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Chocolate Orange Wreath Cake

by Jessie Marsden-Urquhart from Chocolate Overload!

This rich and chocolatey cake is decorated with chocolate orange segments and rosemary to create a stunning festive wreath design. A bake that won't fail to impress.

From the book

Jessie Marsden-Urquhart

Introduction

Offering a delicious blend of zesty orange and rich chocolate flavours, this Chocolate Orange Wreath Cake is a fabulously festive centrepiece for your Christmas table. Plus, it has wow-factor but is surprisingly easy to make!

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Ingredients

For the cake:
375g golden caster sugar
300g self-raising flour
75g cocoa powder
150ml vegetable oil
450ml milk
3 medium eggs, room temperature, beaten
zest and juice of 1 orange
For the ganache:
100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely chopped
100ml double cream
For the decoration:
chocolate orange segments (I use Terry’s Chocolate Orange)
Christmas sprinkles
fresh rosemary sprigs
edible gold spray

Essential kit

You will need: a 23cm round cake tin and a microwave.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan.

Grease and line the base and sides of a 23cm round cake tin with greaseproof paper. In a large bowl, stir the sugar, flour and cocoa powder together. Add the vegetable oil, milk, beaten eggs and the orange zest and juice. Whisk together to make a smooth chocolate cake mixture.

Transfer to the cake tin, spreading out evenly, then bake for 40–45 minutes until risen and springy to the touch. Leave to cool completely.

To make the ganache, put the chopped chocolate and double cream in a heatproof bowl and microwave for 45 seconds. Leave to sit for 20 seconds, then stir until smooth. If the ganache splits, stir in an extra tablespoon of cream to bring it back together.

Pour the ganache over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Use the back of a spoon to make a swirl or two on top.

Arrange the chocolate orange segments around the outside of the top of the cake to create a wreath.

Decorate with Christmas sprinkles, rosemary sprigs and edible gold spray to add some shimmer. Slice and share!

Reviews

5 out of 5 stars

1 Ratings

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2 Comments

    default user avatar Karen

    Can you freeze this cake and at what stage.

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    default user avatar Jessica Lockyer-Palmer

    Hi Karen,

    For the best results, we would advise freezing the cooked, undecorated sponges and then adding the ganache decoration on the day of serving.

    The Happy Foodie Team

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From the book: Chocolate Overload!

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