recipe with frosting that’s sure to bring joy to you and your family’s faces. No special ingredients required, just pantry items, like Sunbutter.

The aroma of this cake when you take it out of the oven is so fresh and spring-like, and it has a soft and tender texture. The frosting is thick and creamy, and more on the dense side. What I love about this frosting is that it’s intensely flavored by both the Sunbutter and the orange juice, and doesn’t just taste like sugar.

Peanut free, nut free (excluding the coconut flakes on top), dairy free, egg free, soy free, wheat and gluten free

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup avocado oil, or a neutral oil such as canola or sunflower
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup orange juice (fresh or store-bought)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp Sunbutter No Sugar Added Sunflower Seed Butter
1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats
1 1/3 cup gluten free oat flour (or GF oats pulverized in the food processor until finely ground)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Line an 8 x 8 inch square cake pan with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 375F.

Add the applesauce, vanilla, oil, sea salt, orange juice, brown sugar, and Sunbutter to a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth and evenly combined. Add the oats, oat flour, baking soda, and baking powder and fold it all together. Do not overmix.

Pour the batter into the lined cake pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 18 - 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Frosting:
3 tbsp Sunbutter No Sugar Added Sunflower Seed Butter
1/4 cup lard or shortening*
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 - 3 tbsp orange juice (fresh or store-bought)
1 tbsp hulled sunflower seeds
optional: 2 tbsp toasted coconut flakes

*shortening often contains soy. Always read the package to ensure this product is safe for you allergies

Add the Sunbutter and lard to a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla, half of the sugar, and half of the orange juice and beat until smooth. Add the second half of the sugar and orange juice and beat until smooth again. It should be thick and creamy.

Allow the cake to cool before frosting it, then spread the frosting gently over the top in an even layer. Sprinkle the sunflower seeds and toasted coconut on top.

Makes 9 servings

Learn how to make oat flour at home! It’s simple and ready in minutes.