Hey! Thanks for all the tee love, you guys. There are still a few left in le shop, if you'd like one!
So, I needed a cake to grace my newly acquired and long-sought-after cake stand, so I made this incredible cake this weekend, and I have just been itching to share it.
Because it's crazy-good.
And because I'm proud of it, as I (kind of) invented it. I say kind of, because I used a basic Vanilla Layer Cake Recipe from the Magnolia cookbook as the foundation. I love, LOVE chocolate-and-orange combinations. I know that lots of folks are with me on this. However, I do not love very dark chocolate (I know, I'm still waiting for my palette to grow up) with my orange-flavored confection. And I have a really hard time finding milk-chocolate + orange combinations.
Thus, I bring you...
Orange Layer Cake with Whipped Fudge Icing
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 C self-rising flour
1 2/4 C all-purpose flour
1/2 C milk
1/2 c Orange Juice
Grated zest from two oranges
1 Tablespoon orange extract
Preheat oven to 350.
Grease and lightly flour 2 9" round cake pans (I like to use the inside of the wrappers from the softened butter to grease with, after I dump the sticks into the mixing bowl). Cream the butter with your mixer on medium. Add the sugar and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and then slowly add the flour, alternating with the milk and juice. Mix well after every addition. Blend in the orange zest, and mix a bit more.
Divide the mixture between the two pans, and bake for 20-25 minutes (test with a small, sharp knife or a cake tester into the center, and, as per usual, make sure it comes out clean...otherwise, back in the oven for a few more minutes). Let the cakes cool in their pans for about 10 minutes, and then remove to racks. Let cool completely at room temperature (I let mine cool overnight) before frosting.
Icing Ingredients:
1/2 C heavy whipping cream
4 squares (8 oz) unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
4-5 C confectioner's sugar
3/4 C (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
Carefully melt the butter (you can cube it for easier melting) and squares of chocolate on low, stirring occasionally and watching carefully to make sure the chocolate doesn't scald. When all of the chocolate is melted, remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
Beat the whipping cream with your mixer on high for 2 minutes, and then add a cup of your sugar. Continue to beat, and the mixture should get lighter and fluffier. When cooled, slowly add your butter/chocolate mixture and beat on low until smooth. Cup by cup, add the remaining confectioner's sugar, until the mixture is light, thick, and a good spreading consistency. When I finished with this icing, it was verging on gross how obsessed I was with it. I was licking the mixer's beaters...the spatula...the bowl...
Place your cake on the serving plate (or cake stand) and push some small-ish pieces of tin foil or wax paper under the bottom of the cake, all around the perimeter. This will catch your icing mishaps and neaten things up! Using a knife and spoon, ice between the layers and the top and sides of the cake, adding decorative icing "swoops" to the surface with your knife if the spirit moves.
I can tell you that the spirit almost always moves me to do so. Remove scraggly "icing catcher" pieces of tin foil or wax paper from your serving apparatus and there you have it.
Cut and serve to appreciative and deserving peeps, including you!
Comments (23)
Yummy! My mom is flying in later today to visit us for a while and I have been contemplating desserts--this icing sounds fabulous (as does the cake). I am not one for dark or bittersweet either--don't think that will ever change. I'm still working on cleaning though so dessert may have to wait until after she gets here!
Helen · May 23, 2007 at 04:25 PM
Your cake will definitely be getting a try-out in my kitchen soon. And your cakestand I would like to own.
Webbo · May 23, 2007 at 04:39 PM
Yumm. Yep, 30 does it. All of a sudden, you like dark chocolate. It is weird as can be, especially as I never liked chocolate at all, my whole life. Now, I crave the dark stuff, weird!
I have to say, I am so disappointed that you did not squish a piece into an air tight baggy and send it with my parcel. Which by the way, I am over the moon about, can't breathe, can't stand, water in the knees. I love my pieces!!! They are incredible!!!
I really don't know how I could convey to anyone what your work is like in person. I mean, in your phots is is already unreal. In person, It is like, uncovering an old lost treasure, with the colors and your girls )or boys), yet bright at the same time....SWOON.....They are bits of my family! My new family portraits!!, how ever do you part with them?? xxo, V
A Fanciful Twist · May 23, 2007 at 04:56 PM
I am completely with you on the chocolate/orange love.....it's my favorite cake combiation in the history of ever.... I'm also slightly obsesed w/ those whack-and-unwrap chocolate oranges I see around christmas
gorgeous cakestand!
Nada Jones · May 23, 2007 at 04:57 PM
How yummy!
rachel · May 23, 2007 at 05:01 PM
i remember finding your stuff on etsy a couple of years ago and absolutely loving it - just rediscovered it today and found your blog and goddam girl you stuff has gotten more and more awesome! can't wait for bills to calm down so i can buy something(s)!
steph · May 23, 2007 at 05:04 PM
oooh, but I love dark chocolate especially with orange or raspberry. Ease in by cacao percentages.
KiWi · May 23, 2007 at 05:33 PM
lol that was great, maybe you should start your own cooking show. emilys black bakery.
lOve,kim*
kim* · May 23, 2007 at 06:01 PM
I read you blog every day, but have yet to comment. I just had to today, however, because not only do I love chocolate + orange, I own those same blue and white plates (from Crate & Barrel). Cheers!
rebecca · May 23, 2007 at 07:12 PM
I love the orange/milk chocolate combination and I'm usually disappointed because it's so often combined with dark. This cake is perfect! Damn. One more thing to like. I'm at the point where I hesitate to try new things for fear I'll have to add them to the list of things to love, which is soooo much longer than the list of things I don't love. Oh well. I suppose in the whole big scheme of things this isn't such a bad problem. I love your blog...and the fashiony one too.
Laura · May 23, 2007 at 07:23 PM
Holy crap girl you're killing me! First you tempt me with all your lovely wares when I should be saving money and then you temp me with your amazingly awesome sounding cake when I should be not eating sweets (I say as I finish a bowl of ice cream) Oh well I'm PMSing I'm allowed to cheat! Can't wait to make it!
kate · May 23, 2007 at 08:46 PM
YUMM-AY!
Samantha · May 23, 2007 at 09:27 PM
MMMMMMmmmmmmmm, I can't tell you how much I would like a slice of that now with a cup of tea. Just my kind of cake. I reached 31 and still don't like the dark stuff, its milk or white all the way, kids at heart right?!?! I will be making this after my wedding and I'll put all the weight back on, but Oh what fun! xx
Janet · May 24, 2007 at 05:22 AM
I am 31-derful and still don't like dark chocolate, my palette and I will never grow up I fear.
If I was not banned from using the oven I would try to make that cake...it makes me weak just thinking of it.
stilettoheights · May 24, 2007 at 09:02 AM
Wonderful! I can't wait to try this! I, too, love the choco-orange combo. There are many a day when I have to stop by Starbucks on the way to work and get an Orange Hot Chocolate. Mmmmmmmmm...
allison · May 24, 2007 at 09:23 AM
I adore orange/chocolate. My husband says that I love chocolate so much that I would probably adore ants/chocolate, but I haven't tried that yet. I'm a bugatarian so... ya know.
tiffany · May 24, 2007 at 11:02 AM
I just drooled on my keyboard!
Rhonda · May 24, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of the orange + chocolate combo, BUT! I am a HUGE fan of your talent and creativity, so well done on the cake! Very inspiring.
odd dotty · May 24, 2007 at 11:26 AM
OH! Chocolate and Orange has always been my fave combo!!! I wish they had that flavor in Ice Cream!! Guess i could combine orange sherbert and chocolate ice cream....that cake looks super duper scrumptious!
Tricia · May 24, 2007 at 12:22 PM
That sounds delicious- I'll have to try it.
Corvus · May 24, 2007 at 01:04 PM
Chocolate and orange. What a flavor combination! Thank-you for sharing. I can't wait to try this recipe (and have some chocoalte coffee to go with it). Yum.
Melissa :-)
PeachPoPS · May 24, 2007 at 02:48 PM
holy smokes!
i think this may have to be my birthday cake!
it sounds so so so very delicious!
tiffany jewell · May 24, 2007 at 05:41 PM
Wow! What CAN'T you do! :)
J.Marie · May 25, 2007 at 07:09 PM