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Epicurious

Chocolate-Orange Carrot Cake

4.3

(78)

Intense chocolate flavor accented with orange highlights this lovely layer cake.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

For cake

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
4 large eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/4 cups sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups finely shredded peeled carrots (about 10 ounces)
1 cup (packed) sweetened flaked coconut
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 11-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

For frosting

2 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (about 15 ounces)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted nondairy (pareve) margarine, room temperature
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
Additional canned mandarin orange segments, drained, patted very dry

Preparation

  1. Make cake:

    Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350¡F. Spray two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Using electric mixer, beat 1 1/2 cups oil and eggs in large bowl until well blended and thick, about 2 minutes. Add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt; beat at low speed to blend. Increase speed; beat 1 minute longer (batter will be very thick). Stir in carrots, coconut and orange peel, then orange pieces. Divide batter between prepared pans.

    Step 2

    Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes. Turn out onto racks; cool completely.

  2. Make frosting:

    Step 3

    Stir chocolate chips in heavy medium saucepan over very low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Spoon 1/3 cup chocolate into small bowl and reserve for decoration. Beat margarine and sugar in medium bowl until fluffy. Beat in remaining melted chocolate and orange juice concentrate.

  3. Step 4

    Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 2/3 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Arrange additional orange segments around top edge of cake. Rewarm 1/3 cup reserved chocolate to pourable consistency if necessary. Drizzle orange segments with chocolate. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.)

TagsLayer CakeCakeDessertCocoaChocolateCarrotRoot VegetableVegetableCoconutFruitOrangeCitrusDairy FreeNut FreeEasyMake AheadBakingElectric MixerBon Appétit
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