The most soft and spongy chocolate orange cake! Orange flavor and chocolate are a classic combination that never fails. It has chocolate cake layer with a silky orange milk chocolate ganache. This cake is super easy to make and only requires two bowls and hand whisk.
This is the BEST orange chocolate cake! It is super simple and full of flavor. The chocolate cake layer are super easy to make, and it's surrounded by an orange milk chocolate ganache. This cake could not be more simple and easy to make, and it's a showstopper of a cake!
For more layer cake recipes, try Strawberry and Blueberry Layer Cake, Ultimate S'mores Layer Cake, and Strawberry and Lemon Layer Cake.
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WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
- Chocolate cake layer: These chocolate cake layers are super easy to make and incredible soft.
- Orange milk chocolate ganache: The chocolate cake layers are covered by a silky smooth orange milk chocolate ganache
- Super simple to make: There is no stand or hand mixer required for this cake, it can all be made by hand.
- Perfect to share: This cake is perfect to share with friends and family.
INGREDIENT NOTES
These are some of the key ingredients for this recipe. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.
- Eggs: Take them out of the fridge 1-2 hours before baking (depending how warm your kitchen is).
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk makes for a softer and more tender cake. Measure out the buttermilk and let it come to room temperature 1-2 hours before baking (depending how warm your kitchen is).
- Boiled water: Heat up a kettle of water before you start. Add the boiled water to a measuring cup and while you prepare the rest of the ingredients, let it cool down a bit, so it's not piping hot.
- Cocoa powder: I use high quality dutch processed cocoa powder for the best flavor, my favorite is from Valrhona.
- Instant espresso powder: I use Nescafe Gold espresso powder as it dissolves quickly and as a great flavor as it's 100% arabica coffee
- Orange juice: Use freshly squeezed orange juice or store bought orange juice without pulp.
- Milk chocolate: I recommend using a high quality milk chocolate to get the best flavor, from brands like Callebaut, Valrhona or Ghiradelli.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS - CHOCOLATE CAKE LAYERS
Here is how make and bake these chocolate orange cake. This recipe doesn't need an electric mixer. Just three large bowls, a whisk and a spatula.
The full recipe is down below in the recipe card.
Before starting preheat the oven to 175ºC/ 350ºF conventional oven. Prepare a Prepare 2 x 20 cm baking pan lined with baking paper.
STEP 1: Start by boiling some water and weigh out the water so it can cool down a bit while preparing the other ingredients.
STEP 2: In a bowl sift all of dry ingredients together. Give it a stir to make sure everything has be combined.
STEP 3: In another mixing bowl add all of the wet ingredients and with a hand whisk, whisk them together until combined. Be sure to not mix the ingredients too vigorously so the eggs don’t get over mixed.
STEP 4: Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry while gently stirring it all together. Make sure there is no lumps left in batter.
STEP 5: Divide the cake batter into 2 prepared 20 cm baking tins and bake them for 24-27 min or until a cake tester comes out clean.
STEP 6: Let the cakes cool on a cooling rack. After 5 min, gently remove the cakes from the cake tins and let the cakes cool down completely.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS - GANACHE AND ASSEMBLING
STEP 1: In a small saucepan, over medium heat, add the heavy cream and let it heat up until it starts to bubble. Pour the cream over the milk chocolate chips and stir it together with a rubber spatula until smooth and combined. Then add the orange juice and stir until combined.
STEP 2: Place a piece of cling film on top of the ganache so it touches the surface of the ganache, to not create a crust, and place it in the fridge for 1 and 45 to 2 hours. The ganache should be firm but spreadable when ready.
STEP 3: To assemble it, place the first sponge layer to your serving dish or cake board on your turntable. If you don’t have a turntable, don’t worry, you can easily decorate the cake without it.
STEP 4: Brush orange juice on the chocolate cake layers to add some extra orange flavor.
STEP 5: Then add a big dollop of the orange milk chocolate ganache in the middle of the cake. With an offset spatula, even it out. Add the next sponge layer and brush again with orange juice. Add the remaining milk chocolate ganache and cover the cake in an even layer. The cake doesn’t have to look perfect, just have fun and enjoy being creative!
EXPERT BAKING TIPS
- Use a kitchen scale: My default setting for my recipes is grams as it is the most precise way of measuring out your ingredients, I therefore highly recommend using a kitchen scale.
- Don't over mix your batter: I always use a spatula, after everything has mixed together, and give it one final gently fold together, to make sure everything in the bottom of the mixing bowl has been mixed into the batter.
- Light vs. dark baking pans: For the best result, use an aluminum baking pan, greased with butter and lined with baking paper in the bottom. Aluminum pan are light in color and therefore attracts less heat which means they bake more gently which results in a softer cake. If you use a e.g. a black baking pan it'll attract a lot more heat, which will then give a darker crust, that results in a dryer cake.
FAQ
Yes, then just remove 2 tablespoon of the water and replace it with 2 tablespoon of orange juice.
Yes, this cake keeps moist at room temperature. Just cover the cake with a lid or in an airtight container. Enjoy the cake within 2-3 days.
I recommend using a cake tester. Once the time has passed, per the recipe, insert the cake tester in the middle of the cake and once it comes out clean, with no cake batter on it, then it's done.
STORAGE
Store the chocolate orange cake at room temperature in an airtight container. The cake is best enjoyed within 2-3 days.
Other Layer Cake Recipes To Try
Make sure leave a STAR REVIEW if you loved this recipe! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @juliemarieeats. To get more ideas by following me on Pinterest.
Chocolate Orange Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
CHOCOLATE CAKE LAYERS
- 240 g boiling water
- 240 g all-purpose flour
- 300 g granulated sugar
- 75 g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 240 g buttermilk room temperature
- 110 g vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
MILK CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- 300 g heavy cream 38%
- 650 g milk chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoon orange juice without pulp
ASSEMBLING
- 2 tablespoon orange juice
Instructions
CHOCOLATE CAKE LAYERS
- Preheat the oven at 175ºC conventional oven and prepare a 2 x 20 cm baking pan with parchment paper.
- Start by boiling some water and weigh out the water so it can cool down a bit while preparing the other ingredients.240 g boiling water
- In a bowl sift all of dry ingrediens together. Give it a stir to make sure everything has be combined.240 g all-purpose flour, 300 g granulated sugar, 75 g unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- In another mixing bowl add all of the wet ingredients and with a hand whisk, whisk them together until combined. Be sure to not mix the ingredients too vigorously so the eggs don’t get over mixed.240 g boiling water, 240 g buttermilk, 110 g vegetable oil, 3 large eggs, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry while gently stirring it all together. Make sure there is no lumps left in batter.
- Divide the cake batter into 2 prepared 20 cm baking tins and bake them for 24-27 min or until a cake tester comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool on a cooling rack. After 5 min, gently remove the cakes from the cake tins and let the cakes cool down completely.
ORANGE MILK CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, add the heavy cream and let it heat up until it starts to bubble.300 g heavy cream
- Pour the cream over the milk chocolate chips and stir it together with a rubber spatula until smooth and combined. Then add the orange juice and stir until combined.4 tablespoon orange juice, 650 g milk chocolate chips
- Place a piece of cling film on top of the ganache so it touches the surface of the ganache, to not create a crust, and place it in the fridge for 1 and 45 to 2 hours. The ganache should be firm but spreadable when ready.
ASSEMBLING
- Place the first sponge layer to your serving dish or cake board on your turntable. If you don’t have a turntable, don’t worry, you can easily decorate the cake without it.
- Brush orange juice on the chocolate cake layers to add some extra orange flavor.2 tablespoon orange juice
- Then add a big dollop of the orange milk chocolate ganache in the middle of the cake. With an offset spatula, even it out. Add the next sponge layer and brush again with orange juice. Add the remaining milk chocolate ganache and cover the cake in an even layer. The cake doesn’t have to look perfect, just have fun and enjoy being creative!
Fernanda
Love your recipes ! Greetings from Argentina🩵🤍🩵
Yash
I've made this cake twice in 3 days but with regular chocolate buttercream and my gosh it's delicious. Its SUPER easy to make so it's officially my go to chocolate cake.
Julie Marie
Thank you for your comment! I'm so happy to hear that! 🙂
Wannette
Hi Julie, I have made this recipe a few times and love it. Do you reckon I should half the recipe for 2x 15cm pans?
Thank you xx
Wannette
Julie Marie
Hi Wannette
Yes, I would do that 🙂 Make sure to check on the cakes, when they are baking, as they might need a shorter amount of time 🙂