Chocolate Orange Layer Cake

Every year for Christmas I find myself with a chocolate orange in hand (among many other varieties of chocolate, of course). Something about the combination of chocolate & orange flavours reminds me of the winter season. The flavour combination inspired me to make this gorgeous cake for the upcoming holiday season!  I utilized my classic chocolate cake recipe, but infused it with freshly squeezed orange juice & orange zest. The frosting is a rich chocolate buttercream with a touch of orange zest.  To give it that final orange flair, this cake is topped with homemade candied orange slices. The orange flavour is not meant to be overpowering, but rather a subtle complement to the classic taste of chocolate.

One of the advantages of this dessert is that it can be prepared in advance, eliminating some holiday stress on the day of your party! The cake layers can be frozen for up to two weeks when wrapped well in cling wrap. Regardless of time, I always freeze my cakes prior to frosting them because it is much easier to get a smooth buttercream finish & avoid any crumbs coming through. The cake can be frosted one to two days in advance & refrigerated until ready to serve.

So if you really want to present a show stopping dessert this Christmas, this is your golden ticket! Happy Holidays! xo

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