This year, Anya wanted an orange cake decorated with pieces of orange … but she also wanted chocolate. So we made an orange chocolate cake with orange chocolate buttercream. Very tasty!

Chocolate Orange Cake

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• zest of two oranges
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup decaffeinated coffee, cooled
• 4 medium eggs

Preheat oven to 325F. Butter and flour two 8″ cake pans.
Whisk all dry ingredients (including orange zest) together.
Whisk all wet ingredients together.
Slowly stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
Pour batter into pans and bake for 35-40 minutes.
Remove from oven, allow pans to cool for approx 15 minutes, then turn cakes onto cooling rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Orange Buttercream Frosting

• 2 cups unsalted butter
• 1 Tbsp orange emulsion
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 10 oz dark chocolate chips

Whip the butter in the blender until light and fluffy. Add orange emulsion and salt.
Heat the whipping cream, remove from heat, and stir in chocolate chips to melt.
Slowly sift powdered sugar into butter while continuing to blend on lowest speed.
Once powdered sugar has been incorporated, add melted chocolate a scoop at a time and continue to blend on lowest speed until it has all been incorporated.