Chocolate Orange Ring Cake

This cake tastes as good as it looks. I'll admit that there was a whole lot of spatula, spoon and plate licking in the process of baking this cake hah..hah...hah...

Have you ever tasted orange glaze? God it's GOOD! I couldn't help digging the remnants from the mixing bowl and licking my spoon. The word DIABETES flashed before my eyes. Madam, cease and desist!

I'll have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed baking this cake. It's an easy cake to bake and with all that drippy chocolate and orange glaze, it sure looks impressive. One would be forgiven to think that you slaved all day in the kitchen. It is not really necessary to embellish this cake as it tastes really good even without the fixings. And this is how it will look like :

Honestly, I chose to bake this cake because I was attracted to the photo in the book. It was really pretty. Besides, I knew chocolate and orange make for a good combination. The recipe calls for baking powder even though self-raising flour is used. I was a little bit worried that there might be a typo error. But I decided to follow the instructions anyway.

The cake rose really well in the oven. I think the addition of baking powder gave it that extra boost. It was quite a joy to watch. It took 40 minutes for the cake to be baked.

I had quite a bit of fun with the orange glaze (besides stuffing my face) and melted chocolate. But I admit, using a spoon to drizzle the glaze and chocolate was quite clumsy for me. I used two measuring cups the second time around. It was lots easier.

I reduced the sugar from 200g to 160g but found that it was still way too sweet. It would have been OK if the cake was not glazed. The second time, I reduced the amount further to 140g. Perfect!

This cake is very moist with tender crumbs. A really, really good cake. One that I would bake often. I have made some changes to the quantities of ingredients used and also the method employed.

This cake is a keeper. Seriously, if you want a good Orange and Chocolate Cake in your collection, please add this one. Honestly, even after baking this cake twice, I can't wait to bake it again. And now confessions. Look at what I did.

That plate up there was licked clean right after I was done hah...hah...hah... Bake this cake, but don't do what I did :)

Chocolate Orange Ring Cake

Recipe source : Easy Chocolate page 21

(My notes and adaptations in red)

Ingredients :

- 2 small oranges (1 big orange)

- 85g plain chocolate, grated (100g)

- 250g self-raising flour

- 1.5 tsp baking powder (yes, even though we are using self-raising powder)

- 175g butter softened (250g evil as usual)

- 200g caster sugar (140g but if not glazing the cake I would used 160g)

- Zest from 1 orange

- Juice from 1 orange

- 3 eggs, beaten

For the topping :

For orange glaze :

- 175g icing sugar (70g)

- 2 tbsp orange juice (more or less, test with 1 tbsp first and then add)
- 1 tbsp orange zest

For chocolate :

- 55g plain chocolate, broken into pieces

Method :

(To avoid confusion, I only provided the method which I adapted from the original recipe which I think is simpler and easier to follow)

1. Preheat oven to 160C.

2. Generously butter a 10" bundt pan and set aside.

3. Mix self-raising flour and baking powder together and sift. Set aside.

4. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and creamy.

5. Gradually add beaten eggs in three additions, beating will between additions.

6. Add orange zest and mix in using a spatula.

7. Fold in the grated chocolate.

8. Fold in flour.

9. Pour batter into the bundt pan and bake for 40 minutes or until skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.
10. Remove cake from oven and let cool for about 20 minutes before unmoulding onto a plate.

To make orange glaze :
1. Sift icing sugar into a bowl and add orange zest.
2. Add 2 or more tbsp orange juice and whisk to to get a coating consistency.

To make chocolate glaze :
1. Melt chocolate in a bowl over a double boiler.
2. Add 1 tbsb butter and stir to mix.
3. Remove from heat.
4. If the chocolate is too thick, add 3/4 - 1 tbsp hot water to thin it.

Drizzle orange glaze and melted chocolate over the cake. Allow to set before serving.