Chocolate and orange are like a dream to me. Although my dream last night had nothing to do with chocolate and orange, and everything to do with watching some bizarre alley cat trying to eat giant hissing grasshoppers, or something. I woke up wanting a thick slice of this cake for breakfast. You know, to make everything right in the world again. It’s that simple.
Another reason I think this cake is dreamy is that it’s one moist cake batter, divided into two, flavored, then dumped in a bundt pan. It’s great for those last minute, in a pinch desserts.
The cake is loaded with sour cream, and is incredibly moist. The orange zest adds brightness and chocolate and chocolate chips add richness. It’s absolutely delicious, and perfect if you wake up from bad dreams.
Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake
adapted from the Gourmet Cookbook
3 1/2 cups cake flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter at room temprature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, left at room temperature for 30 minutes
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups sour cream
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
zest of 1 large orange
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Put rack in the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan and set aside.
Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside.
Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add half of flour mixture, and mix until just blended. Add sour cream, mixing until just combined, then add remaining flour mixture and mix until smooth.
Divide the batter evenly into two bowls. In one bowl add the orange zest and orange extract and stir to combine. In the other bowl add sifted cocoa powder and chocolate chips and stir to combine.
First pour the orange batter into the buttered Bundt pan, spreading it evenly around the bottom of the pan. Next, simply add the chocolate batter on top of the orange to cover. No swirling is necessary, although you can swirl the batters together if you like.
Bake until cake is springy to the touch and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Remove from oven and cool cake in the pan for 30 minutes. Invert onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
Deborah
This cake says perfection to me!
Cheri
Yum – one of my favorite combinations. The photos are beautiful and the cake looks very good. I’m going to have to give this a try!
Mansi
that looks beautiful Joy! looks rich and moist! and I too love chocolate and orange together:)
giz
You’re right – chocolate and orange is a terrific combination. I can’t help but laugh though – every time I see a bundt cake I remember the Seinfeld episode about bundt cakes. If you haven’t seen it – check it out on YouTube – it’s hysterical.
peabody
Looks great. I love Bundts with sour cream in them…so moist.
brilynn
You’ve certainly got me dreaming about a piece of this cake, looks awesome!
Melanie
I love this combination of orange and chocolate! And I love bundt cakes – I am in heaven over this recipe!
Patricia Scarpin
Orange and chocolate are irresistible together, Joy. Your cake is beautiful!
Melody
Wish I could’ve had a slice this morning…
Jenny
What a beautiful looking cake! I always love checking in to see your beautiful creations!
mari
My mouth is watering like I haven’t had cake in months, when in fact I was eating cake all weekend. Damn, that cake looks good!
KN
Oh, wow–the presentation is amazing! Looks gorgeous!
Amanda
Total food porn :) There was a recipe like this by Ina Garten and it looked rich and decadent. I’ve been planning on making it and you just reminded me of the till-now forgotten recipe. Orange and chocolate work great together, bakingwise.
Mika
I have never tried this combination of chocolate and orange in a cake…but now I think I have to…
Gigi
oooo, Joy! Your bundt cake looks delicious! You have the chocolate layer baked perfectly. :)