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Chocolate and Orange Cake
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2 from 1 vote

Chocolate and Orange Cake

Orange and chocolate really unite in this fun and super tasty Chocolate and Orange Cake! Two layers of chocolate cake sandwich a light and citrus orange cake which is then layered with a creamy orange buttercream frosting.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate and Orange Cake
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Amanda Rettke

Ingredients

Cakes

  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp. McCormick vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda + 1/8 teaspoon divided
  • 1 cup buttermilk + 3 tablespoons divided
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp. orange zest
  • 1/4 tsp. McCormick orange extract

Buttercream

  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 6 cups confectioners sugar, divided
  • 2 tsp. freshly grated orange peel
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 to 6 tablespoons milk, room temperature

Instructions

Cakes

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line three 8" round baking pans with parchment paper, set aside.
  • Stir together cocoa and water in small bowl until smooth, set aside. Beat together your butter, shortening, sugar, salt and vanilla in large bowl until well combined.
  • Add eggs mixing well.
  • Stir 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda into 1 cup buttermilk and add to butter mixture alternately with flour.
  • (ORANGE CAKE) Measure 1 2/3 cups batter into a small bowl and stir in remaining 1/8 teaspoon baking soda and 3 tablespoons buttermilk, orange peel, and orange extract.
  • Pour into one of your prepared pans.
  • (CHOCOLATE CAKE) Stir cocoa mixture into remaining batter and divide evenly between remaining pans.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Buttercream

  • Beat butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, orange peel and vanilla in large bowl until smooth.
  • Add remaining powdered sugar, alternating with milk.
  • Place one chocolate layer on cake stand or turntable and spread with some of the buttercream.
  • Top with orange layer; spread with frosting.
  • Top with remaining chocolate layer; frost top and sides of cake.

Video