Chocolate Orange Cake – Dark chocolate cake layers with a hint of orange zest, covered with a chocolate orange buttercream.
Chocolate Orange Cake Update
Oh, this cake was due for an update! I first came up with this recipe a couple years ago when I went to Fox 13’s The Place, a local lifestyle show here in Salt Lake City. It was a super simple recipe back then, and still is today, but one that is totally going to win you over.

My goal was to make the cake taste exactly like the chocolate orange I used to get in my Christmas stocking as a child. It’s a flavor combination that will always make me think of Christmastime. And I think you’ll really like it in cake form!
I used my go-to chocolate cake recipe and added some orange zest for a hint of flavor in the cake. It’s the buttercream, however, that I think really steals the show. To add flavor to the buttercream, I used orange emulsion by Lorann, which you can find HERE. Emulsions are a lot like extracts, but are water based. Extracts are alcohol based. I typically lean toward emulsions because I like the flavoring better, but an extract will work too. Just sub it 1-for-1 in the recipe.
I don’t think this cake needs a lot of added decorations, but love how a little rosemary and dried oranges give the brown some contrast.
Excited for you to whip this one up!
For more Christmas cake recipes, check out this post: 10 Cakes Perfect for the Holidays.
For cake tools and supplies, make sure to check out Shop.CakebyCourtney.com.
Looks yummy, but I’d love to see a white orange cake….don’t see it on the website, unless I’m missing it! Keep it up, Courtney!
I have an orange white frosting with Rainbow Sherbet Cake.
Best Cake Ever!! I made this cake for my birthday. Yes, I made my own cake. But I love to bake and these are my favorite flavors and it did not disappoint. The cake was super moist with just the right amount of citrus flavor. I used dark chocolate cocoa for the buttercream and I could have eaten the entire bowl! It was amazing! Thank you for this recipe, it will be saved and made time and time again I’m sure!
Holy crap. I have tried soooo many youtubers and bloggers recipes and always walk away underwhelmed or straight up disappointed in how bad it was. But I decided to take the plunge with your recipes starting with this one tonight. Soooo good!!! Even my husband who is never thrilled when I try doing a cake texted me from work to tell me it was AMAZING. And it was. And sooo simple to make too. Thank you for actually delivering on GOOD recipes!
Thank you so much!
I made this for our NYE party and OMG it was SO GOOD. Tasted JUST LIKE a chocolate orange. Obsessed. Eventually had to bring it into work so we didn’t eat all the leftovers at home. Coworkers devoured it. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
So glad you loved it!
This cake sounds great. But I seem to be missing where the recipe is.
It is available now!
Hey I made this cake this past week and now I can’t find the recipe. are you updating this cake? I loved the cake and wanted to make it again. Thanks so much,
Allison
It’s available now!
Hi Courtney,
The recipe seems to be missing on this page. Thanks for sharing your cake expertise! Excited to make this one!
It’s there now!!
Made this over New Years and it was amazing. Came back to make it again and the recipe seems to have disappeared? Any way you can put it back up? This is as favorite!!
Hi , but where is the recipe
Sorry! It’s there now!
So excited to try this! Would it work to substitute orange zest for the orange emulsion?
You need an extract or emulsion.
I am so excited to try this out this week! Can I use a hand blender and it be fine?
Yes just don’t over mix!
I’m hoping to try this recipe out but had a question about the chocolate chip quantity. It has 10oz as 187g, but in the UK 1oz is about 29g so 10oz would be 290g! I’ve seen a similar ratio to oz as yours on other sites using chocolate chips too so I’m probably missing something – are US oz different or is it to do with conversion from cups or something? Thanks for your time – I love your recipes – you are my go to baker whenever I want to try out something new and delicious! x
It should be 200g.
What a pretty cake! I am going to make this for my friends birthday this month. I wonder how you achieve the look. Did you add food colouring to the buttercream? And did you make different shades of colur as well?
Thanks!
There is orange emulsion in the buttercream.
Hi! This cake looks amazing and I am definitely going to try this out. What can I use instead of orange emulsion
Thanks in advance
Orange extract!
It’s perfect, have no more words to describe such beautiful recipe.
Thanks from Portugal🇵🇹
Thank you so much!!