Monday 5 May 2014

Orange Chocolate Cake

After seeing Zoe and many other bloggers rave about this cake, it went straight to my do it now list. I am so glad I made this. This is certainly one of the easiest and most delicious chocolate cakes I've made. 


I love anything orange flavoured so the refreshing zesty flavours that accentuate the chocolate-y goodness of this cake is a large plus point. I'd have to say that chocolate and orange is a match made in heaven, that is where baked goods are concerned. 


Since then, I've made it three times and everyone loved it... this recipe has gone on my to bake list for picnics or pot luck. 


Orange Chocolate Cake (1 Loaf)
A Nigella Lawson Recipe from Bake for Happy Kids

Ingredients

  • 160 g soft unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
  • A dab flavorless vegetable oil, for greasing syrup spoon 
  • 2 tbsp golden syrup or dark corn syrup (I used maple syrup) 
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar 
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda 
  • 3 tbsp best-quality unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted 
  • 2 eggs 
  • zest of 2 regular orange and juice of 1 (1/3 cup) 
  • 80 g chopped dark chocolate or chocolate droplets
Method
  • Preheat the oven to 325°F (170°C) and line your loaf pan with parchment paper and grease the sides, or line with a paper loaf-pan liner.
  • Beat the already soft butter with the syrup - if you dab a little oil on your tablespoon measure with a sheet of paper towel, the syrup shouldn't stick to the spoon - and the sugar until you have a fairly smooth caffe Americano cream, though the sugar will have a bit of grit about it. 
  • Mix the flour, baking soda (or baking powder), and cocoa powder together, and beat into the syrup mixture 1 tbsp of these dry ingredients before beating in 1 egg. Then add another couple of spoonfuls of the dry ingredients before beating in the second egg. 
  • Carry on beating in the remaining dry ingredients and then add, still beating, the orange zest and finally, gradually, the juice. At this stage, the batter may suddenly look dimpled, as if slightly curdled. No need to panic! Stir in chopped chocolate if you wish. 
  • Pour and scrape into the prepared pan and bake for 45 mins (or 20 mins for smaller loaves), though check 5 mins before and be prepared to keep it in the oven 5 mins longer if need be. A cake tester won't come out entirely clean, as the point of this cake, light though it may be, is to have just a hint of inner stickiness. Let cool a little in its pan on a wire rack, then turn out with care and leave on the rack to cool. 
This post is linked to the Bake Along #60 organised by Joyce from Kitchen FlavoursLena from Frozen Wings and Zoe from Bake For Happy Kids

29 comments:

  1. Hi Mich!

    Would you believe I still haven't attempted to combine Orange and Chocolate in a cake yet? (or any other place for that matter:) I too have been seeing these yummy looking cakes and wish I could try before I bake, lol...Yours looks so good I can't imagine as to why I haven't gotten my butt in gear and tried it. One day, I hope. Until then, I will have to dream of yours just waiting for me to dig in! Thanks so much for sharing, Mich...

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  2. Isn't this such an awesome recipe? I love your loaf.. It so reminds me of Sara Lee!

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  3. What amazing cake!
    I love chocolate and orange!
    xo

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  4. Hi Mich, Same as you, I've baked this many times. Moist and delicious !

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  5. Love this orange & chocolate combination, must try it!

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  6. I really think orange and chocolate sounds a real good combination together. Wish I could have that slice of yours.

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  7. Hi Mich,
    This is one delicious cake indeed! I can remember the bits of orange zest in each bite! Yum!
    Thank you for joining Bake-Along's 3rd Anniversary! Cheers!

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  8. Delicious cake! Must give this a try!

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  9. Hi Mich, this cake looks moist and delicious! I can imaging how good the cake is when it melting in my tongue!

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  10. Hi Mich,

    Me too... No regrets at all after baking this recipe!!! Seeing that you have baked more than 3 times, I think my only regret is I should I bake this recipe more often too :D

    Before going off, I have to say it is always a great pleasure to bake-along with you. Whenever I feel tired after housework and cooking, I always think of you being the iron working mum with 3 kids and still baking. You are always a inspiration to me! Cheers!

    Zoe

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  11. Hi Mich, yes I love this cake too and have thought of baking it for this Bake Along but I have already posted it before so I can't be using it again huh lol! Great recipe indeed.

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  12. Mich, Zoe is going to kill me as I can't recall she has baked this. I might even have left a message on her blog b4, hahaha. Anyway, the cake that you baked look absolutely delicious there! I also like the combination of orange & chocolate! I took a glimpse of the ingredients & what caught my eyes is the maple syrup you used.

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  13. Mich, the cakes looks so moist and chocolaty, yummy.

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  14. This looks so moist, Mich. Chocolate and orange is such a great dessert combination (I love Jaffa cakes).

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  15. Chocolate and orange is a great combination. Your cake looks super moist and delicious.

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  16. I love the texture of this chocolate cake..so light and moist. Absolutely beautiful!

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  17. I have been looking around for a good chocolate orange cake and your pics tell me that this is it... would to try sometime soon...

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  19. Mich, you cake looks very moist and I can almost imagine the smell and the taste!

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  20. yes, i think everyone who made it love it! thanks for always being so supportive of our event, really appreciate that!

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  21. Orange and chocolate is a very nice match and what a great idea to combine them in the cake! Love very moist cake like this. Wonderful!

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  22. Hi Mich, that's a fantastic cake, Awesome combination! Yours look so irresistible, send some over please. :))

    Have a nice week ahead,regards.
    Amelia

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  23. Yes, the combination of orange and chocolate is just delicious, the cake looks beautiful Mich...moist and tender.
    Hope you are having a wonderful weekend :D

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  24. Whoa Mich. now u r making me wanna bake this soon maybe like tmorow.. Yummy happy Mother's Day Mich

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  25. I like orange but never tried combination of orange and chocolate cake recipes,This time i am going to try it out

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  26. Dear Mich
    May i check with u if i could use dark cocoa powder? Will it turn charcoal black? Tks. Adeline

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