Chocolate Orange Cake
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
- 150g/5ozs butter, chopped
- 465g/1lb dark chocolate chips
- 1 1/4 cup/275g/9.7ozs brown sugar
- 75g/2.65flozs plain all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 150g/5ozs almond meal
- 5 eggs
- 2 tablespoons finely grated orange zest
For Rich Chocolate Orange Buttercream
- 200g/7ozs butter, softened
- 360g/12.7ozs icing or powdered sugar, sifted
- 60g/2ozs cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- Pinch of salt
- 40ml/1.4flozs milk
To decorate:
- Chocolate orange slices
- Thin strips of citrus zest
Step 1 - Preheat oven to 160C/320F fan forced and line a 27.2×17.7×5cm/11x7x2inch rectangular tin with baking parchment on the base and sides. Place the butter and chocolate in a large bowl over a pot of simmering water ensuring that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. You can also microwave the chocolate and butter in a microwave proof bowl in 60 second 50% power bursts. Heat until the mixture is smooth with no lumps.
Step 2 - Once melted, add the sugar, flour, orange juice, almond meal and zest and whisk to combine. Whisk in eggs one at a time incorporating well. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking tin and bake for 50-60 minutes or until the inside is set and not wobbly. Cool in the tin on a cake rack.
Thermomix directions cake: Place the chocolate and butter in the bowl and set to 5 minutes, 75C, speed #2. Add the sugar, flour, orange juice, almond meal, zest and eggs and set to 10-15 seconds, speed #4 or until mixed. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 50-60 minutes or until or until the inside is set and not wobbling. Cool in the tin on a cake rack.
Step 3 -Meanwhile make the chocolate buttercream. Place the butter in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment. Beat until the butter on medium speed until smooth. Add the sifted icing sugar, sifted cocoa powder, salt and zest.
Thermomix directions chocolate buttercream: Place the icing sugar and cocoa powder in Thermomix bowl and set to 10 seconds, speed #9. Add the butter, zest and salt and set to 2 minutes, speed #3. Scrape down the sides and add the milk and set to 2 minutes, speed #3.
Step 4 - When the cake has cooled, spread the buttercream over the top of the cake and make swirls using a palette knife. Place chocolate orange slices and thin strips of citrus zest.