Chocolate Orange Cake

We have had a lot of oranges around the house recently.  I seem to buy them every time I go to the grocery store plus we have been getting them in our regular vegetable delivery from Washington Green Grocer.   The kids love snacking on them.  They are juicy, sweet and wonderful to eat, but everybody is starting to get tired of them.  Which means it is time to start baking and cooking with them.

First up was a Chocolate Orange Cake from Feast by Nigella Lawson.  I was very intrigued by this recipe by this recipe for two reasons, one it is made in the food processor and two, it uses the entire orange.  This cake doesn't just have a little orange zest or juice for flavor it has 2 entire oranges.  Which results in a super moist and flavorful cake.

Chocolate Orange Cake
2 small oranges
6 eggs
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups ground almonds
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups cocoa powder (use the really good stuff)

Grease a 9" round cake pan, line with parchment.
Put oranges in saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil.  Once boiling reduce heat and let simmer for 2 hours or until oranges are soft.  Drain water and let cool.  Once cool, cut oranges in half remove any large seeds.  Using a food processor pulp oranges until no large pieces remain.  Add eggs, baking powder, baking soda, ground almonds, sugar and cocoa powder, process until completely mixed.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.  Check at the 45 minute mark as you may need to cover the cake with aluminum to prevent burning.

Let cool completely before removing from pan and topping with with Chocolate orange zest.

Chocolate Orange Glaze
zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup cream
3 ounces dark chocolate
1/2 tsp. Cointreau (optional)

In small saucepan combine zest and cream.  Over medium low heat bring to a simmer, let simmer for 5 minutes to infuse orange flavor.  Pour over chocolate.  Let it stand for 5 minutes before stirring until smooth.. Let mixture stand for 10-15 minutes before pouring over cake.