This chocolate orange Halloween cake is 100% whole grain and sure to be a crowd pleaser!
I originally posted this chocolate orange Halloween cake shortly after I started blogging two years ago. So why am I reposting it? Because after two years – only a handful of people have actually seen it!
Got time to waste? Here’s your cake! :D I wish I could say that I put this together in a jiffy but that’d be a gigantic lie. I recommend starting it at least eight hours before serving. There’s cooling and chilling time involved so it’s not all active time.
Have you ever seen Bakingdom’s Halloween Chocolate Orange Layer Cake? It’s amazing and I did my best to recreate it. You can tell that I’m not an expert cake decorator. But I brought it to a party and people freaked out. That was all worth it! :)
So. This is half orange cake and half chocolate cake. It has chocolate cream cheese filling, orange buttercream, and chocolate ganache. So, yeah. That means there are five different parts to the recipe. But if you want, you could just whip up your favorite frosting and top and fill the cake with that. It just wouldn’t be as pretty!
Nobody will be able to tell that this is whole grain. Or made with olive oil. I know because I made the same chocolate orange cake last year, but using white flour and butter. It tastes the same. :)
I know that this was very bad of me, but I used some orange dye in the cake and the frosting. I’ve looked at some alternative “natural” dyes but they’re insanely expensive and the reviews are pretty bad. So I just used Wilton food gel that I got at Michael’s. You can certainly just leave it out.
Whatever you do, don’t put the pumpkins on until just before serving! Or if you want to put them on a few hours before serving, that’d be okay. I put my little pumpkins on in the evening, and in the morning, they had fallen all over the place. And they were oozing. It wasn’t pretty.
And here’s the fondant pumpkin tutorial. Honestly, if I can do it, you can too! Even Mr. T was able to make those little pumpkins. If you have kids, I bet these fondant pumpkins would be really fun to make together. :)
So good luck with the cake! And remember… start it well before you want to serve it!
Chocolate Orange Halloween Cake
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 16 slices
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup (135 grams) unrefined sugar
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (115 grams) whole spelt, whole wheat pastry, or whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (42 grams) cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup (118ml) milk
- 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (118ml) boiling water
- 92 grams (that’s 6.8 tablespoons or .42 cup) olive oil
- 125 grams unrefined or granulated sugar (1/2 cup + 2.5 tablespoons)
- 2 eggs
- zest of 2 oranges
- 125 grams (1 1/4 cup) whole spelt, whole wheat pastry, or whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 43ml (a tiny bit less than 3 tablespoons) orange juice
- orange food coloring, if desired
- 1 8-ounce package (225 grams) cream cheese
- 1/4 cup (56 grams) butter, room temperature
- 2 – 3 cups (260 – 390 grams) powdered sugar, sifted (I prefer 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup (55 grams) cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoon (85 grams) butter, room temperature
- 5 – 6 cups (650 – 780 grams) powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- zest of 2 oranges
- 2 tablespoons milk, as needed
- orange food coloring, if desired
- 4.5 ounces (125 grams) semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1/2 cup (118ml) cream
Chocolate cake:
Orange cake:
Chocolate cream cheese filling:
Orange buttercream:
Chocolate ganache:
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease two 6-inch pans. You could use 8-inch pans, but the layers will be thinner and you need to reduce the baking time.
- In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, and mix for 2 minutes on medium speed with a hand mixer. Then stir in the boiling water. Batter will be very thin, almost as watery as water.
- Pour evenly into the prepared pans. I use a scale to make sure that they’re even. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. This cake is super super moist. Don’t overbake! Cool for about 5 minutes in the pan, and then turn out onto a wire rack. Clean the pans so you can start with the orange cake.
- Source: adapted from the best chocolate cake recipe ever, One Bowl Chocolate Cake
- Preheat the oven to 340°F / 170°C. Grease two 6-inch pans.
- Combine the olive oil and sugar. Add the eggs and orange zest. Beat well. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and then slowly mix in the orange juice. If you want the layers to be orange, you’ll have to use a little food coloring. It doesn’t take much (definitely waaay less than red velvet cake), at least when using icing gel.
- Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan.
- Source: adapted from Sicilian Orange Cake
- Beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
- Add the cocoa powder. Beat until fluffy! And try not to eat it all. You’ll need some for the cake.
- Germans: I used a 300 gram package and drained it a bit. It turned out to be around 225 grams. It’s just too runny if you don’t drain it at all.
- Source: My favorite chocolate cream cheese frosting from Cupcake Project
- Cream together the butter and 2 cups of the powdered sugar. Stir in the orange zest and then the juice, and mix thoroughly. Beat in another 2 cups of powdered sugar and then the vanilla. Add the remaining sugar and beat very well. It should be fluffy. If you need a little milk, add it. If you want it orange, use a little food coloring.
- There was quite a bit leftover, but I’m worried that 2/3 of the recipe might not be enough.
- Source: Bakingdom
- Place the chocolate in heatproof bowl. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream to a boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until melted.
- Once your layers are completely cool, cut each layer horizontally in half so you have a total of eight layers. I used a cake leveler, but use whatever way you’re used to. You can start with either orange or chocolate on the bottom. I used about 2 tablespoons of filling on each layer, but I ended up with quite a bit leftover. I’d suggest using about 3 tablespoons of filling per layer.
- Apply a crumb coat using the orange icing. It can be messy. Look at mine. Notice all the crumbs and how crooked my cake is. I’m just not good at this decorating thing.
- I let mine sit in the fridge for a few hours until it was hard. And I mean hard.
- Add more orange icing. Make it pretty this time and then let it sit in the fridge again for another hour or so, or until it’s hard or almost hard.
- Pour on the chocolate ganache. I just poured all the chocolate in the middle of the cake and hoped it would run down nicely.
- Shortly before serving, put on the fondant pumpkins. Here's the fondant pumpkin tutorial.
For the chocolate cake:
For the orange cake:
For the chocolate cream cheese filling:
For the orange buttercream:
For the chocolate ganache:
To assemble the cake:
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79 comments on “Chocolate Orange Halloween Cake (100% whole grain)” — Add one!
Amazing cake, girl!
Thanks, Rachel! :)
Love your honesty about this not being a quick recipe – but it looks totally worth it for the admiration :) Gorgeous!! Those little pumpkins…*squeee*!
Hehe. Thanks! And yeah, it’d be kind of hard to lie about the slowness of this recipe. :D
I remember reading about this post! I m so jealous of your artistic skills. This cake really does look amazing! :)
Aww, you’re the best, Becca! I think you’ve been reading my blog longer than anyone! :)
Erin!!!! Wow, this seriously looks amazing! You’ve inspired me! :)
Thanks, Amy! So happy to have inspired you! :)
This cake is awesome! I love those cute pumpkins on top too.
Thanks, Kathryn! :)
What a gorgeous cake! Love the little fondant pumpkins!
Thanks, girl! :)
This cake is so cute and perfect for Halloween. I love the pumpkin toppers!
Thanks, Laura! And yeah. Love the pumpkins! So easy, too. :)
Seriously, what an awesome cake!
Thanks, Shawnda! And I kind of freaked out when I saw you left a comment over here. :D
What a cake! Love the pumpkins on top too.
Thanks, Erin! :)
I’m glad you re-posted this because this cake is a masterpiece. It looks like a piece of art! This is exactly the kind of cake I’d be serving at a Halloween party :)
Wow! Thanks a lot for the “piece of art” comment. :) You totally made my day when I read that!
Gah!! This cake is absolutely gorgeous! Love the cute little pumpkins on top :)
Thanks, Katrina! :)
OK, I am a stay at home dad in the UK and needed something to bake for Halloween – I love the look of this and am off to the supermarket to get the ingredients – I have great faith in this recipe, not least becuase it is a rare and thoughtful person that actually converts cups into grams – I always mess up with cups on account of the large variety of cup sizes in our kitchen.
I'll let you know how I get on – may not reach the fondant pumkins though, I warn you now
Hi there! I hope the cake turned out to your liking. I have to admit that it's quite a bit of work but I think it's worth it. People rave every time I make it. :) Thanks for letting me know you appreciate the grams – very few people have mentioned that so it makes me happy to learn that someone is using them! Even without the pumpkins, I'm sure people were / will be very impressed. :)
Gorgeous! I am going to link to this in my upcoming Halloween Recipes post.
Thanks! And thanks for linking to it. Going to go check out what else you have!
Laura – Thank you. And I think your English is good from the two comments. :) And much much better than my Italian!
haha! well! when you wont came in Italy just tell!!! very good in two weeks, my compliments, my english is very "rustic", but for sure we'll understand each other! you know how italians say: if not with word… gesticulates! hahaha
lauramontagni – Prego! Io studio italiana, ma solo due settimane e parlo solo un po' d'italiano. Thanks for the comment. :)
thank you to specificate the grams and centigrads!!! here in Ilaty is very hard to convert the measure. I found the measured cups and teaspoon..but it makes the difference! grazie!
Laura
Lise – I'm delighted to hear that you and your husband enjoyed the cake! It's the same with us – mine really dislikes whole grain baked goods but he doesn't really even notice that this cake is whole grain.
To be honest, I prefer the chocolate cake alone. The orange cake is good, but it's not as good as the chocolate cake. Nothing beats chocolate cake in my opinion. Thanks so much for the feedback! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to get such comments. :)
Erin, thanks for a fabulous cake recipe! My husband, who is not a bug whole-grain fan, raved about this cake, before I told him it was made with 100% whole wheat and olive oil! He said he would be delighted if this was his annual birthday cake :). I just made the chocolate cake (doubled the recipe for two 9" layers), with a cherry jam filling and cream cheese frosting. So moist and tender! I'll have to try the chocolate/orange combo next time.
Gretchen – Thanks! I love tall cakes too. It's actually not such a huge cake, but it looks like it because it's so tall.
Bear – Thank you! I hope your family enjoys it. I like the contrast too. :)
Lovely cake. I really love layered cakes. It gives me joy having different flavors on the cake. Thanks a lot for the recipe. I am pretty sure my family will love the combination of chocolate and orange.
so pretty… i love a ridiculously tall cake. and your pumpkins are perfect!
Sorry for the slow response – I haven't had internet access for the last several days.
Diane and Soma – Thanks! :)
Lisa – Aww, thanks. That's really nice of you to say! I can't tell you how happy that makes me. This orange cake is really good in combination with the orange frosting and chocolate cake, but if you want to make a plain orange cake, I suggest using the original recipe (the link's at the bottom of the orange cake section). It has butter and all-purpose flour and is just perect. And very orange-y! I'd double or triple the amount of orange zest, though. Thanks again for the very kind comment and good luck with whatever version you make!
Anon – I'm so happy that you enjoyed it! My colleagues couldn't tell that it was whole grain either. :) Thanks for the super nice feedback. You've made my day!
Oh my God, this is cake from heaven! I swear I have never tasted anything so good! Incredibly moist and an incredible flavour combination. It was the most exquisite orange and chocolate icing I have ever had. ! I am amazed that you can get a 100% wholegrain-cake to taste so spectacular. I would never have known that it was the "healthy" version, it tasted so sinfully good.
I cannot believe you say you aren't good at cake decorating! I clicked on this from Tastespotting because it has got to be one of the cutest cakes ever- I only hope I can recreate it! Also, I'm excited to try your orange cake– I tried desperately to create a "dreamsicle" cake (but all natural, no jello or whatever people put in it usually) earlier this year to no avail- the cake ended up dry and bitter and my homemade orange marmalade was pretty much the grossest thing ever. Thanks for the wonderful post! Excited to see how to make those adorable pumpkins…
This is splendid!! orange and choc. is a combo made in heaven. Looks very beautiful.
What a BEAUTIFUL cake!!!
Awesome, thanks! I'm happy you approve. :)
LOVE this! just pinned :)
Russell – Thanks! :)
Mighty Morgan – Aww, thanks! You really can't taste the whole grain and olive oil. It really tastes like "normal" cake!
rebecaelisa – Thanks! I was thinking about this Texan thing today. Are we just special or do you think other people say, "Oh cool, another blogger from Pennsylvania!"? I think perhaps we're just special (in a good way, though). :) I HATE icing cakes. Baking the cake – fun. Making the icing – fun. Putting the icing on the cake – nightmare.
This looks beautiful, I am so happy to find another Texan Blogger!
PS. I feel your pain on icing cakes, I struggle with them so much.
Keep baking and blogging!
This cake looks fabulous!!!! I like that you used whole grain AND olive oil..I think you did a great job!!!
This cake is sooo cute!
Carolyn – Me too! Unless if were a bag full of Reese's products, which don't exist in Germany. I would happily trade this entire cake for a bag full of peanut buttery goodness! And the cake isn't really as big as you might think. It's the same amount of batter that'd be in a two layer 9-inch cake. :)
betsy – Thanks!
Laura – Thanks, that's really kind! But really, everyone else seems to be so much better at it than I am. But it's okay because I think I have super tasty recipes. :)
Not good at cake decorating?! I beg to differ. This is beautiful. So festive and fun!
Love it :)
Absolutely gorgeous!
Eight layers?!?!? OMG! I'd rather have a big ol' slice of this over a bag full of candy any Halloween! ;)
Thanks Alicia! What a nice comment. I love the matching is for sissies thing! Your mother is very wise. :)
As a fellow Texan, I love reading your blog! Your cake looks beautiful.. I made this cake, too, but didn't do NEARLY as many layers. And the orange-matching: as my mother always told me growing up, "Matching is for sissies." :) The fondant pumpkins look so pro! Keep baking and blogging!
Healthy Aperture, Cookie and Kate, Jesica – Thanks! I'm happy you all like it. :)
Epicurean Mom – Thanks! I tried. But I was just having an awful two days with the camera. It was frustrating. Your pumpkins are very pretty! And you're very good at the piping thing. :)
Anna – Because I'm awful in comparison to everyone else and I even took all the Wilton cake decorating classes. You know how there's sometimes that one person in class (whatever kind of class) who is just so bad, she sticks out? That was me. Thanks for your kind words. :)
How come you say you are not good in decorating? I find your cake really pretty! Even the one with the crumb coat was really well coated. Love the play of colors! Keep posting!
What a great replica!!! Very impressive! Your photos are great!!
Your pumpkins are pretty similar to the ones I made last year http://www.epicureanmom.com/2011/09/diy-fondant-pumpkins.html.
Also, I'm glad we both agree about the raw eggs…yuck!! ;-)
Very very brilliant colours! :)
My, that is a beautiful cake! Love the dripping chocolate.
Brilliant. And beautiful.
Sneige – Thanks! I made it last weekend and shared a huge chunk of it, which was then shared with some of our colleagues. Everyone was very pleased. :) It'd be super neat to know my neighbors, but I don't. Good idea, though. :)
The cake is beautiful! And chocolate and orange is a classic favourite! They go so well together!
As for eating you could probably share with friends or neighbours? :)
warmvanillasugar – Thanks! I struggled with the pictures, but it actually looked pretty neat in real life. I hope it impresses your friends! :)
Miryam – That's the sad thing. I didn't make it for anyone or anything special. I only made it to see if I could make it whole grain this time and have it taste the same. I was having trouble taking pictures, and so the colors look a little bright in the first picture. The real color (with a little bit of icing gel) is more like the second to last picture. You don't need much, but it definitely helps, especially since the whole wheat flour makes the batter a little tanner than white refined flour would. You could always make a smaller version! I have to admit that there's a ton of sugar in the frosting. We just didn't eat so much of that part (although it's delicious!).
Oh wow….this looks amazing….who is going to eat all of it? I really like the effect of the ganache going down the cake, very pretty. Also, the orange cake has a really deep orange color, did that just come from the orange juice and zest? I love this cake, my kids would go nuts for it….
This cake is absolutely beautiful! Can't wait to have a group over and show this off! Thanks!