Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your Bundt pan. Generously grease and flour a 10-12 cup Bundt pan. Ensure every nook and cranny is coated.
Step 2: Whisk together dry ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk well to ensure everything is evenly distributed.
Step 3: Combine wet ingredients. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, fresh orange zest, and fresh orange juice. Whisk until just combined.
Step 4: Gently combine wet and dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can lead to a tough cake. A few lumps are perfectly fine.
Step 5: Pour batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Scrape all the batter into your prepared Bundt pan, spreading it evenly. Tap the pan gently on the counter a couple of times to release any large air bubbles.
Step 6: Bake the cake. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Baking times can vary, so keep an eye on it. The cake should be golden brown and spring back when lightly touched.
Step 7: Cool in the pan. Once baked, remove the Bundt pan from the oven and let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes. This cooling period is important for the cake to set and to prevent it from breaking when inverted.
Step 8: Invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. After the initial cooling, carefully invert the Bundt pan onto the wire rack. If you greased it well, it should slide right out. Let the cake cool completely before glazing. This typically takes at least an hour.
Step 9: Whisk glaze ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and fresh orange juice until smooth and pourable. If the glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more orange juice (a quarter teaspoon at a time). If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar. You want a consistency that slowly drizzles.
Step 10: Glaze the cooled cake. Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle the orange glaze generously over the top. You can use a spoon or simply pour it over, letting it drip down the sides. Allow the glaze to set for about 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.