ORANGE-ALMOND CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING RECIPE

Orange-Almond Cake with Chocolate Icing Recipe image

I love the taste of Chocolate covered orange candy so I worked to come up with a cake reflecting those flavors. I love the texture the almonds give this cake. It's always a hit at potlucks. I have made it as a layer cake, Bundt cake or cup cakes. Enjoy.

Provided by Lynelle Caldwell

Categories Cakes

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 19

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Ingredients

ORANGE ALMOND CAKE
3 large oranges
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 c whole almonds
2 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cup + 1 Tbsp sugar
1 c (2 sticks) unsalted butter
4 large eggs
1 c whole milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract (i also use orange extract or all vanilla)
1 1/2 c fresh orange juice
ESPECIALLY DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1 c (2 sticks) butter
1 1/3 c hershey's special dark cocoa
6 c powdered sugar
2/3 c milk (i also use 1/2 & 1/2)
2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Using vegetable peeler, remove peel (orange part only) in strips from oranges. Coarsely chop enough peel to measure 1/2 cup.
2. Combine flour, 1 cup almonds, baking powder and salt in processor; blend until finely ground. Transfer to medium bowl. Place 2 cups sugar and orange peel in processor; blend until peel is finely minced.
3. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until blended. Add sugar mixture and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix milk and both extracts in small bowl. On low speed, beat flour mixture into egg mixture alternately with milk mixture in 3 additions each. Divide batter among prepared pans.
4. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 5 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely .
5. Boil 1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice and remaining generous 1 tablespoon sugar in small saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 8 minutes. Brush warm juice mixture over tops of cooled cakes.
6. Place 1 cake layer, orange syrup side up, on cake platter. Spread 1 cup Chocolate Icing over. Top with second cake layer, then 1 cup icing. Top with third cake layer, syrup side up. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and store at room temperature.)Arrange additional almonds, orange triangles and mint leaves around top edge of cake. Slice cake and serve.
7. FROSTING Melt butter, add to bowl of mixer. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.