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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Italian Hangover Cake

    Published: Jan 13, 2023 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe
    The hangover cake, image with text for Pinterest.

    Fluffy and bursting with fresh orange flavor, this authentic Italian hangover cake is absolutely delicious and easy to make!

    This Italian hangover cake has become extremely popular in the last few years and for all good reasons.

    Loaded with fresh and citrusy orange flavor, hints of vanilla, and a light boozy kick coming from Grand Marnier and Disaronno Amaretto liqueurs, this cake is ridiculously delicious.

    Super easy to make with simple ingredients, you can easily customize it with your favorite liqueur, or skip it completely to make it kid-friendly.

    Italian hangover cake.

    Once cooked and cooled, you can cut your hangover cake into slices and top it with cherry jam or apricot jam, lemon or orange curd, Italian pastry cream, zabaglione, or homemade chocolate spread.

    For a finishing touch, you can decorate it with my Amaretto orange glaze right before serving it.

    Jump to:
    • What Is Italian Hangover Cake?
    • Hangover Cake Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • How To Make Italian Hangover Cake
    • Storage Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Recipe

    What Is Italian Hangover Cake?

    The hangover cake has been one of the most popular desserts from the famous NY-based DeFazio's Pizzeria.

    Whilst the original recipe is top secret, it's based on a classic Italian bundt cake (ciambellone), but their boozy orange cake version includes a mix of Vodka, Grand Marnier and Disaronno, and orange juice.

    There are quite a few traditional Italian cakes that include either Grand Marnier or Disaronno, and I'm confident they were the inspiration behind their hangover cake.

    Today I'm sharing my Italian mum's recipe for the hangover cake, which we have been proudly making for at least 20 years.

    Our family recipe calls for both Grand Marnier and Disaronno Amaretto, but it skips the vodka. I guess because it has never been a hugely popular drink or ingredient in Italy.

    Hangover cake made with grand marnier, amaretto, orange juice.

    Hangover Cake Ingredients

    For this traditional Italian cake, you'll need the most basic ingredients you probably have in your pantry already.

    As a nice extra bonus, this is also a completely dairy-free bundt cake!

    You'll need just 8 ingredients:

    Italian hangover cake ingredients: flour, eggs, sugar, Grand Marnier, orange, olive oil, vanilla, baking powder.
    • Flour: I use regular all-plain flour or Italian 00 flour.
    • Eggs: go for medium-sized eggs.
    • Sugar: use regular granulated sugar for this recipe. You can also use raw cane sugar.
    • Extra-virgin olive oil: Use light extra-virgin olive oil with a delicate flavor. If you want, you can substitute it with an equal amount of butter or sunflower oil.
    • Orange: orange zest and juice add a wonderful aroma, use an organic unwaxed orange.
    • Vanilla: you can use vanilla extract or scrape the vanilla seeds right out of a vanilla bean pod.
    • Baking powder: the baking powder gives the cake a soft and bouncy texture.
    • Grand Marnier: this French orange-flavored liqueur gives the cake its boozy name. You can substitute it with Disaronno Amaretto or with extra orange juice.

    Optional glaze:

    For a nice extra touch, I like to make a simple glaze with Amaretto, icing sugar, orange juice, and orange zest.

    You can replace the Amaretto with Grand Marnier, or substitute it with extra orange juice.

    Equipment

    You don't need any professional equipment to make this easy Italian bundt cake, here are the kitchen tools I use:

    • 9-inch springform bundt cake pan - You can use a 9-inch or 10-inch (24 or 26 cm) bundt pan. I usually go for a 9-inch bundt cake tin.
    • Hand mixer - Feel free to use a stand mixer or a simple whisk instead.

    How To Make Italian Hangover Cake

    This Italian hangover cake recipe couldn't be easier!

    It's all made in one bowl and comes together in just 5 minutes.

    Here's a quick recipe overview with step-by-step pictures.

    Scroll down until the end of the post for the full recipe

    Collage of 4 images showing the 4 steps on how to make Italian hangover cake recipe.

    STEP 1. In a large bowl whisk the eggs with the sugar until you have a pale and fluffy mixture. Slowly add olive oil, orange juice, liquer, vanilla and orange zest.

    STEP 2. Place a sieve over the bowl and add the remaining dry ingredients, and mix briefly to combine all the ingredients.

    STEP 3. Butter and flour a bundt cake tin. Pour the batter in, and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

    STEP 3. Allow the cake to cool, then remove it from the pan, and brush it with the prepared glaze or dust with confectioner's sugar and serve.

    Tip: You can also poke tiny holes in the cake and brush it with a little Limoncello, Grand Marnier, or Amaretto liqueur.

    The Italian hangover cake with amaretto glaze.

    Storage Tips

    • Serve: You can leave your orange Grand Marnier cake at room temperature for up to 2 hours, or longer when placed under a cake cover in a cool dry spot in your kitchen.
    • Fridge: Cut the cake into slices and transfer them to a ziplock bag or another airtight container to store in the fridge. They will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I freeze the leftover cake?

    Yes, you can! Cut the cake into individual slices, place them on a tray and freeze for 30 minutes, then transfer them into individual ziplock bags.
    Store the slices in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    Can I make this cake without a bundt pan?

    Absolutely! Simply use a regular 9-inch or 8-inch springform cake pan.

    Grand Marnier cake or hangover cake.

    More Italian Dessert Recipes To Try

    Looking for more dessert recipes? Try these traditional Italian desserts:

    • Amaretti Cookies - Italian Almond Cookies
    • Italian Butter Cookies
    • Pizzicati Cookies - Italian Pinch Cookies
    • Lemon Ricotta Cake
    • Italian Ricotta Cookies
    • Classic Tiramisu Without Eggs - Authentic Italian Recipe
    • Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake
    • Crostata - Italian Jam Tart
    • Ricotta Cheesecake - Just 3 Ingredients

    Did You Try This Recipe?

    Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook!

    Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

    Recipe

    Italian hangover cake.
    Print SaveSaved!
    5 from 5 votes

    Italian Hangover Cake

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Fluffy and bursting with fresh orange flavor and hints of Grand Marnier and Amaretto, this authentic Italian hangover cake is absolutely delicious and easy to make!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time45 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert / Breakfast
    Cuisine: Italian
    Serving: 12
    Calories: 308kcal
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    • 4 eggs
    • 180 g sugar, approx ¾ cup + 2 tbsp
    • 120 ml extra-virgin olive oil, approx ½ cup
    • 50 ml fresh orange juice, approx ¼ cup
    • 2 tablespoon Grand Marnier liqueur
    • zest of one orange
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
    • 300 g all purpose flour, approx 2+½ cups
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder

    Amaretto orange glaze:

    • 130 g icing sugar, approx 1 cup
    • 1 tablespoon Amaretto liqueur
    • 1 tablespoon orange juice
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest, optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 340°F/170°C and adjust oven rack to middle position. Generously grease and flour a 9-inch springform bundt pan.
    • In a large bowl whisk the eggs and sugar with a hand mixer until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
    • Whilst whisking, slowly pour in the extra-virgin olive oil, followed by the orange juice and zest, Grand Marnier liqueur (if using) and vanilla extract.
    • Place a sieve over the bowl, add the flour and baking powder and sift them into the bowl. Whisk all the ingredients gently until just combined, do not over mix.
    • Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt pan. Place in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Remove the hangover cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely at room temperature, then remove it from the cake pan. Pour the glaze over the cake or dust with icing sugar and serve.

    For the glaze:

    • In a small bowl whisk together icing sugar, amaretto liqueur and orange juice until smooth, adding in more orange juice 1 teaspoon at a time to thin as desired.

    Video

    Notes

    Please note that all my baking recipes are tested with grams measurements, which are more accurate than cup measurements. US cup amounts are provided, but for best results please always use a scale when measuring ingredients.
    BAKING TIPS
    • Grease the bundt pan with a thin layer of butter. Then sprinkle a little flour over the butter and shake off any flour in excess. Place in the fridge until you're ready to pour the cake batter in. This step will ensure that the cake doesn’t stick to the pan once baked.
    • Allow the cake to cool slightly then remove it from the pan.
    STORAGE TIPS
    Serve: You can leave Italian hangover cake at room temperature for up to 2 hours, or longer when placed under a cake cover in a cool dry spot in your kitchen.
    Fridge: Cut the cake into slices and transfer them to a ziplock bag or another airtight container to store in the fridge. They will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brandy says

      May 05, 2025 at 1:56 pm

      You could always sub limoncello for the vodka. Orange,lemon, and almond together would be divine.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        May 09, 2025 at 9:45 am

        Absolutely, I tried it before and it tasted incredible!

        Reply
    2. Tic says

      April 22, 2025 at 6:56 am

      "This Italian hangover cake has become extremely popular in the last few years and for all good reasons."

      I'm 66 years old and my mother made this cake for me all the time every since I can remember.

      Reply
    3. Kirrisa says

      March 16, 2025 at 8:35 pm

      Can you link your pan please?

      Reply
    4. Mena Pisto says

      April 04, 2023 at 1:35 am

      Can we use canola oil instead of olive oil?

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        April 11, 2023 at 1:05 pm

        Hi Mena, I've not tried it w, but I'm confident you can use canola oil to make this hangover cake without issue.

        Reply
    5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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