This supremely moist chocolate orange cake will be your new go to chocolate cake recipe. Freshly squeezed orange juice is laced into every bite and intensified in a juicy orange glaze between each cake layer. Topped with a rich and thick ganache for the perfect bold chocolatey bite.
A big thank you to Florida Department of Citrus for sponsoring this recipe!
Your new favorite chocolate cake recipe!
Supremely moist: One bite and you will know that this is an extremely moist chocolate cake. The cakes crumb is tender and intensified with an easy to make orange glaze that is brushed between each layer for an extra succulent bite.
Juicy fresh orange flavor: This cake is laced with juicy and sweet fresh Florida Oranges. Fresh orange juice and zest is added to the cake batter for a bright flavor that compliments the chocolate aroma.
Easy to make: I love this cake for its simplicity and its taste. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer. The ingredients are pantry-friendly, there is minimal prep and you’ll have the cakes into the oven in under twenty minutes.
Bakery quality cake at home: Although it may be simple to make, this chocolate orange cake is BAKERY QUALITY! Each rich orange chocolatey bite tastes like you’re sitting outside in the sunshine at your fav cafe. Highly recommend a creamy cup of coffee to go with.
Ingredients for Chocolate Orange Cake:
- Florida Oranges
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- baking soda
- baking powder
- kosher salt
- buttermilk
- olive oil
- eggs
- pure vanilla extract
- freshly squeezed Florida Orange Juice
- hot water
- dark chocolate chunks or chopped chocolate
- heavy whipping cream
Step up your flavor with Fresh Florida Orange Juice
Adding freshly squeezed Florida orange Juice to this chocolate cake took this from regular chocolate cake to truly a dessert masterpiece.
I’m using Florida Oranges because they are distinctly sweeter and juicier from their unique growing conditions. Florida’s subtropical climate, abundant rainfall, bright sunshine, and unique sandy soil help grow the sweetest and juiciest oranges in the world – perfectly suited for squeezing at home.
Click here to learn more and buy fresh Florida Oranges!
How to make Chocolate Orange Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray two 8-inch cake tins with non-stick spray, sprinkle with flour and line bottoms with parchment paper. Spray bottom of parchment paper with non-stick spray and set cake tins aside.
- For cake: In a large bowl whisk together all purpose flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt and orange zest with a whisk or hand mixer on low until combined.
- In a separate large bowl whisk together buttermilk, olive oil, eggs, vanilla extract, orange juice and hot water until smooth.
- Slowly combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and beat for 20-30 seconds on medium speed with a hand mixer until evenly combined.
- Pour half of the batter into each cake tin and bake for 23-26 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Cool in cake tins for 20 minutes before transferring to a baking rack to continue to cool.
- For glaze: In a small saucepan whisk together orange juice and granulated sugar on medium heat until the glaze is smooth and the sugar has melted. Remove from heat and set aside.
- For ganache frosting: Place chocolate into a glass bowl. Heat heavy whipping cream in a saucepan on medium-high heat until it reaches a simmer. Pour heavy whipping cream over chocolate and let it sit (do not mix) for 10 minutes.
- With a rubber spatula mix together the cream and chocolate until a smooth creamy ganache has formed. The longer the ganache sits at room temp, the thicker the consistency. Can be placed into the refrigerator to speed up the thickening process but should be gently mixed 1-2 times to ensure a smooth texture.
- Carefully remove the cake from tins. With a serrated knife, remove the dome tops of the cake and brush on ½ of the orange glaze onto each cake top. Top bottom tier of cake with ½ the ganache. Top the other cake half onto the ganache with the glazed side onto the ganache and the smooth bottom on top of the cake. Frost with remaining ganache and top with orange slices.
Whole Orange Chocolate Cake or Cupcakes!
You can make a whole orange chocolate cake or turn it into cupcakes!
Scoop 2-3 tbsp of mix into a cupcake tin lined with liners and bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Transfer the ganache into a piping bag and dollop each cupcake off with ganache.
Other Chocolate Recipes to try:
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie
- Hot Chocolate Cake
If you make this Chocolate Orange Cake recipe, be sure to tag me on Pinterest and Instagram!
I seriously love seeing what you guys are making and sharing your creations with the College Housewife community!
Chocolate Orange Cake
ingredients
For cake:
- Zest of two large Florida Oranges
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup buttermilk see diy note below
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 large eggs at room temp
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup freshly squeezed Florida Orange Juice
- ½ cup hot water
- For orange glaze:
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- For Chocolate Ganache Frosting:
- 2 cups or 8 oz dark chocolate chunks or chopped chocolate
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray two 8-inch cake tins with non-stick spray, sprinkle with flour and line bottoms with parchment paper. Spray bottom of parchment paper with non-stick spray and set cake tins aside.
- For cake: In a large bowl whisk together all-purpose flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt and orange zest with a whisk or hand mixer on low until combined.
- In a separate large bowl whisk together buttermilk, olive oil, eggs, vanilla extract, freshly-squeezed Florida Orange Juice and hot water until smooth.
- Slowly combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and beat for 20-30 seconds on medium speed with a hand mixer until evenly combined.
- Pour half of the batter into each cake tin and bake for 23-26 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Cool in cake tins for 20 minutes before transferring to a baking rack to continue to cool.
- For glaze: In a small saucepan whisk together Florida Orange Juice and granulated sugar on medium heat until the glaze is smooth and the sugar has melted. Remove from heat and set aside.
- For ganache frosting: Place chocolate into a glass bowl. Heat heavy whipping cream in a saucepan on medium-high heat until it reaches a simmer. Pour heavy whipping cream over chocolate and let it sit (do not mix) for 10 minutes.
- With a rubber spatula mix together the cream and chocolate until a smooth creamy ganache has formed. The longer the ganache sits at room temp, the thicker the consistency. Can be placed into the refrigerator to speed up the thickening process but should be gently mixed 1-2 times to ensure a smooth texture.
- Carefully remove the cake from tins. With a serrated knife, remove the dome tops of the cake and brush on ½ of the orange glaze onto each cake top. Top bottom tier of cake with ½ the ganache. Top the other cake half onto the ganache with the glazed side onto the ganache and the smooth bottom on top of the cake. Frost with remaining ganache and top with orange slices.
notes
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