Chocolate Orange Cake

11-17 October is chocolate week and a time for pure indulgence, the country's top chocolatiers and specialist chocolate shops are holding events all over Britain.  Unfortunately I am unable to make it to any of these events so I shall have my own celebration of chocolate with the following recipe.

Chocolate Orange Cake with Chocolate  Ganache

Ingredients

150g self raising flour
150g golden caster sugar
150g softened unsalted butter
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp cocoa powder
3 large eggs
Grated zest of 1 orange + zest for decoration

Seive all the dry ingredients together, add the rest of the ingredients and beat with an electric hand-held mixer, until paler and light in texture.

Pre-heat the oven to 190C





Line the base of 2 x 8" sponge tins with parchment paper.  Divide the mixture between the 2 tins and place near the top of the oven for 20-25 minutes, until risen and spongy to the touch.

Cool in the tin for 5 minutes then turn out onto a cooling rack.

For the filling

200ml double cream
25g icing sugar

Whisk together until thick enough to spread but be careful not to overwhip.

Sandwich the cooled sponges together with the cream.

For the chocolate ganache

200g good quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids)
100ml fresh double cream
1 tbsp orange liqueur

Chop the chocolate and place in a bowl with the cream and liqueur, set the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water and stir until melted, smooth and shiny.  When almost cool pour over the cake and let it dribble over the edges.

Sprinkle the orange zest over the top.