Go Back
Orange and almond cake with chocolate buttercream - three layers of moist, flavourful vegan orange and almond cake with vegan chocolate orange buttercream, chocolate drip and candied orange slices. Easy to make and perfect for celebrations!
Print

Orange And Almond Cake With Chocolate Buttercream (Vegan)

Orange and almond cake with chocolate buttercream - three layers of moist, flavourful vegan orange and almond cake with vegan chocolate orange buttercream, chocolate drip and candied orange slices. Easy to make and perfect for celebrations!
Course Dessert
Cuisine baking
Keyword cake
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 12 people
Author Domestic Gothess

Ingredients

Candied Oranges:

  • 1 small, thin-skinned orange
  • 250 g (1 ¼ cups) granulated sugar
  • 400 ml (1 + ⅔ cups) water

Orange And Almond Cakes:

  • 320 ml (1 ⅓ cups) unsweetened almond milk (or other plant milk)
  • finely grated zest of three oranges
  • 100 ml (⅓ cup + 1 Tbsp) freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 100 ml (⅓ cup + 1 Tbsp) light olive oil
  • 160 g (¾ cup) caster sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 185 g (1 ½ cups) ground almonds
  • 225 g (1 ¾ cups + 2 Tbsp) plain (all-purpose) flour
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Chocolate Buttercream:

  • 150 g (5.3 oz) dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) chopped
  • 150 g (½ cup + 2 Tbsp)) dairy free butter/margarine (the kind in a stick rather than a tub is best - I use Stork)
  • 150 g (¾ cup) vegetable shortening (I used Trex)
  • 50 g (⅓ cup) cocoa powder sifted
  • 300 g (2 ⅓ cups) icing (powdered) sugar sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon orange extract (optional)

Chocolate Drip:

  • 50 g (2 oz) dark chocolate chopped
  • 10 g (2 tsp) coconut oil

Instructions

Candied Oranges:

  • Slice the ends off the orange then cut into thin slices using a sharp knife, about 3-6mm/1/8-¼ inch thick.
  • Place the sugar and water in a pan and heat gently while stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the orange slices and bring up to a simmer, leave to simmer gently for about 40 minutes, until the liquid has reduced to a thick syrup and the oranges are soft and the peel has become slightly translucent. Turn the slices occasionally to unsure that they are evenly covered.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool for a while then carefully remove the orange slices from the syrup and place on a baking parchment lined tray to dry a little.

Orange And Almond Cakes:

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Grease three 15cm/8 inch tins (or two 20cm/8 inch ones) and line the bases with baking parchment.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the almond milk, orange juice and zest, olive oil, sugar and vanilla and almond extracts until smooth. Whisk in the ground almonds.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and whisk gently until combined. Do not over-mix.
  • Divide the batter between the tins and bake for about 30 minutes until golden and firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  • Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 15 minutes then carefully turn them out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

Chocolate Buttercream:

  • Melt the chocolate, either in a bain marie or in short bursts in the microwave. Set aside to cool a little.
  • Place the margarine and vegetable shortening in the bowl of your stand mixer (or you can use a hand mixer). Whisk until smooth. Add the cocoa powder and mix on a low speed until combined.
  • Add the sifted icing sugar and mix on a low speed until combined then turn the mixer up to a high speed and whisk for a good few minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl every now and again.
  • Check that the melted chocolate is no longer hot to the touch then add it to the buttercream and whisk until smooth. Finally whisk in the extracts.

Assembly:

  • Trim the tops of the cakes if needed. Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand and spread over a layer of the buttercream. Place another cake layer on top and repeat.
  • Place the last cake layer on upside-down (to give you a perfectly flat top). Spread a thin layer of buttercream over the top and sides of the cake. Place in the fridge for about 15 minutes to firm up.
  • Spread another layer of buttercream over the whole cake. Getting it as smooth as you can with a bench scraper or spatula. Return the cake to the fridge while you make the chocolate drip. (You want the cake to be cold when you add the drip).

Chocolate Drip:

  • Melt the chocolate, either in a bain marie or in short bursts in the microwave. Stir in the coconut oil until smooth and melted. Set aside to cool until it has thickened slightly and is no longer warm to the touch.
  • Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate drip around the edge of the cold cake, using the back of the spoon to encourage it to drip over the edge. Spoon the rest into the middle so that the top of the cake is fully covered.
  • Return the cake to the fridge until the drip is set.
  • Place the leftover buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a star shaped nozzle. Pipe decorative dollops of buttercream on top of the cake as you like and top with a few candied orange slices.
  • The cake will keep in an airtight container at cool room temperature for a couple of days.

Notes

For the best results make sure that you follow the recipe closely. As always, I highly recommend using the gram measurements (with a digital scale), rather than the cup conversions. Cup measurements are simply not accurate enough for baking and I cannot guarantee the best results if you use them.
This cake can either be baked in three 15cm/6in tins (as pictured), or in two 20cm/8in ones.