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Chocolate Orange Reindeer Cake Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 3.9 from 42 reviews
  • Author: Emma
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: British
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This festive Chocolate Orange Reindeer Cake combines a moist chocolate orange sponge with a rich chocolate orange buttercream, decorated lovingly to resemble a reindeer face, perfect for holiday celebrations and special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Sponge

  • 300 g White or golden caster sugar
  • 250 g Self-raising flour
  • 50 g Cocoa powder
  • 200 ml Vegetable or sunflower oil
  • 100 ml Whole milk
  • 3 large Eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1 large Orange (zested and juiced)

Chocolate Orange Buttercream

  • 100 g Dairy Milk Chocolate Orange (chopped)
  • 100 g Salted butter (at room temperature)
  • 180 g Icing sugar
  • 1 tbsp Cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp Boiling water

Decorations

  • 7 Dairy Milk Chocolate Orange Buttons
  • 7 Red Smarties
  • 7 Pretzels (broken for antlers)
  • 14 Edible eyes

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare: Preheat the oven to 160°C fan / 180°C conventional. Grease and line the base and sides of a 9-inch round cake tin with baking paper to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the caster sugar, self-raising flour, and cocoa powder, stirring well to distribute evenly.
  3. Add wet ingredients: Pour in the vegetable oil, whole milk, and beaten eggs. Mix thoroughly until the cake batter is smooth and fully combined.
  4. Add orange flavor: Use a zester to grate the orange zest directly into the batter. Slice the orange in half and squeeze the juice into the mixture, then mix well.
  5. Bake the cake: Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until the cake is risen and springy to the touch.
  6. Cool the cake: Allow the cake to cool for 20 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Melt chocolate: Finely chop the Dairy Milk Chocolate Orange and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 60 seconds or until melted; stir and set aside to cool.
  8. Make the buttercream: Beat the salted butter until light and fluffy. Sift in the icing sugar and continue beating until smooth and creamy. Fold in the cooled melted chocolate.
  9. Add cocoa and water: Mix the cocoa powder with boiling water, then fold this into the buttercream until the texture is smooth, creamy, and glossy.
  10. Frost the cake: Spread the chocolate orange buttercream evenly over the cooled cake using a palette knife for a smooth finish.
  11. Decorate the cake: Arrange the chocolate orange buttons in a circle in the center of the cake. Use a small dab of buttercream to attach red Smarties on top of each button.
  12. Add reindeer features: Place edible eyes above the buttons, then break up pretzels to form antlers and position them above the eyes to complete the reindeer decoration.

Notes

  • Ensure the eggs are at room temperature for better mixing and cake texture.
  • Do not overmix the batter as it can affect the cake’s rise and texture.
  • The cooling step is important so the buttercream does not melt when applied.
  • Use salted butter to balance the sweetness of the chocolate and icing sugar in the buttercream.
  • You can substitute Dairy Milk Chocolate Orange with any orange-flavored milk chocolate for a similar flavor.
  • For a richer orange flavor, add a little orange extract along with zest and juice if desired.

Find it online: https://yumrecipesfood.com/chocolate-orange-reindeer-cake-recipe/