Chocolate Orange Cake

Name: Chocolate Orange Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 350 g Butter or baking spread (unsalted, softened); 350 g Caster sugar; 6 Eggs (large); 2 tsp Orange extract; 1 tbsp Milk; 300 g Self raising flour; 50 g Cocoa powder; 1/2 tsp Baking powder; 250 g Butter (unsalted, softened); 450 g Icing sugar; 50 g Cocoa powder; 2-3 tbsp Milk; 2 tsp Orange extract; 1 Terry's Chocolate Orange; Orange sprinkles (optional)

06/12/2019 by thebakingexplorer 39 Comments

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This Chocolate Orange Cake is two layer of moist chocolate orange sponge with chocolate orange buttercream, decorated with Terry's Chocolate Orange pieces and orange sprinkles. I've made it several times over the years for birthdays and other celebrations and it always goes down well!

Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking.
For the best flavour, make sure to use a good quality orange extract and not an essence.
I used a baking spread for the cake and unsalted butter for the buttercream.
You can use any cocoa powder for this cake, of course the better quality it is, the better flavour it will have. Also do make sure you are using cocoa powder and not a hot chocolate powder.
Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales*. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons* and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Chocolate Orange Cake

To make the sponges, mix the butter and sugar together for about three minutes until fluffy, then whisk in the eggs, orange extract and milk.

Add the self raising flour, cocoa powder and baking powder, and whisk in gently. Divide the mixture between the cake tins. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a thin skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

To decorate the cake, make a buttercream from butter, icing sugar, cocoa powder, milk and orange extract. Pipe it between the layers and on top, then decorate with Terry's Chocolate Orange pieces and orange sprinkles.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

What can you use instead of orange extract?

I get my orange extract from either the supermarket or Amazon, and I do recommend it for this recipe. If you can't find orange extract for the sponge and buttercream, you can use the zest of three oranges for the sponge. Orange juice is not strong enough to get orange flavour in the buttercream, you would have to use a lot and it could make the buttercream sloppy. What I would suggest instead is mixing 150g melted chocolate orange into the buttercream, then adding 2-3 tbsp milk to loosen it if it's too thick.

How long does the cake last for and can it be frozen?

The cake will last for 2-3 days in an airtight container in a cool place. You can freeze both the cake sponges and the buttercream. To freeze them separately, wrap the cakes well in cling film or put them in an airtight container (with some baking paper between them so they don't stick together). The buttercream can be frozen in a sealed tub. To freeze it decorated, freeze the cake on a plate until frozen solid, then carefully wrap in cling film. Remove the clingfilm when you take the cake out of the freezer to defrost, as if it defrosts with it still on it could damage the buttercream.

Can you make the cake with plain/all purpose flour?

Self raising flour, which is very commonly used in the UK where I am based, already contains a raising agent and a little salt too. Therefore if you want to swap it for plain or all purpose flour, you will need to add some additional baking powder and also a little salt if you like. Some people like to add salt to cake recipes and some don't, so I'll leave that up to you as it won't affect the bake. The general advice is to add 2 teaspoons baking powder (a measuring teaspoon, not the kind you stir your coffee with) per every 200g plain or all purpose flour. So for this recipe you'd need to add 3 teaspoons baking powder. Please note, I have not tested this recipe using plain or all purpose flour.

Can the cake be made gluten or dairy free?

Yes! For gluten free you can replace the self raising flour with a gluten free self raising flour blend. If you only have a gluten free plain flour blend, you will need to add baking powder. The general advice is to add 2 tsp baking powder per 200g flour, so for this recipe you'd need to add 3 teaspoons baking powder. You may also like to add ½ tsp xanthan gum for better texture. Terry's Chocolate Orange is not gluten free, so you will also need to use an alternative orange flavoured chocolate to decorate. For a dairy free version, use a dairy free baking spread for the cake and the buttercream. You will also need to decorate the cake with a dairy free orange flavoured chocolate. Please check the labels of everything you use if you are serving this cake to someone with an allergy or intolerance.

Can this cake be made without eggs?

Yes, check out my Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake recipe for a vegan and egg free version of this cake.

Can this cake be made in different size cake tins?

Yes! If you would like to make this cake in different size tins, please check my Conversion Guide to find out how to adjust the recipe.

Can this recipe be made into cupcakes?

Yes! Check out my Chocolate Orange Cupcakes recipe for the details. You might also like my Chocolate Orange Loaf Cake recipe or my Chocolate Orange Drip Cake recipe.

More tips for making the Chocolate Orange Cake:

I recommend using a good quality orange extract (not an essence) to get the best orange flavour in this cake. I like to use the brand Nielsen Massey
I piped the buttercream onto the cake using a Wilton 2D nozzle, but you can use any nozzle you prefer or spread it on with a spoon.
If you don't have Terry's Chocolate Orange where you live, or you can't get hold of it, just use any other orange flavoured chocolate treat like Lindt, Matchmakers, or orange Twirl.

Troubleshooting

If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

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