Chocolate Orange Cake

Another birthday cake, this one being for a 19th birthday. The only request was for it to be chocolate orange themed.

The plan

FLAVOURS

Cake- chocolate orange sponge

Icing- orange butter cream, chocolate buttercream.

TOPPINGS/GARNISH

Chocolate orange broken into segments and mini chocolate orange segments.

Exposed cake with alternately pipped chocolate and orange butter cream. Simple but very rich in flavour.

Sponge:

• 150 g self-raising flour

• 30 g cocoa powder

• 175 g caster sugar

• 175 g softened butter

• 3 large eggs

• 1 tsp orange extract

• 75 g milk chocolate (grated)

• ½ tbsp milk

Icing:

• 250 g unsalted butter – soft at room temperature

• 250 g icing sugar

• 150 g milk chocolate – choose a chocolate from the baking aisle as this won’t go grainy when it’s melted

• 40 g cocoa powder

• ½ tsp orange extract

• A little milk

Method:

1. Make sponge: Pre-heat oven to 160'c. Line a cake tin.

2. In a bowl cream together the sugar and soft butter till light and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one ensuring that they are fully mixed in each time.

3. Add in the orange extract and milk.

4. Next sift in the cocoa powder and flour to the bowl and mix in.

5. Add in the grated chocolate. Once fully combined pour into the lined tray.

6. Place into the oven and bake until a toothpick comes away clean when inserted into the centre.

7. Allow to cool in the tin for 15 mins before tipping out onto a cooling rack and allowing too cool completely.

8. Meanwhile, make the icing: melt the milk chocolate over a bain-marie then set aside too cool to room temperature.

9. In a bowl whisk the butter till light and airy. Add in the icing sugar and mix until completely combined.

10. Add the melted chocolate and cocoa powder, mix till well combined then finish with the orange extract and milk.

11. (NOTE: for the orange buttercream make plain buttercream and flavour with orange extract add orange food colouring)

12. Cut the sponge into three and pipe the icing in between each layer. Decorate with icing and chocolate orange segments.

Toppings:

Mini and regular Terry's chocolate orange segments