This recipe is the simplest of chocolate orange cake, made in a tray with delicious chocolate orange pieces. It’s super-moist with a lovely orange hint from the orange zest and crunch from the hazelnuts. Perfect for a party or a picnic.
Ingredients
225g unsalted, softened butter
250g golden caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
100ml boiling water
50g cocoa powder
½ chocolate orange, chopped
zest of 1 orange
ganache
300ml double cream
150g dark chocolate
50g chocolate orange pieces
Method
– Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C with a fan.
– Beat the butter for a couple of minutes.
– Add the sugar and beat for another minute.
– Add the vanilla extract and eggs and beat again until thoroughly combined.
– Mix the baking powder into the flour.
– Make a paste with the water and cocoa powder and mix into the egg mixture.
– Add flour to the bowl and beat for a couple of minutes until you have a really smooth cake batter.
– Add the chocolate chunks and orange zest to the mix and combine.
– Grease and line a 12×8” baking tray.
– Add all of the batter to the tin and spread evenly.
– Place in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.
– Remove when cooked and leave to cool.
– To make the ganache topping, gently heat the cream and then pour over the chocolate.
– Mix the cream and chocolate until it creates a glossy ganache.
– Leave to rest for half an hour to thicken.
– Pour the ganache all over the cake until evenly distributed.
– Sprinkle some chopped hazelnuts over the top and leave to set overnight in a cool place if possible.
– To serve, carefully lift the cake from the pan using the baking sheet.
Add some more chocolate orange pieces to the top to decorate if preferred.