Chocolate and Citrus Ciambellone

The Chocolate and Citrus Ciambellone is a soft dessert that combines the intense taste of chocolate with the fresh fragrance of citrus. Here is how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 200 g of all-purpose flour
• 50 g of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 200 g of sugar
• Grated zest of 1 orange (you can also use lemon zest for a different touch)
• 3 eggs
• 100 ml of sunflower seed oil (or another neutral oil)
• 100 ml of orange juice (or juice from other citrus like lemon or tangerine)
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 1 pinch of salt
• Icing sugar for decoration (optional)
• Butter and flour for greasing and flouring the cake mold

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Add a pinch of salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until you have a light and fluffy mixture.
4. Add the grated orange zest to the egg mixture and mix gently.
5. Incorporate alternating the oil and orange juice, stirring gently to avoid deflating the mixture.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients (the mixture of flour, cocoa, and baking powder) and blend until you have a homogeneous mixture.
7. Butter and flour a ciambellone (bundt cake) mold, pour in the batter, and level the surface well.
8. Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the ciambellone comes out clean.
9. Remove the ciambellone from the oven and let it cool completely before unmolding.
10. Once cooled, you can dust with icing sugar for decoration.

Curiosity

The ciambellone is a very popular dessert in Italy, often served at breakfast or as a snack. The addition of citrus to the recipe not only gives a fresh note in contrast to the chocolate but is also a tribute to the Italian confectionery tradition that loves to play with these flavors, especially in the region of Sicily, famous for its prized citrus fruits.

And remember, you can always add a personal touch, perhaps by decorating the ciambellone with candied orange peel or by adding chocolate chips to the batter for an extra touch of sweetness. Happy baking and bon appétit!