Chocolate Orange Cake

Nigella's Chocolate Orange Cake Recipe 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 Lawson’s Chocolate Orange cake.

This cake is deliciously moist, thanks to the almond meal (making it gluten free), 2 whole oranges (yes, whole) and 6 eggs.  It’s also supremely easy to make as it’s all done in the food processor. Yay for simple cakes!

I then decorated the Chocolate Orange cake with a chocolate orange glaze and surrounded the cake with Orange D’Anvers segments. One bite of this Chocolate Orange Cake case and you will fall in love. Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Cake Recipe

Cookbook Challenge 2011 Theme 4: Love Cookbook: Feast Author: Nigella Lawson Want to join the challenge?  Click herefor further details on the challenges and instructions on how to join in.

Chocolate Orange Cake
 
Save Print

Prep time

Cook time

Total time

 

Recipe from Feast by Nigella Lawson. Chocolate Orange Glaze recipe adapted from Martha Stewart
Serves: 10

Ingredients
  • 1 large orange or 2 small, weighing approximately 375g
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 heaped teaspoon of baking powder
  • ½ 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
  1. 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.
  2. Grease a 20cm springform pan and preheat the oven to 180 Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Let the cake cool in the tin before removing.
  6. 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.

 

Subscribe - It's free!!

Subscribe to get all the latest recipes delivered directly to your inbox.

Leave a comment

59 Comments

  1. Prerna@IndianSimmer February 22, 2011  7:54 am Reply

    Oh gosh, that looks SO good! If I could I would marry Nigella :-) Love all her recipes and this ones exceptional!

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  9:58 am Reply

      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!

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  9:59 am Reply

      Thanks Trudy. :D 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.

  3. Cookie February 22, 2011  8:54 am Reply

    OMG this looks soooo amazing. The decoration with the chocolate slices was genius!

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  10:00 am Reply

      Thanks Cookie :D 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.

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  10:51 am Reply

      Thanks Shellie. :D 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!

  5. leigh February 22, 2011  10:39 am Reply

    Your photography is beautiful and the cake looks gorgeous. I love the orange/chocolate combination.

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  10:52 am Reply

      Thank you so much Leigh. :D I love chocolate and orange together too....it's a perfect match.

  6. Nicole@HeatOvenTo350 February 22, 2011  12:00 pm Reply

    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!

  7. JohannaGGG February 22, 2011  12:08 pm Reply

    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

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  1:14 pm Reply

      Thanks for the microwave tip Johanna! I'll try that next time :D

  8. Fitter Than Choc February 22, 2011  1:32 pm Reply

    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

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  3:41 pm Reply

      Thanks Fitter Than Choc :D

      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.

  9. Ellie February 22, 2011  3:31 pm Reply

    Beautifully decorated chocolate orange cake. Love the glossy look.

    • delicieux February 22, 2011  3:44 pm Reply

      Thanks Ellie. I love the glossiness too.

  10. MaryMoh February 22, 2011  4:50 pm Reply

    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

    • delicieux February 23, 2011  6:42 am Reply

      Thanks for your comments Taz and thanks for visiting :D

  13. Kay February 23, 2011  7:11 am Reply

    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!

  14. delicieux February 23, 2011  7:14 am Reply

    Hi Kay, it's not a silly question at all. :D But yes, you do leave the peel on. The oranges are boiled whole.

  15. Sonia@7spice February 23, 2011  8:48 am Reply

    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

    • delicieux February 23, 2011  9:25 am Reply

      Nigella's creations are wonderful. You can tell she is clearly passionate about food.

  16. Wendi February 23, 2011  8:55 am Reply

    Chocolate and orange is such a perfect combination. That's one fine looking cake.

    • delicieux February 23, 2011  9:25 am Reply

      Thank you so much Wendi :D

  17. queenotisblue February 23, 2011  7:14 pm Reply

    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

  18. delicieux February 24, 2011  1:09 pm Reply

    Thanks for your comments. :) Let me know what you thought of the cake when you get a chance to make it :D

  19. Stephanie February 24, 2011  11:09 pm Reply

    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 &amp Meyer Lemon Cupcakes

  21. delicieux February 25, 2011  1:49 pm Reply

    Yes, they are exactly like Terry's orange segments. They're delicious :D

  22. pearlsandprose February 26, 2011  10:54 am Reply

    Oh my, this looks divine. You've decorated it beautifully too!
    My recent post Collage

  26. delicieux February 27, 2011  10:10 am Reply

    Thanks foodieandchef :D

  27. delicieux February 27, 2011  10:11 am Reply

    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 ;)

  28. delicieux February 27, 2011  10:14 am Reply

    I love it too Kulsum :D I will definitely be making this one again and again. It's a new favourite. I love Nigella's recipes.

  29. Kulsum February 27, 2011  12:58 pm Reply

    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 :-)

  30. Emma @CakeMistress March 1, 2011  10:24 am Reply

    I love the way you have decorated Nigella's cake, very chic! Chocolate is the best cure-all I reckon :)

  32. CC11 March 4, 2011  4:21 pm Reply

    I simply adore the fact that you garnished it with chocolate orange segments - you made a sexy cake even sexier!

  33. Beck March 27, 2011  7:01 pm Reply

    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.

    • delicieux March 28, 2011  9:55 am Reply

      Hi Beck :D 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. :)

  34. jodie sorensen September 4, 2011  10:40 am Reply

    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!!

    • delicieux September 5, 2011  7:25 am Reply

      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. :D

  35. Mishaps and mayhem of a gluten free life December 18, 2011  9:50 pm Reply

    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!

  37. emily March 15, 2012  7:07 pm Reply

    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!

    • delicieux March 17, 2012  9:14 am Reply

      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 :D

  38. John Mampe August 31, 2012  4:04 am Reply

    luv

  39. Tina October 25, 2012  1:18 pm Reply

    Hi

    Im a novice baker,
    Im wondering, for the chocolate, what sort of chocotae do you use?

    Thanks

    • Jennifer October 25, 2012  1:32 pm Reply

      Hi Tina,

      In this recipe I use good quality chocolate such as Lindt, or Nestle 70% cocoa baking chocolate. I hope that helps :D

      • Tina October 25, 2012  2:22 pm Reply

        Thank you so much ^^ ill give it a try and let you know the result

        Btw, if i omit the cointreau,will it make so much difference?

        • Jennifer October 25, 2012  2:26 pm Reply

          No, the cointreau only adds flavour. :D

 

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published.

Rate this recipe:  

 
Pinterest
59
Comment