Three rich moist layers of vegan dark chocolate cake filled with decadent dreamy dark chocolate orange ganache and covered in the smoothest whipped orange chocolate cookie crumb buttercream frosting. Wow, that’s a mouthful in all aspects, saying and eating. But let me tell you it was chocolate orange layer cake heaven! This flavour combination is fun, bold, and totally festive. If you’re a chocolate orange lover, this one is for you!
Note: This post contains affiliate links to which I earn a small commission, but don’t worry there’s no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting CAKED by Katie.
Christmas Morning Memories
With a show of hands, who here got a Christmas orange in the bottom of their stocking every year? I sure did! Without fail, after the little gifts of nail polish, hair elastics, toothbrushes, and socks, there at the toe of my stocking would sit a Christmas orange. Honestly, I rarely ate it but it always brought a smile to my face.
It’s a tradition that I’ve carried on with my children. Totally nostalgic and such a special memory for me every Christmas morning as I watch my girls open their stockings and make their way to that bottom orange.
Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe
This dark chocolate cake uses my go-to chocolate cake layers with a splash of orange extract added in and dark cocoa powder in place of regular cocoa. Next, the super decadent ganache filling was made with almond milk and a vegan dark chocolate orange bar. It came together beautifully and really gives this cake flavor a bold and unique depth.
Orange Chocolate Cookie Crumb Buttercream
Instead of the regular chocolate or orange buttercream, I decided to add chocolate cookie crumbs with orange extract to give it an orange oreo cookie-type taste. Plus, who doesn’t love a speckled buttercream-slathered cake, right?! I hope you love this Chocolate Orange Layer Cake as much as I did!
Decadent Chocolate Recipes
One can never have enough chocolate! Here are a few decadent chocolate recipes that I think you’ll love.
- Mint Nanaimo Bars
- Better Box Mix Brownies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate Berry Cake
- S’Mores Cake
- Double Chocolate Caramel Cookies
Chocolate Orange Layer Cake
- Total Time: 2 Hours 35 Minutes
- Yield: 10 Slices 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Layers of vegan dark chocolate cake filled with a chocolate orange ganche and covered in a whipped orange chocolate cookie crumb buttercream frosting. The perfect dessert for Christmas dinner or a holiday party
Ingredients
Dark Chocolate Cake
-
3 cups all-purpose flour
-
2 cups sugar
-
⅔ cup dark cocoa powder
-
2 teaspoons baking soda
-
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
-
2 cups coffee, hot
-
1 cup vegetable oil
-
1 tablespoon orange extract
-
3 tablespoons white vinegar
Dark Chocolate Orange Ganache
-
200 grams vegan dark chocolate orange bar
-
⅓ cup vegan milk
Orange Chocolate Cookie Crumb Buttercream
-
2 cups vegan salted butter, room temperature
-
6 cups icing sugar
-
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
-
2 teaspoon orange extract
Dark Chocolate Drip
-
½ cup vegan dark chocolate chips
-
3 ½ tablespoons vegan milk
Instructions
Dark Chocolate Cake
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare three 6-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray.
-
In the bowl of a stand mixer add in all the dry ingredients and give a quick whisk together.
-
Add in the coffee, vegetable oil, and orange extract and mix until fully incorporated.
-
Add in the vinegar and mix until fully incorporated. Be careful to not over-mix the batter at this stage.
-
Divide the cake batter between the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
-
Cool in the pans for 10 minutes and then invert on a cooling rack to fully cool.
Dark Chocolate Orange Ganache
-
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the dark chocolate and milk in 30-second intervals until fully melted and smooth. Stir between each interval.
-
Allow the ganache to cool to room temperature before filling the cake.
Orange Chocolate Cookie Crumb Buttercream
-
In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the butter on high speed with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. This should take approximately 5 minutes.
-
Add in the icing sugar, salt, and orange extract and mix on low until combined.
-
Add the chocolate cookie crumbs and mix on low until fully combined.
-
Turn the mixer up to high and let mix for 5 minutes until smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl when necessary.
Dark Chocolate Drip
-
In a microwave-safe bowl heat the dark chocolate chips and milk in 30-second intervals until fully melted and smooth. Stir between each interval.
-
Depending on the kind of milk, the drip may require a touch more milk to thin or a bit more dark chocolate chips to thicken. *I always test my ganache drips over the edge of the kitchen sink before applying to a cake to check the consistency.
Cake Assembly
-
Place one leveled layer of dark chocolate cake on a cake board or plate. Top with approximately 1 cup of buttercream.
-
Pipe a buttercream border around the edge and fill with approximately half the dark chocolate orange ganache filling.
-
Repeat with the remaining layers and apply a thin coat of buttercream all over the cake. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
-
Cover the cake with another layer of buttercream and smooth sides using the Wilton Cake Smoother. Refrigerate while the dark chocolate ganache drip is prepared.
-
On a well-chilled cake, with a spoon or a piping bag, drip the warm dark chocolate ganache over the edges of the cake and put it back in the refrigerator to chill.
-
Decorate as you please. I piped some simple buttercream dollops with the Wilton 8B around the top border and decorated it with a leftover orange chocolate bar and Christmas orange segments. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 2 Hours
- Cook Time: 35 Minutes
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 1400
- Sugar: 146 Grams
- Sodium: 1413 Miligrams
- Fat: 72 Grams
- Saturated Fat: 40 Grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 26 Grams
- Trans Fat: 3 Grams
- Carbohydrates: 188 Grams
- Fiber: 4 Grams
- Protein: 7 Grams
- Cholesterol: 50 Miligrams
Keywords: chocolate orange cake, vegan chocolate orange cake, vegan chocolate orange cake recipe, chocolate orange layer cake, chocolate orange layer cake recipe
This is my favourite flavour combo of all time so when I saw this recipe I knew I needed to try it! It did not disappoint and was a total show stopper!!!! Absolutely loved it and is a regular of mine now
★★★★★
Yay! That thrills me to hear. Thanks for sharing!
This was the recipe I picked for my birthday cake this year and it was so tasty! I look forward to trying other recipes!
★★★★★
Great choice for a bday cake!!!
This cake is amazing. All the flavours marry so well. My whole family loved it!
★★★★★
Thanks for baking this one up Zofia! I’m totally craving a slice now.
Hi there! Would I be able to substitute the non-dairy items with dairy items without any issues?
Hi Minde, you absolutely can! You’ll need a splash of more milk or heavy cream (whatever you choose) in the ganache filling and drip.
I love your recipes! This one tasted just like a Terry’s chocolate orange. Thank you for creating and posting as many recipes as you do, they have been so fun to try
★★★★★
Thank you so much for trying them out Gabby. It truly means so much to me!
Thank you so much, Katie! I am making this for Mother’s Day. Can’t wait!
Let me know how it goes!
Chocolate and orange is my favorite combo and this cake did not disappoint. I’m making it again next weekend for a family birthday.
★★★★★
That thrills me to hear you enjoyed it so much that you’re making it again.