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Wednesday 3 September 2008

Decadent Chocolate Orange Cake


Have you ever felt the urge for that sudden rush of chocolate ecstasy which takes you into chocoholic paradise? Then look no further than this decadent cake, I assure you one petite slice will do the trick. As a self confessed chocoholic myself, I have required that unadulterated fix of chocolate more times than I care to remember!



This cake has the wonderful combination of classic flavours of chocolate and orange. I didn’t want to make this a bitter tasting cake therefore I used good quality milk chocolate and also orange liqueur and orange zest. To enhance the texture and taste, I steeped raisins in a little orange liqueur to add to the cake mixture. Ground almonds are used with a very small amount of flour which keeps this cake wonderfully moist. The ganache for covering the cake is made from chocolate and cream but requires a little time to set after applying to the cake. This cake would be gorgeous for a special occasion or for that special person in your life!



Would anyone care for a slice of this cake??????? Ok, I hear you and passing over a virtual slice, but if you would like to recreate this cake for yourself here is the recipe.

Decadent Chocolate Orange Cake

Ingredients
50g (2 oz) raisins
4 tbsp orange liqueur – I used Cointreau
350g (12 oz) good quality milk chocolate – I used Green & Blacks
200g (7 oz) butter, at room temperature
175g (7 oz) caster sugar
5 large eggs
150g (5 oz) ground almonds
50g (2 oz) plain flour
For The Ganache
225g (8 oz) good quality milk chocolate – I used Green & Blacks
175g (6 oz) double cream
Sugar flowers or chocolate sprinkles (optional)
You will need a 20cm (8 in) sprinform tin, greased with a little butter and fully lined with baking paper.

Method

In a saucepan add the raisins and orange liqueur and gently heat through then leave aside for the raisins to swell and get plump.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/400°F/Gas 6.

Melt the chocolate in a microwave bowl for a minute or so or place over a double boiler until melted.

Beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add one egg at a time into the mixture then add the melted chocolate and orange zest. Then add the soaked raisins and juice and beat through the mixture. Fold in the ground almonds and flour gently until all traces are mixed through into the mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level off the surface with a spatula. Bake for 30 – 45 minutes until the centre is just set. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 – 20 minutes then turn out on a wire rack to finish cooling.

For the ganache, heat the cream up in a saucepan until bubbles are just appearing, take off the heat. Add the chocolate and let this infuse for 2 -3 minutes, then stir and combine thoroughly together. Spread over the entire cake and smooth off. Place a few sugar flowers or chocolate sprinkles on for decoration (optional). Allow to set before serving.

54 comments:

La Bella Cooks said...

I am always up for chocolate decadence! Look how gorgeous and moist this cake looks. beautiful job, Rosie. Can you send me some? ;)

Ivy said...

I made a chocolate roulade cheesecake last week with orange flavour. I hope to find the time to post it. Your cake looks lovely Rosie and thanks for that "peace" of cake.

Maria♥ said...

Rosie this cake is gorgeous!!You can't beat the choc/orange combo, a fav of mine and as you know of my son Jake ;o)

Maria
x

Rhyleysgranny said...

Now that is a chocolate cake. Stunning.
xxx

Anna said...

Oh wow- the slice of this looks to die for. My dad loves chocolate and orange, I might keep this aside for his birthday cake in a couple of weeks...

Unknown said...

decadent sure is the right word :)

Donna said...

Another Tempting slice PLEASE!!!hahahaaa....hughugs

Cakespy said...

That is one serious--and seriously tempting!--cake. Yum, got to keep this one on file!

Cakelaw said...

This looks great Rosie - I love choc orange (remember the Terrys chocolate orange? oh my they're good).

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

OMG, it looks absolutely scrummy! A wonderful cake!

Cheers,

Rosa

grace said...

what an amazing texture your cake looks to have! and since orange and chocolate can never be wrong, i'm sure it's absolutely delicious to boot. bravo!

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Wow Rosie, this looks so good. I love choc orange combo.

Prudy said...

What a lovely lovely cake. I love the beautiful shiny ganache with the delicate flowers. I'd love to make this for our next celebration.

Maria said...

Thanks for visiting our blog! I am glad I found yours...that cake looks lovely!

tartasacher said...

Hello Rosie:


I'm very happy for your comments in my blog. Wonderful and exquisite your chocoalat orange cake. The ganache is very, very nice.

Best and whises

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

When you talk about "chocoholic" and "chocolate fixes" you're speaking my language, Rosie.:)

Wish that virtual slice would morph into a real one.

Uma said...

Awesome cake Rosie! Love the color too. Yum! The header is cool.

dabrah said...

I'd love a slice. This I have to try, it looks absolutely scrumptious.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I will take a slice or two! I love the chocolate orange combination!

Unknown said...

Oh god, this truly looks decadent and mouthwatering!.Loved the slice.

test it comm said...

That cake looks so moist and chocolaty and good! I like the use of the raisins and ground almonds. Of course orange is the perfect pair for this cake.

Anonymous said...

I am smitten with the shiny glaze on your cake. A perfect glaze and the promise of chocolate ecstasy ...what more could a girl ask for!

Anonymous said...

This looks incredibly rich! How do you keep the sore throat away? Gosh I love chocolate cakes, especially when I am moody, instant mood lifter! :)

Amsie.

Chibog in Chief said...

Nothing beats orange & choco combo!! This is sinfully tempting my dahling Rosie!! yay!!

Nic said...

I love using ground almonds in cakes too, this looks great - and that icing is decadent!

Gloria Baker said...

Look absolutely georgeous Rose, decadent is the word!!! and delicious and I really love the mix of chocolate and orange, really, nice cake Rosie (I want to do soon) xxxxGloria

Coffee and Vanilla said...

Rosie,

This cake looks delicious!!
I love combination of chocolate and orange and would like to have a piece now :)

Thank you for your comments.

Have a wonderful weekend, Margot

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

I've never had the chocolate/orange combination. But I love both separately, and it seems like I've been seeing a lot of recipes lately that combine the two, so it must be very good. Great job here, Rosie!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Have I experienced that overwhelming desire, no, NEED for chocolate? Heck ya. This past Tuesday for instance. I wish had a big hunk of this luscious cake then! :)

glamah16 said...

Love the new look. That cake lloks so rich and good.

Anna's kitchen table said...

Oh my gosh! That looks so moist and delicious! Well done
xx

Sophie said...

When I read the title, I expected to see a yellow cake :)...but I love how moist and chocolatey the actual cake looks! Chocolate and orange are two flavors that should always go together :).

Maggie said...

Yes, I'll take you up on the offer of enjoying a virtual piece of cake Rosie - thankyou!
The cake looks wonderful.

Chef Jeena said...

Rosie, I think the whole point of eating a chocolate cake is taste the moist texture of the chocolate delight...just like your cake!!! Looks wonderful and I love the orange flavour too YUM!

MrsB said...

mmmm. rosie the cake looks delicious, I know about the rush your talking about, I am always craving chocolate! It sounds lovely with the extra orange tang! x

Deeba PAB said...

Decadent this is in every way Rosie...yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees, a slice for me too. I love chocolate & orange...almonds just adds more magic to the combination! Looks delicious beyong words!! I'm craving a slice now!!

Silvia - Magnolia Wedding Planner said...

Rosie my dear! what a gorgeous chocolate cake! I wish I had a piece right now to begin perfectly my Monday :-)! what a great pleasure to be back and read your recipe! sorry for the simple bakes ..i'll restart when I my job will be calmer after october.so that I can contrate better ;-)
a big kiss hun!
Silvia

The Caked Crusader said...

oooh - that is one good looking cake! Love the glossy chocolate coating. Yum.

Nickki said...

Wow what a gorgeous looking cake Rosie! I do love the chocolate/orange combination.

Anonymous said...

Looks gorgeous Rosie. I will make it but will substitute the orange for another flavour, maybe blackcurrent.

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

Rosie
Only one sentence comes to my mind...i am drunken deep of chocolate,i will taste no wine tonight ! Absolutely ecstatic state of chocolate.

Half Baked said...

gorgeous cake!! I'm always in need of a chocolate "fix"!!!

PG CakeCraft said...

Hi Rosie, ur blog is truly awesome
and i love the combination of orange & chocolate in a cake. Beautiful deco too. Btw, r those sugar flowers?

Rachel said...

I never get these sudden urges for chocolate..I crave for it almost very other day :)

this cake is truly a decadent piece...

Ruth Strong said...

Chocolate and orange is great together! Great cake!

Abitofafoodie said...

This cake is my idea of heaven - I would just adore a slice right now with my cup of tea. Chocolate and orange are a favourite combination!

Unknown said...

rosie, chocolate and orange is my favorite combination on cake! i will love this with or without the ganache. yum!

Lore said...

Oh my this looks so decandent! Of course I'd care for a slice, or two, or three....somebody stop me :D

Anonymous said...

Looks fabtastic, Havent tried orabge in chocolate cake yet but im sure its vey tasty:-)
X M

Rosie said...

Thank you my 'dearest' friends for all your wonderful comments - I do hope you will try this recipe out and like I get that sudden hit of dreamy chocolate :)

Hi Silvia, I fully understand sweetie and please when you are able we would love you to join us at Sweet & Simple Bakes :)

Hi Sweetbites, yes they are little sugar flowers that I brought in my local supermarket. They come in mixed colours but I picked out all the pink ones for this cake ;)

Passing you all a slice over now :)

Best wishes Rosie x

Cakelaw said...

I love, love, love choc orange - and so does everyone else, by the looks of it! A very pretty cake.

Rosie said...

Thanks cakelaw it really was delish if I may say so myself ;)

Rosie x

Liz said...

Chocolate and orange is my favorite flavor combination! I especially love the picture of the slice of cake--it looks soooo moist and decadent. I need more cake like a need a hole in the head, but I'm going to bookmark this recipe for the next time I need a nice dessert.

Rosie said...

Hi Liz, thank you! I hope you enjoy this cake as much I my famil;y did when you make it :)

Best wishes Rosie x