On a lazy day, I would make a sheet! I would make it fudgy and zesty. A good orange dessert is always a win but a double win when turned fudgy! Flavour amalgamation is exciting, though I would have to admit this recipe did not take much thought whatsoever. Just a taste reminiscence of my favourite chocolate bar ”orange chocolate” transformed into a cake! And if you know your taste buds agree with this flavour combination, then you will definitely love this chocolate orange sheet cake with orange ganache. The sheet cake is spongy, light and flavourful, topped with a healthy dollop of chocolate orange ganache frosting making it fudgy and zesty all in one!
To increase orange flavour, use full oranges including the peels and orange liqueur which significantly adds depth and orange flavour to the cake. Grand Marnier works best in baking but Curacao or Cointreau should also get the work done. The orange is cooked with sugar and water, which softens it making blending with other ingredients easy. Cooking also improves the orange flavour in the cake.
Orange chocolate ganache is a mix of heavy cream, dark chocolate and zest of fresh oranges. For intense orange flavour increase the zest of orange and vice versa. And similar to the cake, add a tablespoon or two of orange liqueur. You can also experiment with different chocolate flavours such as White or Milk chocolate to make the orange chocolate ganache.
Recipe Run-Through
Chocolate Ganache.
- Finely chop the chocolate and put it into a bowl, set it aside.
- Boil heavy cream then pour over the chopped chocolate and stir.
- Add butter, a pinch of salt and orange zest. Mix completely until combined
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or leave at room temperature for 45 minutes to one hour until thick.
Start with the chocolate sheet cake
- Cut a full orange into small pieces( do not remove the orange cover). Place cut oranges in a pan, and add half a cup of water and granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat to a boil (5 minutes).
- Remove from heat set it aside to cool then add it to a blender. Add eggs, vanilla extract, Grand Marnier, and milk, and blend to a puree.
- Pour the orange mixture into a mixing bowl.
- Afterwards, add flour, alkalized cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda and mix gradually adding buttermilk until combined.
- Afterwards, add hot water to the cake batter and mix.
- Pour the cake batter into a sheet pan lined with parchment and bake until a skewer comes off clean.
Recipe Notes
- Tailor the chocolate ganache. The orange ganache is dark chocolate based but feel free to substitute it with your preferred chocolate; white chocolate or milk chocolate.
- Although the cake can be baked without, orange liquor adds depth to the cake flavour. Grand Marnier works best in adding an orange flavour, increasing depth and improving the texture of the cake.
- The chocolate cake is baked in a 9×11-inch pan but can also be baked in a 9-inch round cake pan. You can use chocolate chips to make it fudgier but the orange ganache is sufficient.
- Alkalized cocoa adds depth to the flavour of the cake while also deepening the chocolate colour yielding a darker chocolate cake.
CHOCOLATE ORANGE SHEET CAKE WITH ORANGE GANACHE
Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy6
servings25
minutesIngredients
- Chocolate Orange Sheet Cake
150 gm all-purpose flour
40 gm alkalized cocoa powder
100 ml vegetable oil
180 gm granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 large orange
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
150 ml buttermilk
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
- Chocolate Ganache
300 gm dark compound cocoa
300 ml heavy cream
70 gm unsalted butter
3 tsp zest of orange
1 tbsp Grand Marnier
Directions
- Chocolate Orange Ganache
- Finely chop dark compound chocolate and add to a bowl. Boil heavy cream then pour it over the chocolate, and mix until the chocolate fully melts.
- Add butter, orange zest, Grand Marnier and salt; mix thoroughly. Cover with cling film and let it sit for 45 minutes at room temperature or 30 minutes refrigerated just until thick.
- Chocolate Orange Sheet Cake
- Preheat the oven to 180C and line the baking pan with parchment paper. Set it aside.
- Cut one large orange into small pieces. Put the oranges in a pot, add half a cup of water and sugar then place over medium heat and cook until the oranges become soft and the sugar melts liquid turns syrupy and slightly thick(5 minutes). Remove from heat then set it aside to cool.
- Put the mixture into a blender then add eggs, grand Marnier and vanilla extract. Blend until the oranges are completely blended and the mixture is smooth.
- Transfer the mixture into a bowl then add all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder. Gradually add in buttermilk and mix until combined.
- Afterwards, add hot water to the cake mixture and mix.
- Pour the cake batter into a prepared cake pan and bake for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven at 180C until a skewer or a toothpick inserted comes off clean.
- Set it aside to cool then frost spread with the orange chocolate ganache and serve.
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