Chocolate Orange Cake….what is there not to love? According to one study, melting chocolate in your mouth is results in more of an increase in heart rate and brain activity than passionate kissing. Other research suggests that it can have a number of positive health effects including lowering blood pressure, can boost your memory and even increase your sex drive. So, for this fortnights Cookbook challenge, with the theme of Love, I decided to make Nigella’s Chocolate Orange cake. This cake is deliciously moist, thanks to the almond meal, 2 whole oranges (yes, whole) and 6 eggs. It’s also supremely easy to make as it’s all done in the food processor. I then decorated the Chocolate Orange cake with a chocolate orange glaze and surrounded the cake with . One bite of this Chocolate Orange Cake case and you will fall in love. 
Cookbook Challenge 2011 Theme 4: Love Cookbook: Feast Author: Nigella Lawson Want to join the challenge? for further details on the challenges and instructions on how to join in.
| Chocolate Orange Cake |
Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 3 hours
Total time: 3 hours 30 mins
Serves: 10
Recipe from Feast by Nigella Lawson. Chocolate Orange Glaze recipe adapted from Martha Stewart
Ingredients
- 1 large orange or 2 small, weighing approximately 375g
- 6 eggs
- 1 heaped teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
- 200g of ground almonds
- 250g of caster sugar
- 50g of good quality cocoa
- CHOCOLATE ORANGE GLAZE
- 6 ounces of dark chocolate
- 1 cup of cream
- 1 teaspoon of Cointreau
Instructions
- Put the oranges in a saucepan with cold water and bring to the boil before reducing the heat and simmering for 2 hours, or until soft. Drain the water and set aside to cool. When cool, cut the oranges in half and remove any large pips.
- Grease a 20cm springform pan and preheat the oven to 180 Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
- Pulp the orange in a food processor before adding the eggs, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, almonds, sugar and cocoa and processing until you have a smooth batter, but still flecked with orange.
- Pour the batter into the springform pan and bake for 1 hour. Check the cake after 45 minutes as you may need to cover it with foil to prevent burning before the cake is cooked through.
- Let the cake cool in the tin before removing.
- For the glaze, chop the chocolate into small pieces and place into a bowl. Pour the cream into a saucepan and heat until almost boiling and then pour over the chocolate pieces. Let it stand for 5 minutes before stirring until smooth. Let it stand for 10 minutes before decorating the cake.
Popular search terms:
- chocolate orange cake, orange cake, orange chocolate cake, choc orange cake, chocolate and orange cake, orange and chocolate cake, chocolate orange cake recipe, nigella chocolate orange cake, nigella lawson chocolate orange cake, chocolate orange cake nigella
{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh gosh, that looks SO good! If I could I would marry Nigella
Love all her recipes and this ones exceptional!
While I wouldn't go so far as to say I'd marry Nigella
, I do agree her recipes are always fantastic. I definitely wouldn't say no if I was invited to a dinner party she was throwing!
Oh my!! This looks so chocolaty and so deliciously orange-y!! I love the combo of choc and orange and this beautiful rich cakes looks super amazing!!
My recent post A Vegan Sandwich Project and Veggie num num’s Crispy Drunken notChicken Baguette
Thanks Trudy.
The cake was a wonderful combination of chocolate and orange, and not that fake orange flavour. A wonderfully fresh orange. I will definitely make it again, not only because it's amazingly delicious (it would be superb at a dinner party), but because it's super easy too.
OMG this looks soooo amazing. The decoration with the chocolate slices was genius!
Thanks Cookie
I couldn't think of how to decorate the cake and then remembered I had some chocolate orange segments in the pantry. It was a perfect way to use them as I'd almost forgotten about them.
EXCUSE ME!!! How freakin awesome does this cake look!?!? you can send me a slice stat
My recent post Banana & Butterscotch Muffins
Thanks Shellie.
I would send you some, but I think it would get a bit mushed up in the mail. You will just have to make your own. Trust me, it's delicious!
Your photography is beautiful and the cake looks gorgeous. I love the orange/chocolate combination.
Thank you so much Leigh.
I love chocolate and orange together too….it's a perfect match.
So smart! I have a couple of those chocolate oranges that were given to me as gifts over Christmas – what a genius idea to use them to decorate a cake. (Especially since I'm not the most skilled froster in the world.) I'll have to try this out!
Oh this looks so decadent – I love orange and chocolate – have made a similar cake without chocolate but doesn't it all taste better with chocolate (and a little tip I discovered when I made the orange almond cake was that you can microwave the oranges in far less time than it takes to boil them)
My recent post Earl Grey cupcakes and nutritous ganache
Thanks for the microwave tip Johanna! I'll try that next time
This is such a beautiful cake. Orange and chocolate goes so well together, and I love the Orange D’Anvers segments on this cake. it gives the cake such a nice finishing touch:) I was actually trying to read off the words on those little segments. Even though I probably can't eat this, I'd still enjoy admiring this cake!
My recent post My Half Marathon Training Plan
Thanks Fitter Than Choc
The words on the segments say 'Truffle D'Anvers'. I love Anvers chocolates. Every time I go home to Tasmania I have to go there, not only for their yummy chocolates, but also for their delicious lunches too.
I will keep this in mind, and get some of these if I ever go to Tasmania:)
My recent post National Peanut Butter Lovers Day PB & Choc Oatmeal Balls
Beautifully decorated chocolate orange cake. Love the glossy look.
Thanks Ellie. I love the glossiness too.
Orange and chocolate is such a great combination. I love this cake. Bookmarking it to try. Thanks very much for sharing.
My recent post Classy Indonesian Layer Cake Kek Lapis
Jennifer that looks gorgeous! I love how you used chocolates to decorate the sides too!
My recent post Win 1 of 3 Ecofy Organic Seasonal Fruit & Vegetable Boxes!
yum, this sounds delicious. Cakes with oranges cooked this way are always fantastic!
My recent post Lemon Madeleines with Rhubarb and Strawberry Jam
Thanks for your comments Taz and thanks for visiting
This may be a silly question, but do you peel the oranges before boiling them or leave the peel on? The cake looks lovely and I'm looking forward to trying it!
Hi Kay, it's not a silly question at all.
But yes, you do leave the peel on. The oranges are boiled whole.
I would not dare to eat this cake as it looks so beautiful. Would spend hours and hours to drool on it. The chocolates on sides are just teasing me!
Nigella's creations are always rich and beautiful, aren't they?
My recent post m3-5 Flickr
Nigella's creations are wonderful. You can tell she is clearly passionate about food.
Chocolate and orange is such a perfect combination. That's one fine looking cake.
Thank you so much Wendi
OMG! That looks seriously good. And no wheat flour – bonus! (I can't eat wheat). I am going to try this when I get back home. Classic flavour combination and I love the use of the choc orange segments. Inspiring
Thanks for your comments.
Let me know what you thought of the cake when you get a chance to make it 
Your cake looks gorgeous! Plus it sounds delicious and so easy to make (not to mention not too unhealthy for a cake). And I will take any excuse to eat more chocolate so I appreciate the research findings
My recent post Limoncello & Meyer Lemon Cupcakes
are these like Terry's orange segments? I love those!!!
My recent post Video- Sneaky Macaroni Mac n Cheese Recipe
Yes, they are exactly like Terry's orange segments. They're delicious
Oh my, this looks divine. You've decorated it beautifully too!
My recent post Collage
This looks absolutely heavenly, I'm a huge choc-orange fan… I love cakes that use whole oranges. Beautiful photos.
My recent post banoffee pie eater discretion advised
I believe it, chocolate does have a strange powerful effect on me! And hey if it's for my health then I'm obligated to indulge right?
My recent post string bean and pea pasta with spinach pesto in search of green
Thank you
Thanks foodieandchef
Exactly Sylvie! I feel obligated to indulge daily, especially as Dr Oz suggests everyone have a little dark chocolate every day. I guess his definition of a little and mine might differ though
I love it too Kulsum
I will definitely be making this one again and again. It's a new favourite. I love Nigella's recipes.
I have made this recipe on nigella and totallllly love it. But must admit you make it look way betteer than mine
ut must admite you make it look way better than mine 
I love the way you have decorated Nigella’s cake, very chic! Chocolate is the best cure-all I reckon
Oh I love it! It looks like such a great special occasion dessert and the orange segments look awesome surrounding that decadence. Well done!
My recent post The Gluten Free Ratio Rally – Quinoa Cornmeal Lemon Honey Pancakes with Rosemary infused Maple Syrup
Thanks Irvin
I simply adore the fact that you garnished it with chocolate orange segments – you made a sexy cake even sexier!
I made this today for my mother-in-law's birthday cake. I didn't have quite enough almond meal so I made up the last 50g with plain flour and put toasted almonds on top of the ganache. It was still just slightly warm in middle when I served it (but not enough to make the ganache run). I was after something with orange flavour that fitted with having the cake as dessert. It was delicious – rave reviews – and I'd definitely make this again.
Hi Beck
That was lovely of you to make this cake for your mother-in-laws birthday. I'm so glad it turned out so well for you. I have to admit it's one of my favourite cake recipes. It really is so delicious without being overly sickly sweet. Thank you for taking the time to let me know how it went. 
omg!!!!!! this cake is 2 die 4!!! my partner & kids luuuuuuvvvvved it! i was boasting about it 2 my sister & now we have organised a bake-off with mum being the judge. i think we’ve got it hands down nigella! thanks sooo much!!
Hi Jodie,
Thank you so much for letting me know how it turned out. I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed it as much as we did. It’s certainly one of my favourite cakes.
I made this as a bday cake for my mum who loves the Choc orange combination! I used lindt dark orange chocolate n lindt balls for the ganache! It was so delicious, moist and tasty without being too overwhelming with oranges! The best part I could eat it as I used almond meal (instead of ground almonds)! I decorated the sides with fresh oranges cut into small slices like your chocolate! It looked and tasted wonderful a hit alround! A recipe that I didn’t have to make gf, perfect!
Oh man, this cake looks fabulous! I love the chocolate and orange combo!
Thanks you Christina
i feel like this is an extra dumb question but at what point do i add the cointreau to the glaze? im making this for my mums bday and want to make sure its perfect. your cake looks absolutely amazing!
Hi Emily, add the Cointreau after you’ve mixed the cream into the chocolate and after the chocolate has melted. Good luck with the cake and happy birthday to your Mum