Double Chocolate and Orange Cake

17/11/2023

The Double Chocolate and Orange Cake is a classic combination that enhances the taste of chocolate with the freshness of orange. Here is a version that you might like.

Ingredients

200 g of all-purpose flour
50 g of unsweetened cocoa powder
200 g of granulated sugar
100 g of melted butter
3 eggs
100 ml of milk
Grated zest of 1 orange (organic to avoid the presence of pesticides in the zest)
Juice of 1 orange
1 packet of baking powder
100 g of dark chocolate
1 pinch of salt

For the icing (optional):

100 g of dark chocolate
30 g of butter
Candied orange peel for decoration

Preparation

Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
In a large bowl, sift the flour with the unsweetened cocoa powder and baking powder.
In another bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until you get a light and fluffy mixture.
Add the melted butter, milk, grated orange zest, and orange juice to the egg mixture.
Gradually add the dry ingredients (the flour, cocoa, and baking powder mixture) to the wet mixture, stirring gently to avoid the formation of lumps.
Chop the dark chocolate into small pieces and add it to the batter, stirring to distribute it evenly.
Pour the batter into a buttered and floured cake pan, leveling the surface.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool before unmolding it.

For the icing:

Melt the dark chocolate with butter in a double boiler, stirring until you achieve a smooth cream.
Spread the icing over the cooled cake and decorate with candied orange peel.

If you desire a typically Italian alternative, you could also prepare a chocolate ganache by mixing hot fresh cream with chopped dark chocolate, resulting in an even creamier and more indulgent topping.

Curiosity

The Double Chocolate and Orange Cake is an excellent example of how citrus fruits can be used in pastry to counterbalance the richness of chocolate, creating a really pleasant balance of flavors for the palate.