Description

This Orange Layer Cake with Ganache is a luscious and impressive dessert combining rich chocolate layers with a bright and creamy orange filling. Moist cocoa cake layers are baked to perfection, filled with a zesty orange custard, and covered in a silky dark chocolate ganache. Garnished with fresh or candied orange slices, this cake offers a beautiful balance of citrus freshness and decadent chocolate, perfect for special occasions or elegant gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup hot coffee (or hot water)

Orange Filling

1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed, strained)
1 tbsp orange zest
½ cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
3 large egg yolks
2 tbsp unsalted butter

Chocolate Ganache

8 oz (225 g) dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp unsalted butter

Garnish

Fresh orange slices or candied orange peel

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure clean edges.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, whole milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
Incorporate Hot Coffee: Carefully stir in the hot coffee (or hot water). The batter will be thin, which is expected and will result in a moist cake.
Bake the Cake Layers: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool completely before assembling.
Prepare Orange Filling: In a saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks. Slowly whisk in the freshly squeezed orange juice. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens into a custard.
Finish Orange Filling: Remove the pan from heat and stir in the orange zest and unsalted butter. Mix until butter is melted and incorporated. Allow the filling to cool completely before use.
Make Chocolate Ganache: Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not boiling. Pour the hot cream over the chopped dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.
Add Butter to Ganache: Stir in 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the ganache for added shine and richness. Let the ganache cool slightly to thicken before pouring over the cake.
Assemble the Cake: Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous layer of the orange filling evenly over the top. Repeat with the second cake layer and orange filling. Top with the third cake layer.
Apply Ganache: Pour the slightly cooled ganache over the top of the assembled cake, allowing it to drip down the sides for a beautiful finish.
Garnish and Serve: Decorate the cake with fresh orange slices or candied orange peel for a vibrant and elegant presentation. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Make sure the cake layers are completely cool before assembling to prevent the orange filling from melting and running.
Freshly squeezed orange juice and zest provide the best flavor for the filling; avoid bottled juice for optimal freshness.
For a more intense chocolate flavor, use a high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao for the ganache.
To speed up the cooling process, you can refrigerate the cake layers and fillings but bring them back to room temperature before assembling for best texture.
The batter will be thin after adding hot coffee; this is normal and results in a moist and tender cake.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: orange layer cake, chocolate ganache, orange filling, chocolate cake, layered cake, citrus dessert, homemade cake