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This old fashioned chocolate orange cake is a soft and decadent dessert topped with delicious marshmallow frosting. It's a 45 minute chocolate cake recipe with perfect combination of chocolate and citrus. Take one bite of this orange dessert and you'll be hooked!
I chose to make this chocolate orange cake because of its nostalgic holiday flavors. I loved getting a chocolate orange in my stocking every year on Christmas. I figured if it was a nostalgic holiday flavor for me, it had to be for others as well! That's also why we made these chocolate orange cookies.
This recipe doesn't require fresh orange slices but feel free to drizzle with orange simple syrup or serve with orange juice for more flavor.
What makes this the most delicious cake
Orange and chocolate go so well together - The fresh orange flavor blends perfectly with the rich, intense, and lush chocolate flavor. The combination creates nostalgic holiday flavors that will leave you thinking of eating chocolate orange sticks with your grandpa like this cake did for me.
It is so moist! - Ok, the soaked oatmeal in this cake gives it another level of moistness that you usually don't find in cake. It really is the secret step.
It has the best topping - I love this cake for the cake itself which we worked so hard to create but I also LOVE the frosting! It is a luscious marshmallow chocolate orange frosting that hardens just a touch to give it some depth. It is so good!
Here's what you need to grab to make this chocolate orange cake
Oatmeal - I use gluten-free oats for this recipe but any oats will work so well in this recipe. They are full of fiber and replace much of the flour you traditionally use in cake. We also love using oatmeal for other recipes like our oat flour pancakes as well.
Brown Sugar - There's something about the brown sugar and orange combination that hits the spot! This recipe calls for slightly more brown sugar than white sugar which gives it a smoother taste and texture.
Gluten-free flour - If you're not gluten-free feel free to swap for all purpose flour. Honestly, nobody can even tell that this cake is gluten-free so swapping the flour makes little difference.
Chocolate- I like to add chocolate to the cake batter as well as on top of the cake before baking. I personally love Guittard milk chocolate and think itis the best for this recipe, but normal chocolate chips will also work.
Ok lets whip it up
- Always start by creaming together butter and sugar to get a whipped base. Then add eggs to the wet ingredients and continue to mix.
- I like to combine my dry ingredients separately before adding slowly to the butter mixture.
- THE SECRET STEP is to combine oats, orange extract, vanilla extract and water in a separate bowl and let them sit 2 minutes before adding to the rest of the ingredients.
- Lastly, you want to gently stir in one chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips then pour into a greased cake pan. But that isn't enough chocolate so add two more chopped chocolate bars to the top of the cake before baking!
Pro Tip #1: You can divide batter or double this recipe and make layered cake. If you're dividing the batter, it's a good idea to use a smaller prepared pan instead of a 9x13. Bake as directed and frost the middle and top layer!
Pro Tip #2: Make sure the cake is cooled before making the frosting so it doesn't harden.
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Old Fashioned Chocolate Orange Cake with Marshmallow Frosting
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
- 1 ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ½ cup butter melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (or regular flour if you prefer)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup gluten-free oats (or just regular oats)
- 1 ¾ cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 12 ounces milk chocolate chips
Frosting
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons whole cream
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 ⅓ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon orange extract
- ¾ cup mini marshmallows
- 6 ounces milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- In a stand mixer, cream together butter and 1 ¼ C brown sugar with ¾ C white sugar
- Add eggs one at a time and continuing mixing
- Add gluten-free flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cacao powder in another bowl then to the wet ingredients until just mixed
- Combine oats, orange extract, vanilla extract and water in a bowl and let them sit 2 minutes then add it to the other cake mix ingredients
- Gently stir in 6 ounces milk chocolate chips
- Pour batter into a greased 9x13 cake pan
- Sprinkle 6 more ounces milk chocolate chips to the top of the cake before baking
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or just crumby but not wet
- Meanwhile, prepare the frosting by combining 6 T melted butter, 1 ⅓ C sugar, cream, milk and ¼ tsp. orange extract in a pot and cook over low to medium heat
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and add mini marshmallows and 6 ounces milk chocolate chips
- Stir until smooth then pour immediately over the cooled cake, do not allow the frosting to cool first
Notes
How to store chocolate orange cake
You can store this delicious cake in an airtight container or in plastic wrap at room temperature for 4-6 days. You can also freeze this cake for up to 3 months if you're looking to preserve it for longer.Nutrition
*This post was originally December 17, 2017 but it has since been updated with more information and better instructions.
Kelly says
I’m confused. You have vanilla extract in the instructions above the recipe but no amount in the recipe below. You also have baking powder in the recipe and nowhere in the recipe instructions on where to add it. I added it to the dry mix. However, I completely missed the vanilla and am hoping my cake isn’t ruined. Something else that would be helpful. Don’t make the frosting until the cake has cooled to room temperature. I had to stop midway so it didn’t harden before the cake cooled.
Chandice says
Thanks Kelly, I made those changes. You are right, they were all in the body of the post but left out in the recipe card. It has been updated. I also made the note about the frosting. I have found that the cake usually cools enough in the time it takes to make the frosting but I added the note nonetheless.
JD says
Yum! Love this, and love that it is gluten free.
Jess says
I love Terry's chocolate oranges at Christmas, so we LOVED this recipe! It also looks really similar to a cake my husband's grandma makes for special occasions and everyone always raves about the icing. They loved this variation!
Brooke says
I tried this recipe today and oh my goodness. I was surprised with how much I loved it. When you first hear “orange chocolate cake,” it’s a little confusing, but I think it’s my new favorite cake!
Chandice says
It's our favorite too! 🙂
Erin Lane says
seven layer bars are what some people call magic bars
Karen D says
My grandmother's donuts are my favorite childhood recipe
Missy M. says
No bake cookies with oatmeal, chocolate and peanut butter! I still love them!
Brianna Wolin says
I love my mom's famous cheesecake!
Amanda Wood says
My grandmother made amazing popcorn balls 🙂 I still make them every Christmas
Paula Decaria says
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies
jberry says
My moms' classic Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies.
Stefanie says
My grandma used to make us zucchini bread and it was my favorite!
Dana Coughlin says
My dad made the best bread pudding.
Raymond says
I always enjoyed gooey rice kridpie treats with lots of marshmallows.
Raymond says
“Krispie”