Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Orange Frosting

This Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Orange Frosting looks simple and unassuming, but it's light and delicious and just right for spring. Go ahead and cut yourself a piece. You're gonna love it.

I first shared this recipe back in 2014 when my child turned 14. She requested a single layer chocolate cake with vanilla orange frosting, and this is what we came up with. Over six years later, this cake and my kid are both still super awesome. There's still no sign of when international travel might be allowed. With us living in Scotland and them living in New York, we're closer together than we've been in years. I never would have imagined that we could be kept apart by a virus.

Lots of people are hoping to go on their package holidays to Spain with their poolside recliners and bottomless cheap cocktails, but for many of us, the ban on international travel cuts much deeper. I completely understand why it's necessary, but it still hurts. We need to do everything we can to support the COVAX initiative to ensure fair distribution of the vaccine so that we can share a piece of cake and cup of tea with our far flung family members again.

What makes this cake so awesome?

This Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Orange Frosting is perfect for sharing on a sunny afternoon. Or if you're lacking in sunshine, let the cake bring its own sunniness. It's a simple, light and fluffy single layer of chocolate cake topped with a thick layer of vanilla frosting with a hint of orange. I used a blood orange this time around because they were so pretty, but any orange will do.

If you're still looking for smaller desserts, this is ideal. You can divide this into 8-10 slices. It didn't start to show a hint of dryness until the fourth day. It's elegant enough for a backyard dinner party but also humble enough to bust out with a cup of tea in the afternoon. I think it's pretty perfect. I mean, it was my kid's idea, so of course it is.

How to make Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Orange Frosting

There's nothing tricky here. We mix some cocoa powder and brown sugar with some boiling water first, then set that aside to cool a bit. Next cream together some butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla. Then gently work in your dry ingredients, and finally mix in the cocoa mixture. You'll have a very liquid batter. Pour it into a round cake pan, bake, and cool. Enjoy the chocolaty aroma filling your house.

To make the frosting, simply beat together some butter and powdered sugar, then add plenty of vanilla and the zest and juice of half an orange. Beat until light and fluffy. You can cover the side of your cake if you like, but I like letting the cake show off a bit. Pile the frosting nice and high. I had a bit leftover. I think a simple orange slice right in the center is the perfect decoration.

Make it magical

As you might suspect, the magical uses for oranges have a lot in common with the symbolism of the color itself. Orange energy can be used in love magic and fertility spells and is associated with the goddess Gaea. Drinking a glass of orange juice before divination practices can heighten your intuition. Use oranges to call in joy, happiness, abundance, and good fortune. Give oranges (or food and drink containing oranges) to friends as a blessing on your friendship. (Source: Elune Blue)

We get to share cake with friends again, and I couldn't be more pleased. This Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Orange Frosting is perfect for bringing people together. It's gonna be awesome.

Looking for more awesome chocolate cake recipes? Try a Chocolate Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cake or a Flourless Chocolate Lime Cake with Margarita Cream.

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