Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake

There are some recipes which you know will be great the moment you see them.


That is was the case when I saw the Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt Cake on Deeba's blog sometime back. I think I headed straight to the kitchen after reading it. And ever since, I've been baking this cake regularly. Very regularly, in fact.





Not only is the cake a breeze to make, it tastes absolutely awesome. Intensely chocolatey with a hint of cinnamon, it is a crowd pleaser.


Which is why I take it very often when we go visiting friends. Which why I decided to make it for a dinner that we were invited to. But then, just as I finished measuring the ingredients, panic struck. Three of the guests had already had this cake. Now I didn't want them to assume that I knew only one type of cake, did I?





It was late at night, around 10 I think, and I really wasn't in a mood to contemplate which other cake to make and then start the process all over again. Maybe, I could change the flavour and then it would be okay. Coffee was the obvious choice. But then, just as I was reaching out for the jar of coffee, my eyes fell on a bottle of orange essence. Lying unopened for over 4 months.





And then, I was inspired.......why don't I make...oh if only I have some oranges.......which, almost miraculously, I did and so this Chocolate Orange Bundt cake happened.







Ingredients:
(Adapted from Passionate about Baking who adapted it from The Food Librarian who got the recipe from Vintage Visuals - quite a link list that!)
Water: 1/2 cup
Butter: 1/2 cup or 115 gms
Oil: 1/2 cup
Cocoa: 5 tbsps

Orange juice: 1/2 cup

All purpose flour: 1 1/2 cups
Wholewheat flour: 1/2 cup
Salt: 1/2 tsp
Sugar: 1 3/4 cup


Buttermilk: 1/2 cup
Baking soda: 1 tsp


Eggs: 2 nos
Orange zest: 1 1/2 tsps
Orange essence: 1 tsp



Method:


Pre-heat the oven to 375deg F or 190 degC


Combine the water, butter, oil and cocoa powder in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn off the gas and then add the orange juice.


Next, add the sugar in and mix well to combine. Mix both the flours with the salt and add it to the chocolate-sugar mixture. Stir carefully till there are no lumps.


Then add the buttermilk and baking soda.


Finally, whisk together the eggs, orange essence and the zest and add to the batter. Mix well.


Pour the batter into a bundt pan (grease the pan first!) and bake for 35 mins*.
(*original recipe calls for 25 mins, but mine takes between 35 and 40 mins).


Let the cake cool completely in the pan - about 2 hours - before you turn it onto a serving plate.



For the ganache - and this is optional, but adds oodles of flavour to the cake:

100 gms chocolate
75 gms butter
few drops orange essence (skip if you use an orange flavoured chocolate)
zest of an orange


Melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler. Add a few drops of orange essence and stir briskly for a minute. Allow to cool and then pour it over the cake. Sprinkle the orange zest on top.









So now you want to know which tastes better - cinnamon or orange. You do want to know, don't you?




This is where I should be diplomatic and say "depends on your taste, really." Which, to a large extent, it does.




Personally, I preferred the orange flavoured one. For three reasons. One, I love the chocolate - orange combo. Secondly, the flavour of oranges does not overpower the chocolate and still manages to linger on the palate. And yeah, thirdly, this is my twist on the original recipe - sometimes, I do toot my own horn!




Nupur's theme for Blog Bites this month is Adaptation, this is my entry to the event.

28 comments:

  1. OMG!!!! looks devine. Love the picture, its super tempting

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  2. Beautiful combo. We buy chocolates with Orange flavor here, love it. That's the only time I will eat one or two Chocolate squares! Bundt cake looks picture perfect.

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  3. This looks heavenly ! New combo of orange with chocolate...

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  4. What a gorgeous cake, with that crown of molten chocolate and golden orange zest. Thanks for a fabulous entry. Like you, I am a huge fan of the chocolate-orange combo.

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  5. Picture makes me hungry.......lovely cake

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  6. Whoa !!! Those are some delicious looking cakes. I would love cinnamon one I guess (as you said based on personal likings).

    Love them !!!

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  7. This chocolate orange bundt cake looks really awesome. I don't have any more words to express more than that.

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  8. Wat a beautiful cake, love both chocolate and orange combo in cakes..the last pic makes me drool....awesome!!

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  9. delicious cake and yummy combo of choc and orange

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  10. I love chocolate and orange combo... and this cake looks super tempting... the last pic is simply "Wow".

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  11. Wow...that cake ..I really want to bite that piece...so yummy....:)

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  12. Oh my god.. This looks absolutely delightful...wish cud have abite..looks divine

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  13. You said it,this cake is quite a crowd pleaser.I have tried it many a times and I can't say which one is the reason,the ease in which this cake can be made or the taste!!Love the orangey twist..the cake looks delicious..I love it!!

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  14. The cake looks insanely good! I love choco+orange combo, yumm!

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  15. Lovely combo bundt cake dear,it's an ecstacy.

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  16. This cake looks yummy!! Chocolate and orange taste yummy!!

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  17. These rich colors are making me fall on my feet for a grab of bite of this chocolate bundt cake!

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  18. The cake looks perfect,and what a divine combo,gr8 pics too!

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  19. The picture is so tempting... the dense chocolate and silken sauce... yum!!! i want a piece now!!!

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  20. Hi,

    First time on your site when I saw chocolate and orange, I cdnt let the post pass by!!! Looks so dense and lovely, the orange zest hued against the dense chocolate..Bookmarking for later!!!
    Do visit my blogsite at www.anubhavati.wordpress.com

    Shobha

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  21. It looks divine!! Chocolate goes best with orange , coffee comes a close second. Am not too fond of cinnamon - too strong a flav for me!!
    Btw could you put me a line on my id mailandynow@gmail.com, need to get some shopping tips(about baking stuff) at Spore

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  22. absolutely gorgeous and worth drooling over...
    Blowing your toot - yep you should! Its so good...

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  23. Splendid! That Bundt Cake looks extremely scrumptious. A perfect combo!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  24. It's gorgeous ... and am so glad you like it. It's everything you said it is, and I really like the flavour combination you chose ... classic and delicious! Thank you for the mention!

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