CHOCOLATE ORANGE LAYER CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• To prepare cake, combine 1 cup boiling water and 2/3 cup cocoa in a bowl, stirring until smooth. Add 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature. Coat 2 (8-inch) round metal cake pans with cooking spray; line bottoms of pans with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray; dust each pan with 1 teaspoon flour.
• Place 1 3/4 cups sugar, 6 tablespoons butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 1 minute. Add egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream; beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Weigh or lightly spoon 4 ounces flour (about 1 2/3 cups) into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 4 ounces flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl, stirring well. Add flour mixture and cocoa mixture alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating just until combined.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on wire racks. Invert cake layers onto racks; cool completely. Discard wax paper.
• To prepare filling, combine juice and next 6 ingredients (through 1/4 ounce bittersweet chocolate) in a small saucepan over low heat; bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour into a bowl. Cover and chill. Uncover; fold in whipped topping.
• To prepare glaze, combine milk, 1 tablespoon butter, and 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH for 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds until smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on a plate. Spread filling over top, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Top with remaining cake layer. Spoon warm glaze over top of cake, allowing it to drip over the edges of cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat two 8 inch round cake pans with cooking spray, and line bottoms with parchment paper.
• Using a vegetable peeler, remove zest from oranges in strips. Place in food processor, and coarsely chop, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Add 1/3 cup sugar and blend until peel is minced. Add 1/4 cup marmalade, and pulse until mixture is pureed. Transfer to a large bowl. Add 3/4 cup unsalted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• With an electric mixer, cream mixture until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 cup sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda into small bowl. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the orange juice, mixing just until incorporated. Divide batter into prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• For the Chocolate Ganache: Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan. Remove from heat, add chocolate chips and stir until melted.
• For Orange Cream Cheese Filling: in a small bowl, beat together cream cheese, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 2 tablespoons marmalade.
• To assemble cake: Cut each cake into 2 layers. Place 1 layer on plate. Spread filling on the bottom cake. Pour hot ganache over bottom layer, let cool slightly. Top with second cake layer. Spread with filling. Pour hot ganache over second layer. Repeat for third layer. Top with fourth cake layer. Pour remaining ganache over entire cake for a shiny finish. Refrigerate uncovered cake until ganache is a hard coating.